Adel Assal

Adel Assal is an escort pilot from Lebanon who guided THE OPEN WATER SWIM TRAVERSE, a 6-person relay that swam 180 km from Cyprus to Batroun, Lebanon.

THE OPEN WATER SWIM TRAVERSE

THE OPEN WATER SWIM TRAVERSE is a 10-minute film about a six-person relay team who swam from Cyprus to Batroun, Lebanon to raise awareness on plastic use and its impact on the Mediterranean Sea and the world, directed by Edwin El Bainou. The 180 km swim started on 17 October and finished 51 hours 50 minutes later on 19 October 2019. The Open Water Swim Traverse was the winner of BEST SHORT FILM at the February 2021 WILDsound FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Traverse Swimmers, Crew & Sponsors

33-year-old Soumaya Merhi (TAQA Snacks founder), 40-year-old Jad Ghosn, 36-year-old Diane Boulos, 59-year-old Mary Anne Reese Ballouz, 44-year-old May Timani, and 45-year-old Martin Mougharbil completed the first open water non-stop relay swim from Cyprus to Batroun, Lebanon. The crew that assisted and supported the team included filmmaker Edwin El Bainou, medical assistance Doctor Elianne Khoury, and escort pilots Adel Assal, Joseph Boulos, and Ziad Salhab with sponsorship and collaboration by Exocet Sailing, Batroun Municipality, Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award, MTV Lebanon, Batroun Festival, LWIS School, IM Capital, Clemenceau Medical Center, and Bolero Batroun.

External links

• The Open Water Traverse from Cyprus to Lebanon
• Interview with Filmmmaker Edwin Bainou (THE OPEN WATER SWIM TRAVERSE)