Penny Palfrey to make Cayman history
Penny Palfrey, an Australian marathon swimmer, will attempt to be the first person to swim the 90 miles between Little Cayman and Grand Cayman. Palfrey, who is supported in her quest by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and Flowers Group, is a seasoned marathon swimmer, who has completed a number of open-water challenges since taking up the sport seriously in 1993.
Palfrey’s past achievements include setting the women’s record for double crossing the Strait of Gibraltar in 2010, and becoming the first woman to swim the Alenuihaha Channel from Hawaii to Maui, a distance of 30 miles.
Palfrey’s Cayman record attempt looks set to take place in early June, however, her exact date will depend on the water conditions. The event has become known as Bridging the Cayman Islands, and will take around 40 hours to complete.
Although the waters between Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are beautiful to behold, Palfrey will be facing 90 miles of relentless tropical heat, harsh seas, and the possibility of attracting sharks, lasting through the day and night.
Palfrey is from Townsville, Queensland and has a lifetime of experiences that she will depend upon to set this marathon swimming world record.
Palfrey hails from Townsville, Queensland, and loves open water swimming for the mental and physical challenges, and the excitement that the sport offers. It is also a great opportunity for Palfrey to meet amazing people from around the world.