KUALA LUMPUR: Two Australians became the first to swim non-stop and unassisted across the 17-kilometre stretch from mainland Terengganu to Pulau Perhentian.
Arno Tan and Nicholas Robertson from Melbourne completed the swim as part of the Downunder Duo Swim 2024, an event organised by WTF Swims.
WTF Swims in a statement said the pair entered the water at Kem Damai Besut at 2am and emerged at Perhentian Chomel Chalet on Pulau Perhentian Kecil at 9.11am, completing the swim in seven hours, 11 minutes, and 28 seconds.
The duo swam in tandem while being accompanied by a support team in a boat and two kayaks.
It added that their swim adhered to the strict guidelines of the Marathon Swimmers Federation (MSF).
"Non-stop means the swimmer remained in the water for the entire duration of the swim and refrained from making intentional physical contact with the escort boat, other swimmers, or flotation devices.
"Unassisted means the swimmer used standard equipment only such as goggles, swim cap and textile swimwear, and refrained from using equipment that boosts performance or aids buoyancy such as neoprene swimwear and tow floats.
"This is the first Perhentian Channel crossing in the direction of Besut to Pulau Perhentian," it said.
In March 2021, Malaysian swimmer Ridzwan Rahim became the first person to swim the channel, but in the direction of Pulau Perhentian to Besut.
Ridzwan's swim, completed in eight hours, 56 minutes, and 30 seconds, has been ratified by the MSF.
The Perhentian Channel swim is part of the WTF Swims series, which includes three other courses: the Redang Channel (25km from Pulau Redang to the mainland), Lang Tengah 2 (17km from Pulau Perhentian to Pulau Lang Tengah), and Lang Tengah 1 (10km from Pulau Redang to Pulau Lang Tengah).
Reflecting on the swim, Tan described the South China Sea as fully unpredictable.
"What a night and morning of changing conditions—from glass perfect to cooling rain to raging currents.
"Thanks to team WTF Swims for getting us through to Perhentian Kecil," he said.
Head crew Ridzwan said the duo had a fairly easy swim until around kilometre 10 when a strong current hampered their progress towards their intended finishing point at Alunan Resort, Pulau Perhentian Kecil.
"We had to guide them to another beach for the landing," he said.