Swimming Into A Sand Storm
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Bill Welzien started on his two-way attempt of the Sea of Galilee in Israel, but he swam straight into a dust storm on his return leg.
Talk about expecting the unexpected.
Gadi Katz remarked that it impressive that he didn’t quit.
Welzien began his swim at 10:30 pm on September 7th and took him 6 hours 30 minutes to cross the Sea of Galilee from east to west. “I spent 8 minutes on Labnun Beach near Kursi. At 4:38 am, I started back west and a dust storm covered the entire region. The boat captain Offri lost his way. On the return leg, I swam [for] 11 hours 46 minutes. The total time for the swim was 17 hours 59 minutes. It was ages more than planned, but by God’s grace, I finished.”
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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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