Somerset West’s extreme water athlete Howard Warrington is at it again!
The well-known endurance swimmer, who has made headlines for many accolades, just recently toughed out 50 Robben Island crossings and has set his sights on the next target. Following the December 2020 achievement, Warrington now strives to overhaul his 100th Robben Island crossing by end of next month.
“I am on a mission to swim 100 Robben Island crossings. I have just completed my 91st crossing, so I’ve nine more within about seven weeks. I am supporting the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, which commemorates its 150th birthday in May,” said Warrington.
The local first ventured into open-water swimming in 2015 when he took on his first Robben Island crossing. Since then, the fearless ocean crosser proved that it’s all mind over matter after swimming across False Bay, from Simon’s Town to Rooi Els on Tuesday 14 December (“Swimmer to cross False Bay for good cause,” DistrictMail, 30 September). The latest challenge, dubbed Swimming4Survival, aims to raise awareness for Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s Short-Term Wildlife Care Facility, which offers full-flight aviaries, aqua pens, small mammal night and day enclosures, as well as temperature-controlled environments for reptiles.
“I am doing these 100 crossings to raise awareness for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA and all of the good work that they are doing,” explained Warrington, adding that the organisation is not government funded and depends heavily on monetary donations from charity organizations, memberships and merchandise sold to the public.
All of these crossings also serve as training for the next feat that he is aiming to accomplish. “In July, I will be swimming the Strait of Gibraltar from Europe to Africa,” he proudly declared.
