Jubarte de Natação Team Completes Travessia do Leme ao Pontal
Adherbal de Oliveira reported on the most recentTravessia do Leme ao Pontal success in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “After a period of more than a year of preparation, the Jubarte de Natação Team completes the Travessia do Leme ao Pontal in 10 hours 25 minutes. Despite having little experience in open water swimming, 41-year-old Flávio Quintanilha de Gouveia, 41-year-old Igor Bruno de Freitas Pereira, 52-year-old Luciano Bevilacqua Pereira da Silva, 52-year-old Gualter Pupo Filho, and 59-year-old Sidney Rudnicki Sipres completed the 36 km Travessia do Leme ao Pontal with neoprene on October 3rd.
Flávio Quintanilha, in addition to being a swimmer, also served as the head coach of the team and was responsible for preparing the team for this challenge. Due to their lack of experience in the open water, they had to prepare for more than one year including many training sessions in Copacabana Beach, along with night training and participation in amateur swims so that the team members could develop their skills to orient themselves and adapt to the different conditions of the sea, winds, currents and swells.
Their swim window was greeted with a cold front, bringing many uncertainties about weather and sea conditions.
Based on weather forecasts, October 3rd was chosen for the team to start around midnight in order to take advantage of the entire ebb tide. The relay members took turns swimming every hour, always in the same order.
Despite the calm sea and light wind during the night, the swimmers had a bit of difficulty navigating alongside the escort boat. But the team’s determination and joy made up for any difficulties heading to Pontal. When dawn came, the sun’s rays highlighted the beauty of the coast of the city of Rio de Janeiro as well as the Archipelago das Cagarras, Tijucas Islands, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Christ the Redeemer. Each landmark increased their determination to overcome all adversities.
After 10 hours 25 minutes, the Jubarte de Natação Team completed the Travessia do Leme ao Pontal in a very happy mood. They were greeted by their teammates when they arrived on the sands of Pontal Beach and enjoyed a great party and a beautiful morning.
As immortalized in the song Do Leme ao Pontal by Brazilian singer Tim Maia, From Leme ao Pontal there is nothing like it!“
