If you’ve ever looked across False Bay, from Simon’s Town to Rooi Els, and wondered what it would be like to swim from one side to the other, Linda Thompson has the answer! The 39-year-old recently achieved a remarkable feat by swimming for 11 hours and 28 minutes across False Bay.
Originally from Joburg, Linda moved to Cape Town in 2017 for a fresh start after the end of a long-term relationship. She immersed herself in the local swimming community and it quickly became an essential part of her life – a relaxing, meditative experience that helps her to process her thoughts, reduce anxiety and help with concentration.
However, it’s not just the act of swimming that appeals – it’s also swimming in challenging conditions and connecting with nature. “I love opportunities to swim where I can see marine life and experience scenery from a different perspective – like when I did a 10 km swim from Kommetjie to Hout Bay, swimming past Noordhoek beach and Chapmanís Peak.”
According to the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association, the solo crossing of False Bay from Miller’s Point to Rooi Els is the Everest of Cape swims. At a distance of 33km, its difficulty is down to strong and unpredictable currents, inconsistent water temperatures – and of course the Great White sharks that live in the Bay. The first recorded solo crossing was by Annemie Landmeters in 1989 and to date only 13 swimmers have successfully crossed False Bay on solo swims – a number which now includes Linda!
Not only did she have to tackle the elements, but as she was swimming outside of season, the water and ambient temperature were cooler and her crossing involved at least an hour of night swimming.
Crossing Day
“I actually didn’t intentionally select this time of year for the swim – it isn’t regarded as ideal for the False Bay crossing (that’s usually the summer months from about November to March),” says Linda. “I had been tracking the conditions along with skipper, Derrick Frazer of Big Bay Events in the build-up to the swim. We thought that the opportunity had passed and that we’d have to wait until spring, but suddenly there was a potential window of favourable conditions for the 6th of May.”
Linda chose not to wear a wetsuit, embracing the pure ‘skins’ category like. During her 11-hour and 28-minute swim, she entered a meditative state, focusing on her strokes and the rhythmic movement through the water. She lost track of time and distance, staying motivated by appreciating the present moment and swimming from stroke to stroke.
Just Keep Swimming
“For the majority of the swim, my vision was on the water and due to the swell I couldn’t see Hangklip which was my marker. Suddenly, I could see it clearly and was able to aim towards it. I was so happy then, that I was going to soon be at the finish – even though it was likely about another 12km and quite some hours to go.”
Throughout her journey, she had the unwavering support of friends and fellow swimmers, including her friend Katherine who joined her on the boat and even swam alongside her at times. “At 45-minute intervals, my coach, Maik who was on the boat would whistle for me and Katherine would throw a water bottle with a carb or protein carb mix in it,” says Linda.
“During those 45-minute swimming sets, I felt a sense of gratitude. I also thought about my late grandmother, who has been a driving force in my life, but mostly I just focused on the swim and continuing through it.”
Life Lessons
“This journey has reminded me of how important community is and to not lose focus of those relationships when pursuing personal goals,” says Linda.
“I definitely feel that the lessons which I have learnt and continue to learn through my swimming equip me for challenges I encounter in my day-to-day life as well as in terms of work and relationships. I have learnt greater patience, tenacity and the importance of persistence even when conditions arenít in your favour.”
