The 2025 AGM of the CLDSA

The Annual General Meeting of the CLDSA is a highlight of the Open Water Swimming Year. It is an evening when CSLDA members gather together to celebrate the incredible achievements of their members and to connect with open water swimmers from all over the swimming community. This year the event was held at the Royal Cape Yacht Club, with an evening of dinner, inspirational speeches and awards.

The awards evening is one of reflection and recognition of personal achievements, and a time to salute the great swimmers amongst us. From elite swimmers to beginners, and all the brave a determined swimmers in-between, there is something to appreciate and applaud. Our Master of Ceremonies, Paula Armstrong, entertained us with an overview of the past year of swimming, and kept us on schedule – because when swimmers get together to talk about swimming…

The CLDSA Chairperson, Tracey Steyn, covered the business side of the meeting and presented the annual report. Celebrating 325 ratified swims from the 2024/25 swim season and she also encouraged members to ratify their swims as they go forwards. Ratifying swims is important to the CLDSA, who are internationally recognised as the official record keepers of Open Water Swimming in Cape Waters.

Introducing the Cape Triple Crown

Tracey also introduces a new challenge, The Cape Triple Crown, which includes three of Cape Town’s most challenging swim routes and will firmly place Cape Town on the map as a destination for International Swimmers. The routes are filled with the strong tradition of Cape Town Open Water Swimming, numerous challenges to overcome, and iconic beauty that can only be found in Western Cape waters. The routes include:

1. False Bay Crossing (33km): A swim across the expanse of False Bay, where swimmers have to overcome the quickly changing weather conditions, not to mention strong currents and wildlife, found in False Bay.
2. A Double Robben Island Crossing (14.8km): A swim steeped in history and tradition. There is no such thing as an easy Robben Island Crossing, and a double is literally twice as hard, as swimmers battle against not only the cold but challenging cross currents, this is a swim for experienced swimmers.
3. Three Capes (10.5km): Shorter definitely doesn’t mean easier, this is a technical swim starting on the colder Atlantic side of the Peninsula: Around Cape of Good Hope, past Cape Maclear, around Cape Point and on to Buffel’s Bay, in False Bay.

The Induction of Dr. Otto Thaning as a Lifetime Member.

The CLDSA recognises life time membership to those swimmers who have contributed significantly to establishing and building the long distance swimming community. Together their stories, their courage and commitment, and legacies live on to inspire new swimmers to the sport, and to continue the tradition of Open Water Swimming. It was with great joy that Dr. Otto Thanning was inducted as a lifetime member, by Peter Bales. Not only has he provided research and mentorship to cold water swimmers, but he is also the oldest swimmer to swim an English Channel (73 years) and the oldest swimmer to complete a Robben Island Crossing at 80 years old.

The Summit Programme

The Summit programme is the sponsorship and mentoring programme to help developmental swimmers complete their first Robben Island crossing. Monene Murray gave an update on the Summit Swimmer Programme, it was great to see past and future swimmers, and their mentors… who have joined the programme.

Awards and Trophies

Medals and awards are presented to swimmers at the end of each season. Medals are awarded according to specific categories on officially observed and recognised CLDSA routes. This year an outstanding number of medals were presented in both the wetsuit and skins catagories:

1. Bronze Medals: For Sea Swims greater than 7.5 km.
2. Silver Medals: For Sea Swims greater than 10 km.
3. Gold Medals: For a record for any officially recognised swim.

Big 5 Trophy
Was presented to Graeme King by Big Bay Eventt. For the swimmer who has completed the five long distance swims in the Challenge: Cape Point (8km), Dassen Island (10-11km), Robben Island – West Coast Angle (18km), Double Langebaan Express (24km), and False Bay (33km).

Jantzen Cup
For the fastest swim from Miller’s Point to Fish Hoek, was presented to Graham du Toit.

Barney Cemel Veterans Trophy

For tireless dedication to the growth of open water swimming and awarded to Monika Hayes for her exceptional False Bay Crossing (33km) at the age of 61.