Friday, October 12, 2007

Swim-Across-the-Bay draws Davao, Koronadal tankers

Alabel, Sarangani (May 28, 2007) - Last year's Sarangani Bay Festival was an astounding success which saw for the first time the bay crossed by swimmers who participated in the Swim-Across-the-Bay competition.

"Sa Tampuan (Maasim) yong starting point and then ang finishing is nasa Tango, Glan," said Alan De Lima, chair of the swim event. "Mag me-maintain tayo ng book of conquerors sa lahat ng mga naka survive sa ating swim across the bay."

Sarangani Bay was conquered last year by swimmers from General Santos City. The Dadiangas Torpedoes team (official time – 04:05:18 hours) won by just two minutes over MJ Powerpines of Maasim (04:07:12 hours). The Maasim Swimming Team clocked in with 4:57:26 for 3rd place.

Three 10-person teams finished the 15-kilometer, first-ever swim across Sarangani Bay on May 18, 2006.

Swimmers per team this year was reduced to five instead of 10. Teams from Davao City, Koronadal City, General Santos City, Polomolok, Maasim and the Philippine Navy have confirmed participation.

The swim is slated on May 31 with a mass start at 5am in Tampuan, Maasim.

Prizes are: P40,000 for 1st place; P25,000 – 2nd; and P10,000 -3rd. All finishers will receive consolation prizes.

The Sarangani Swim-Across-the-Bay is the longest open ocean marathon swimming competition in the country and probably in Asia .

Swimmers will follow Course Marker Boats fitted with Global Positioning System receivers to get the exact position of the shortest line from start to finish. Boats will be marked with orange flags to guide swimmers.

Each team will start with a lead swimmer closely followed by an escort boat where other team members wait for their turn.

When a swimmer gets tired, another plunges, making a tag for the exchange to be official and in order to continue to race.

Related swimming competitions have been staged in Guimaras Strait (approximately 5km.), the body of water separating Guimaras and Panay islands. Also in Samal Strait (5km.), separating Samal Island and mainland Davao.

The English Channel swimming challenge in the body of water between England and France is the most famous open ocean swimming race. It is a 32 kilometer cold water swim at 17oC. Sarangani Bay waters has a temperature of about 24-27 oC. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RIO)

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