PORT ANGELES — With about 1 mile left to go, Andrew Malinak, a 26-year-old civil engineer from Seattle, quit his attempt to swim from the southern tip of Vancouver Island to U.S. shores at either Freshwater Bay or Crescent Beach west of Port Angeles today (Sunday).
“The last few miles have been slow,” his tweet at about 2:50 said.
And at 3:30 p.m., the tweet said: “Andrew aborted swim. 6 hours and 10 minutes. He had about 1 mile left but progress was slow. Water ranged from 46-50 deg, air in 50s. Cold.”
He was trying to make the 12-mile crossing of the Strait of Juan de Fuca without wearing a wetsuit.
Capt. Charles Martin of the escort catamaran Livin the Dream told the Peninsula Daily News the swimmer had been pushed west by a strong current.
Malinak originally estimated that he would make the Crescent Bay landing, which is about 12 miles due west of Port Angeles, at about 2 p.m., but as of 3 p.m. he was still far from shore.
The progress of the crew in an escort boat and a kayak accompanying Malinak in his swim across the Strait of Juan de Fuca could be monitored on vessel tracking websites such as www.vesselfinder.com by searching for ship number 367575160.
The crossing was live-tweeted by Malinak and his support crew on Malinak’s Twitter page, www.twitter.com/AndrewSwims.
Some of the tweets sent today (spelling as tweeted):
5:03 p.m. — So close!!
5 p.m. — Warm drink of choice: “Grande mocha dark chocolate if possible with whip.”
4:57 p.m. — Customs on the boat.
3:54 p.m. — Thank you for your concern. He is doing well, warming up in the boat’s cabin.
3:30 — Andrew aborted swim. 6 hours and 10 minutes. He had about 1 mile left but progress was slow. Water ranged from 46-50 deg, air in 50s. Cold.
2:50 p.m. — Last few miles have been slow, Andrew packed enough feed for his projected swim time. Just offered him fruit punch Gatorade or flat coke.
2 p.m. — Rhinoceros Auklet hanging out by our boat. Better rhinos than orcas!
1:30 p.m. — Stroke rate consistent and looking strong. We remain in awe
12:59 p.m. — Getting a stronger push west than anticipated but still making good southerly progress.
12:07 p.m. — Beautiful day for a swim across the strait. Andrew and kayaker at 3 hours. Vancouver Isl behind. Water up to 50.2.
11:15 a.m. — As of 11:15am, 2.25hrs into the swim, Andrew has swum across the border back into the US.
11:09 a.m. — Stroke rate steady (between 60-62). Water “warming” to 49.6 degrees. He says he’s cold but doing okay.
11:09 a.m. — Vessel Traffic is amazing– sending container ship into separation zone (water equiv. to median in the road) to avoid us. That’s Service!
11:03 a.m. — Kayaker Steve is a calm, steady force in this event. He also has amazing aim with Andrew’s feed bottles. http://ow.ly/i/2JaiD
10:36 a.m. — Not a lot to see out here but the sea is beautifully calm. Andrew is a good half hour ahead of schedule.
10:03 a.m.— Don’t tell Andrew: 46.5 degrees. Feeding every 15 minutes to stay warm. 1 hour down, 4+ to go.
9:52 a.m. — So far Andrew’s projected waypoints are spot-on. So nice when reality matches theory.
9:47 a.m. — 45min in, stroke rate 61 as expected. Water is 47 deg. (We wont be telling him) How is he doing this?! We are in awe of our hearty swimmer.
9:01 a.m. and the Straight of Juan de Fuca swim has begun. This is @ThrowMeIn keeping you updated on his progress.
SEE EARLIER STORY — https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130728/NEWS/307289984/seattle-man-attempts-swim-from-vancouver-island-to-north-olympic
