Is Penny Palfrey nuts? You be the judge!
The 49-year-old marathon swimmer is at attempting an unassisted open water swim from Cuba to Florida. It may well prove to be ‘assisted suicide’ and you’ll see why…
Last week, World record-holder Palfrey swam 67 miles, over open water, between two of the Cayman Islands. The swim set a new world record for a solo ocean swim.
Sounds pretty impressive, eh?
The problem was that particular swim was the crew who followed her were forced to kill three sharks along the way, which posed a threat to Palfrey. Two of the sharks were of Oceanic whitetip variety – which are included as vulnerable species on the ICUN worldwide list of critically endangered animals.
Obviously not great for publicity.
Now in her latest record-setting swim attempt, the British- Australian mother of three will swim, unassisted, from Havana, Cuba across 100-mile Florida straight to Florida.
It would seem that ‘unassisted’ implies that her crew will NOT be dispatching any rogue sharks this time, and Palfrey is going with the Grace of God, but that remains to be seen. Although a Cuba-Florida swim has been successfully attempted in past, protective shark cages were usually involved. (I’m sure a few people, over the years, fleeing Cuba’s communist rule have also made the swim.)
So, is Penny Palfrey really nuts? Let’s just say, I wouldn’t do it!
I wish Ms. Pelfrey the best of luck as she sets-off on her voyage this morning. I think she may need all the luck she can get!
Outdoorsguy