CG Fit Completes First Relay Two-way Travessia do Leme ao Pontal
Adherbal de Oliveira of the Leme to Pontal Swimming Association reported that the CG Fit relay with 34-year-old Eduardo Diaz de La Cruz, 41-year-old Guilherme Assis de Siga, and 54-year-old Eduardo Halfen Grill, completed first relay two-way Travessia do Leme ao Pontal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “On September 22nd, CG Fit replicated the two-way Travessia of solo swimmer José Ferreira in February 2021. Due to currents running longitudinally against their return trip, the swim was a challenge.
They prepared for the 72 km challenge with many long, hard and specific training swims in different conditions in order to reinforce their physical and mental preparation, always under the guidance of coach Guilherme Assis de Siga who also participated as a swimmer.
The attempt began 57 minutes after midnight on September 22nd. The weather and sea conditions were good. The forecast called for a cloudy day with winds of 8 knots east in the morning that would become stronger in the afternoon with southwest direction (favorable for swimming back to Leme). The water temperature was 21ºC with low-amplitude swells, offering tranquil conditions for the support crew and swimmers.
Within 3 hours of swimming towards Pontal, the swimmers began to face a current running in the opposite direction with medium intensity. Due to the current, the swimmers were unable to progress as planned, raising serious concerns about the possibility of success. But, eventually they completed the first stage in 12 hours to Pontal.
After 2 minutes on land, Eduardo Diaz started the trip back to Praia do Leme. On the return leg, each member, as they progressed on the course, improved their performance, increasing the distance swam each hour and their stroke rate. The relay’s average speed, which was less than 3 km per hour on the first leg, increased to more than 4 km per hour in the middle of the lap.“
The swimmers were escorted by pilot Ary da Conceição and the Leme to Pontal Swimming Association observers, Adherbal de Oliveira and José Ferreira.
After 22 hours 10 minutes with a negative split on their second leg, Eduardo Diaz arrived on Leme at 11:07 pm. He was closely followed by Guilherme Siga and Eduardo Grill to become the first relay team to complete a two-way Travessia do Leme ao Pontal.
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