Expect the unexpected, the well-known mantra of the open water swimming community, was called into play again in the Mediterranean Sea this week.

The Cyprus-Israel Swim Team – six friends and teammates swimming for charity – changed its start from October 18th to tomorrow. The 6-member relay and their support crew moved quickly to begin their 380 km (236-mile) adventure at Limassol harbor in Cyprus at noon on Tuesday, October 15th due to unexpected and unfavorable weather conditions predicted for later this week.

Their swim route from Cyprus to Israel in the Mediterranean Sea has been changed slightly as they are going for the non-stop relay record recently set by the Night Train Swimmers in California.

It was not easy to change their swim route because passage through international waters is involved and the team were obligated to make formal departure and entrance at official gateways at each end. Because the team is not allowed to start or finish on a beach, they will start outside Limasol Marina in Cyprus and proceed on a straight line to a point opposite the northern coast of Israel. Once they get to the shore they will still face security issues. They will swim along the Israeli coast down to Tel-Aviv. They will then double back to enter at Herzliya Marina, which is the only official port of entry in the center of Israel. Please note also that there are security issues involved too.

The Night Train Swimmers set the world record for the longest non-stop ocean relay swim in history when they completed a 228-mile (367 km) swim down the California coast from north of Santa Barbara to the San Diego Yacht Club in 100 hours 28 minutes from August 22nd-26th. Under the direction of captain Vito Bialla with navigator Hal McCormick and Observer Patrick Horn, its relay members included Phil Cutti, David Holscher, Zach Jirkovsky, Luane Rowe, Blair Cannon, and Grace van der Byl.

Tomorrow, the Cyprus Israel Relay Swim for Youth at Risk will attempt an audacious 380 km (236-mile) world record 6-person relay from Cyprus to Israel in the Mediterranean Sea.

Each swimmer will swim approximately 10-12 km every day for up to 6 consecutive days. The swimmers include Udi Erell, Doron Amosi, Ben Enosh, Ori Sela, Oded Rahav, and Luc Chetboun (all shown on left) with Erez Amir, Nimrod Or, and Uri Brown as their able and willing crew.

Their goals are varied as the men who make up the team:

*No one has done it before – We are acting out of inspiration and a sense of pioneering challenge
*Teamwork – The task can’t be done alone – only the team as a whole can win
*Contribution to the community – fundraising for youth at risk
*Promoting swimming and the open water
*Persistence and perseverance – Set a goal, stick to it and achieve it
*Personal challenge- “I can do it” – placing a groundbreaking goal, facing uncertainty, lack of control (darkness, weather, sea conditions)
*Setting a new world record

Follow the Cyprus-Israel 380 km odyssey here online.

For more information on the Cyprus Israel Relay Swim for Youth at Risk, visit here.

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