Officially,
we had 20 knots wind for the original swim from Gokceada
to ANZAC Cove. Monday was forecast at 25
knots! Due to these high winds, it was unsafe for
the IRB to stay close enough to James to provide
assistance in directing him for the swim.
The Turkish Coast Guard
would only allow the swim to take place during daylight
hours; so we had to try to get a swim that would be
protected from the wind and still end in ANZAC Cove.
We traveled back to the mainland and started a 5.5nm, 11km
swim from Kucuk Kemıklı, a spit area to the north of
ANZAC Cove (probably where the diggers were supposed to
land). This section of water was protected from the
wind by the spit of land.
James originally swam into the memorial area of ANZAC
Cove, photos were taken, and a minute of silence was
observed. James Pittar and Matt Logan went into the
water and swam around and into ANZAC Cove proper and
landed on the beach.
Dardanelles 2 was the
main support boat with the Official from Canakkale
Swimming Province observing the swim. The official
time keeper, Metin Eron, recorded the swim details.
Captain Turgay Yegın assisted with direction for the swim
-- GPS is a wonderful thing. William 'Sticks'
Tricker supported James from the main boat with
encouragement, interpreting and providing the smaller
support IRB with feeds and water for James.
Matt Logan directed James
with the traditional whistle from the smaller IRB driven
by Baris. The swim, although shorter than we
desired, provided James with his goal of swimming into
ANZAC Cove and, thus, completing the European leg of
swimming his six continent goal. Asia and North
America to go!
The
swim started Sunday, 25th of September at 10:33am; and
James walked ashore at 2:15pm.
In
conjunction with his swim into
Anzac Cove being part of his six-continent
swims over the next couple of years, he is raising
awareness of and money for the RANZCO
Eye Foundation. The Foundation was set up to
fund research, improve community awareness and support
ophthalmology aid projects.
