Cape Long Distance Swimming Association
noun - The Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (CLDSA) is the only official governing body to officiate over solo open water swims in Cape Town waters in South Africa, and elsewhere in the country on request.
History
The Cape Long Distance Swimming Association was formed in 1969 largely as a result of interest generated in long distance swimming by the Robben Island to Woodstock race which was held in March of that year. A small group of swimmers and officials decided it was necessary to form a body to officiate and record all long distance swims in the Cape. The constitution laid down the basic rules of the sport which conform with today's international FINA rules.
During the 1970's two races were organised from Fish Hoek to Muizenberg but apart from this, the Association's sole function remained officiating swims.
In the 1980's a group of swimmers from the Atlantic seaboard joined the committee and numerous open water events were organised, many continuing on an annual basis until the present. People such as Tony Scalabrino, Eddie and Anthony Cassar, Barry Cutler and Chris Barnard kept the Association growing and six years ago a national body was formed in order to select and take swimmers to the World Championships.
The exploits of South African swimmers has been documented in a soft-cover book Open Water Swimming in South Africa, A Journal of the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association, compiled by Tony Sellmeyer. The book is in its third edition and is an inspirational journal on Open Water Swimming, containing articles, records, history, interesting stories, and much more.
Founding Members
Founder members were Dennis Pearson, Coenie van Eyssen, Frank Nielsen, John Pagden and Peter Bales, with surfing doyen John Whitmore as President.
Pilots
- Peter Bales: piloting since the mid-1970's
- Hugh Tucker: piloting since mid-1970's
- Tony Scalabrino
Cape Recife Swim
The Cape Long Distance Swimming Association sanctioned the unprecedented 11 km rounding of Cape Recife, the southeastern tip of the African continent on 28 February 2015 by PJ Duffy (3 hours 17 minutes), Rudi Schoeman (3 hours 18 minutes), Iain Geddes (3 hours 21 minutes), Kevin Grey (3 hours 23 minutes), Brenton Williams (3 hours 33 minutes), and Richden Jute (3 hours 34 minutes). The escort paddler was Terry Olivier.
External Links
- Lynne Cox Presenting Cold Water Capers In South Africa
- Quartet of Women Complete First Female Relay Across False Bay
- Tyron Venter Talks About Achieving The Unachievable
- The Swimming Evolution – From Briefs To Jammers
- Ryan Stramrood, Ned Denison Talk About Swimming False Bay With Great White Sharks On WOWSA Live
- How True: False Bay Is Tough
- Ryan Stramrood Is True To False Bay
- Quartet Of Queens Across False Bay In South Africa
- Dr. Otto Thaning Presents At The Cold Water Capers
- Kerry Kopke, Mermaid At Heart
- Arafat Gatabazi From Democratic Republic Of Congo To Robben Island
- Cape Long Distance Swimming Association
- The Build-up To Theodore Yach's Century Swim
- Book on Swimming in South Africa
- Open Water Swimming
- Brenton Williams Takes A Flyer To Robben Island
- Cecilia Schutte, Round And Round She Goes
- I Never Experienced That Much Pain In My Life
- Great Whites vs. Great Irish, No Falsehood In The Bay
- Marathon Swimming
- Ned Denison Faces The Truth In False Bay
- The Shark Diver Controversy In Ocean Swimming
- Theodore Yach Making A Point About The Cape
- One False Move By Ned Denison Across The Bay
- Peter Bales, A Navigating Giant Of South Africa
- Peter Bales, A 73-Year-Young Legend Of South Africa
- Tony Scalabrino Is Totally Onboard...His Spadavis
- Warming Up For The Winter Swimming Championships
- South African Swimmers Stand Tall For Maura Sanderoff
- JBay Cold Water Swim Classic Returns
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Tales By Bales
- Intrepid Seven Cross Cape, Round Recife
- Honoring Pilots Around The World
- Theodore Yach, Successful In His Element
- Prabhat Raju Koli Tours South Africa
- Arafat Gatabazi Walks And Swims To Realize His Dream
- Arafat Gatabazi Walks Across Africa To Swim Robben Island
- Hugh Tucker Honored By The Hall Of Fame
- A Lifetime Of Swimming, Sharing, Smiling And Strength
- The Swimming Evolution From Briefs To Jammers
- Pure And Simple, A Silver Lining For Alexander Popov
