The support boat crew will watch out that nothing scary arrives
Yach, 51, plans to swim from Three Anchor Bay to Robben Island and back (rounding the iconic island anti-clockwise) to raise funds for the Cadiz Open Water Swimming Development Trust.
If the calm conditions remain, Yach will enter the icy Atlantic ocean early tomorrow morning for a mind-numbing, day-long swim.
Speaking to Times LIVE from Cape Town, Yach said the number one risk was hypothermia, followed by sharks, jellyfish and other hazards.
Yach will be accompanied by a support boat and will consume energy drinks, chocolates and biscuits in the water. He may not touch the boat or crew in terms of open water swimming rules.
"The support boat crew will watch out that nothing scary arrives, they will guide me and feed me during the swim," said Yach.
The daring swim is 29.5km as the crow flies, but in reality he will swim a few extra kilometres to counteract a current which will push him towards the north-east.
Yach holds the record for the most Robben Island crossings (54), and swam across the English Channel in 1996.
Sports Scientist Tim Noakes says the key to Yach's success is mental attitude, peak fitness, training in water colder than 13 degrees and putting on at least 10kg of body fat.
However, he warns that swimming in water between 12-14 degrees is ultimately life threatening.
"He needs proper controls and support. His body temperature must be monitored at all times. If his body temperature drops below 35 degrees, he faces the ‘disappearing swimmer syndrome’ – one minute the swimmer is there, the next he has dropped to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean,“ says Noakes.
>> Follow Yach's swim on Times LIVE this weekend.
Loading...
hoodoo