Penny Palfrey, a 48-year-old Australian ultra swimmer and grandmother, set the world record last weekend for unassisted solo ocean swim, logging 67.25 miles between Little Cayman and Grand Cayman islands. She was in the water for 40 hours and 41 minutes... Palfrey was hailed for her accomplishment, which was four miles longer than the previous record, but was criticized by conservationists for the killing of three sharks that approached her during the swim... Charles Ebanks, distracted the sharks with dead fish, then killed three of six- to eight-footers with a machete. (FOR THE REST OF THIS GREAT REPORT, PLEASE GO TO www.adventure-journal.com.)
GMM: A small confession: I don't swim in natural bodies of water. I fear what I can't see. The idea of being eaten haunts me. I have recurring nightmares about it. It is...embarrassing, this fear, and a little sad. I believe open-water swimming is, perhaps, the best competition to watch if you're a swimming fan. A smart swimmer can beat a fast swimmer, something that doesn't usually happen in pool competition. Also, at the risk of sounding grotesque, sports where there is a real danger of death are more exciting to watch.
I think it's easy to dismiss killing sharks in pursuit of glory. I certainly would've killed those sharks if I felt my wife's life was threatened, but the article above makes a good point. They could've deterred the sharks by other means. Sounds, once again, like education is key whenever you're dealing with the environment...
My wife and I work with Bob Placak (USA Swimming National Team Alumni), the founder of the world famous RCP Tiburon Mile. Bob is exceptionally thorough when it comes to the safety of his participants. He's also a hardcore open-water competitor. I'd like to know his thoughts on this topic, and I'll get them soon. WHAT DO YOU THINK? WOULD YOU HAVE KILLED THOSE SHARKS IF YOUR WIFE OR LOVED ONE WAS IN THAT SITUATION? WOULD YOU HAVE HAD THE FORETHOUGHT TO USE ANOTHER MEANS OF DETERRING THE SHARKS?
(Thanks to my friend, K.C. O'Connor, for point this great article out!)
There is simply no reason why Mrs palfrey's crew for being so ill-prepared to deal with the sharks they had to hack three of them to death with a machete.
Posted by: בגדי מעצבים | October 05, 2011 at 06:53 AM
Recheck your facts. http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/bridging-the-cayman-islands/statement-from-the-organizers-of-penny-palfreys-bridging-the-cayman-islands-swim/238834866128494
This story came from one photojournalist who had no pictures to back up story. No one else on the boats saw or heard of any sharks being killed. The reporter from the Cayman Compass has been unavailable since the investigation...
Posted by: Debbie | June 28, 2011 at 10:49 PM
The 'landlord' will have his/her revenge...
Posted by: Kem Akol | June 16, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Thanks, Mel! Yeah, missed catching up you @ NCAAs. Saw you once, briefly, but you were talking to Adolph and I didn't want to interrupt.
Posted by: Melissa German | June 16, 2011 at 06:57 PM
Melissa....I thoroughly respect your opinion. Thank you for sharing. (BTW, sorry I missed you in MINN, during Men's NCAAs. I was in and out and working nonstop. I had to wear my event planner hat, one I'm not use to wearing.)
Posted by: gmm | June 16, 2011 at 04:45 PM
I agree with Chris. Penny Palfrey was in THEIR habitat and since this was a swim that had to be done "by the strict rules of no fins, no wetsuit and no shark cage," both she & race organizers should have anticipated that she would certainly encounter marine life on this nearly 2-day-long swim and taken appropriate precautions. They could've used any of a number of electronic shark repelling devices, which emit a sonar that overloads the sensory systems of the sharks. Or at the very least they should've used a specialized firearm, such as a powerhead or bang stick, to kill the sharks. There is simply no reason for Ms. Palfrey & crew to be so unprepared to deal with sharks that they had to hack 3 of them to death with a machete. Race planner, Steve Munatones, said this was to be "the most well-planned and documented swim in history." I have to respectfully disagree that it was well-planned if sharks weren't taken into account. As for the "most documented" swim...I have to wonder if the brutal killing of these sharks was filmed? I don't mean to be disrespectful, Mel, since I know Steve is a friend of yours, but I did want to share my opinion. Thanks!
Posted by: Melissa German | June 16, 2011 at 03:39 PM
I can swim in lakes, but I don't like it.... Oceans? No way. I turn down open-water clinics for this reason... I should say that I do a few ocean swims a year, but always in crystal clear water.
Posted by: gmm | June 16, 2011 at 10:44 AM
I'm with you, I would not have been in the water to begin with. Not only do I fear the sharks, but the weeds (or kelp, but we only have lakes here in Minnesota), give me the willies.
I feel bad for the sharks. She's invading their home.
Posted by: Chris Norman | June 16, 2011 at 10:27 AM