Beytell completes Robben Island swim

Gordon's Bay open-water swimmer Johann Beytell, 45, can now be counted among the elite group of only 29 swimmers who have circumnavigated Robben Island since 1987 after completing the gruelling 11km loop on Saturday, February 7.

- SIBULELE KASA

But beyond the statistics and the distance, the achievement marks a deeply personal milestone in a journey that began not in open water, but in a doctor's office.

Unlike the well-known 7.4 km Robben Island to Blouberg crossing, the full circumnavigation offers no visible finish line and no tidal assistance. Every metre must be earned.

Water temperatures range between 12°C and 15°C, and swimmers must contend with unpredictable currents, wave action and marine life. The swim can only take place when approved by the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (CLDSA) during a narrow weather window.

Starting and finishing at the Murray's Bay Harbor, Mr Beytell and his support crew navigated mist, strong currents and stinging jellyfish during the five-and-a-half-hour effort. Seals made fleeting appearances, more focused on hunting than the lone swimmer moving steadily through their waters.

Although he has previously completed a 12km open-water swim, Mr Beytell described the Robben Island circuit as more challenging.

"Swimming a complete circle with no clear sense of progress makes it as mentally demanding as it is physically tough," he said.

True to his preference, he swam "skins" - without a wetsuit - fully exposed to the cold Atlantic.