Swim Vacation, Day 5, by Heather

It’s almost too much to take - another jam packed day for our SwimVacationers, with many phenomenal experiences and a few historical moments.

We started in Little Harbour of Peter Island and had a 2+ mile swim. Conditions during our swim ranged from flat water and sunny skies, to contrary currents, high wind (against us), thunder, lightning and driving rain. Wildlife sightings included a squid and two turtles.

After another wonderful Lisa breakfast, some went up to the top of the island to check out the ruins of an old mansion, while others rested and I edited the bazillion great pictures we’ve made this week.

Back together, we got into the water for some play - a few of us took a free diving lesson with Rich. He taught us a little about breath control, and how to prepare the body for a deep free dive experience. By the end of our time in the water, Will and I had both made it to 55 feet! A personal record for us both. In spite of her shoulder injury, Adriana has made the most of her time here, and has jumped in to participate in as many of our activities as possible.

Lunch was burgers on home made buns (enough already! my hips can’t take much more!) and salad. We digested for a while and set off for our next destination. Lisa and Rich were being very mysterious about what was to come. Quietly Rich put up one sail, and strung some lines beneath the bow and stern. “Pool’s open everybody!” Lisa chimed with her delightful accent. We jumped in and gently glided along beneath the slowly moving Promenade. What a ride. We took turns out-swimming the boat, climbing the lines, and had a ball. Craziness.

Six of us rode the banana towed along by the Promenade, out in between Islands. A silly ride to our next swim spot - the infamous Dead Man’s Channel.

Here, many pirates lost their lives when punishment saw them thrown over board in front of Dead Chest Island. Most of them couldn’t swim and were left for dead on the uninhabitable isle. Their only hope for escape was on Peter Island, across the channel, about 3/4 mile through swell and current. Pirates died making this swim, and their bodies floated up on Dead Man’s Beach on Peter Island. Hopper and Hodding made this swim on their unprecedented inter-island swim, and it brought them to their knees. To our knowledge, no one has done it since.

We were lucky to have such calm conditions today, so we decided to give it a shot, and be the only people besides Hopper and Hodding to swim the channel and live to tell the tale.

Our intrepid SwimVacationers didn’t even blink. Off the boat, swam to Dead Chest, quick regroup and away we went, across to Peter Island. We all made it, safe, sound and exhilarated.

Margaritas, fish cakes, chicken satee and crazy brownies and ice cream filled us up after our day of physical activity. All in all we had another 3 mile, spectacular day. It’s hard to believe there’s only one day left, but I’ll dream tonight about what we can cram into it.