Swimming to Rottnest

I love wine, I love learning about it, tasting it, discovering it and I am lucky to live near the vineyards of Margaret River and the Swan Valley. I attend as many tastings as I can and one day I will complete my Master of Wine. This is the highest and most highly regarded award in the wine industry but I know I have a long way to go before I do that. But nothing is impossible (as Adidas’ slogan reminds me).  And I have to remind myself that not so long ago, I completed what only a few thousand have in the past 20 years, a solo swim crossing of 19.7 kilometres from Cottesloe to Rottnest.

Rottnest solo swim

Rottnest solo swim

It all started last year when I set myself the goal of swimming in the Rottnest Channel swim as a solo swimmer. I had completed the duo in 2012 but the solo I knew would be hard. And it was but very much worth it for all the people I met along the way and the tips shared among the swim squads I attended.

While training I had the support and advice of so many people, I was so grateful for their tips and help. One of which was Lesley Meaney who lent me the book she had written in the 90’s,’ Why swim to Rottnest when you can catch the ferry?’ Lesley was the sixth person to swim to Rottnest and the first female in 1969. I’ve written more about my experience on The Wine Place blog here. I know now that I can swim to Rottnest solo, perhaps there is hope that one day, I can complete my Master of Wine.