Flautist first to take on Southern most point of Africa

Cape Town's multi-award winning young flautist Carina Bruwer will attempt to be the first female and the first South African to swim around Cape Agulhas - the southern-most point of Africa - on South Africa's Freedom Day 27 April.

(PRWEB) April 26, 2004 --Long distance swimmer Carina Bruwer will be slipping away from her duties as flautist at Phantom of the Opera" to attempt to become the first South African, as well as the first female swimmer, to swim around Cape Agulhas, the southern-most point of Africa, on Tuesday 27 April. Carina made headlines on 27 March 2004 when she became the first South African to round Cape Point in record time.

The seas around Cape Agulhas are very treacherous and have caused numerous shipwrecks. Because of this and strong and unpredictable currents and the ever-present threat of sharks, this marathon swim is regarded as one of the toughest in Africa. If successful, Carina will be only the second person ever to have successfully rounded this historic Point. The only person to have done the swim is the Englishman Lewis Pugh, who in 1994 swam the distance in 4 hours 15 minutes. Carina will attempt to add this record to her Cape Point record time.    

For Tuesdays attempt, a support boat from the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (CLDSA) will accompany Carina on her swim. The boat will be equipped with an electronic shark repellant devise (Shark Shield"), and Peter Bales (who became the first South African man to swim the English Channel in 1969) will once again deputise.

Bales, CLDSA President, says: Carina is a very strong and focused swimme, and always up for a challenge. If the currents dont play up, I think she has a good chance of making it."

Apart from the record breaking Cape Point swim, Carina has done three successful Robben Island crossings. Earlier this year she won the South African 10km Open Water Championships.

For live updates during the swim, which should commence around 8:00, please call Carinus Lemmer on +27724499035.

Notes to Editors

Carina is a professional, multi award winning flautist and a Director of a music agency. She is 24 years old and lives in Stellenbosch.

Carina is also currently rehearsing for her show Flute for Thought" which is on at the Baxter Morning Melodies on Wednesday 28 April.

The route of the swim is from Old Bay Cape Agulhas to Struis Bay, roughly 11km.