Penny Palfrey will swim in unchartered waters of the Cayman Islands in an attempt to become the first person to swim almost 80 miles (128K) between Little Cayman Island and Grand Cayman Island in the tropical Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Nestled in the calm, turquoise waters of the western Caribbean, Penny is supported in this Caribbean paradise by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and the Flowers Group, race organizers to the Flowers Sea Swim.

However beautiful the waters are between the Cayman Islands, Penny will still be facing 80 miles of harsh waters at the surface and the relentless tropical heat. Open Water Source will be there following the action and the risks day and night and day and night in the estimated 40+ hour attempt.

Penny from Townsville, Queensland, Australia, has a lifetime of experiences that she will depend upon to set this marathon swimming world record:

1. Rottnest Channel in 2000 in 4:46 at the age of 37
2. Rottnest Channel in 2001 in 4:36 at the age of 38
3. Rottnest Channel in 2003 in 6:42 at the age of 40
4. Rottnest Channel in 2004 in 5:12 at the age of 41
5. Rottnest Channel in 2005 in 4:40 at the age of 42
6. Rottnest Channel in 2006 in 5:52 at the age of 43
7. English Channel (England-France) in 2006 in 9:16 at the age of 44
8. Cook Strait (South Island-North Island) in 2006 in 8:26 at the age of 43
9. Strait of Gibraltar (Spain–Morocco) in 2006 in 4:32 at the age of 43
10. Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in 2007 in 8:36 at the age of 44
11. English Channel (England-France) in 2007 in 9:07 at the age of 45
12. Freo to Rotto Big Splash in 2007 in 4:40 at the age of 44
13. Rottnest Channel in 2008 in 5:24 at the age of 45
14. Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in 2008 in 7:35 at the age of 45
15. Santa Barbara Channel (San Miguel-Mainland) in 2008, 45K in 11:29 at the age of 46
16. Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in 2008 in 7:51 at the age of 45
17. Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in 2009 in 7:17 at the age of 46
18. Maui Channel (Maui-Lanai) in 2009 in 4:31 at the age of 46
19. Hawaii’s Alenuihaha Channel (Hawaii-Maui) in 2009, 75K in 14:51 at the age of 46
20. Santa Barbara Channel (Santa Barbara-Mainland) in 2009, 64K in 17:53 at the age of 47
21. Strait of Gibraltar (Spain–Morocco-Spain) in 2010 in 8:27 (3:03 + 5:24) at the age of 47
22. Rottnest Channel Swim in 2010 in 5:41 at the age of 47
23. Catalina Channel (Catalina–Mainland) in 2010 in 10:36 and 13.5°C (56°F) at the age of 48
24. Hawaii’s Kaieiewaho Channel (Oahu-Kauai) in March, 2010 (halted due to Portuguese Man o’ War)
25. Hawaii’s Kaieiewaho Channel (Oahu-Kauai) in November, 2010 (halted due to Portuguese Man o’ War – see first part of her swim below)



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