Against The Current, For A Greater Cause

Steven Munatones 03/27/2021 open water swimming No Comment

Courtesy of Plastic Oceans International.

Against The Current is a 58-minute documentary film production of Sarah Ferguson’s swim around Easter Island (Rapa Nui). The film was supported by Plastic Oceans International, narrated by Matthew Modine, directed by Tod Hardin with cinematography and editing by Erik Aleynikov.

Cristian Vergara first attempted the 60 km circumnavigation swim around Easter Island in 2016. He fell short although he swam on for 26 hours 52 minutes. Three years later, the Durbanite completed the first circumnavigation swim around Easter Island in 2019 in 19 hours 8 minutes. The swim was planned, organized supported by Plastic Oceans International and Breathe Conservation. Her escort team included observer and Director of Cientifica Plastic Oceans Chile Camila Ahrendt, coach and feeder Sarah Houston, Dr. Rentia Denissen, safety coordinator John McCarthy, support staff Marta Vigoroux, escort boat captain Hian Schneider, escort kayaker Juan Gustavo Ogaz, Gabriel Lillo, and escort kayak team of Te Manu ko Nui, videographers and photographers Erik Aleynikov and Karl Oftebro, along with collaborations with the Chilean Navy, Hanga Roa Hospital, Nanaky yacht (Nautica Rapa Nui), Kayak Rapa Nui, Hotel Hotu Matua, and Discover Agency.

Ferguson’s effort was nominated for the 2019 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year award:

Far, far, far away from any continent, Sarah Ferguson set off on bringing attention to plastic pollution in the world’s oceans through her unprecedented 60 km circumnavigation swim around Easter Island in Polynesia. 19 hours 8 minutes after starting at 8:07 am, she finished at 3:15 am in a charity swim supported by Plastic Oceans International and Breathe Conservation. It was challenging, turbulent adventure with uncertainty throughout, but Ferguson and her multi-national team led by John McCarthy ultimately succeeded around Rapa Nui. For her pioneering swim where she overcame jellyfish and highly salinated water, for working intelligently towards solving the problem of plastic pollution with global organizations, and for setting a record while inspiring others to rethink plastic via environmental activism, the Easter Island swim by Sarah Ferguson is a worthy nominee for the 2019 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

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Steven Munatones

Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.

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