SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews / 15 July) – Marathon swimmer Ingemar “Pinoy Aquaman” Macarine has started his acclimatization training in the United Kingdom for his bid to cross the 21-mile (33.8 km) English Channel next month.
“My first acclimatization training in the open water last Monday was a bit of a shock,” he said in his Facebook page. “Water temperature was a chilly 14C and air temp was 15C. That’s almost half the 29C water temperature when I swam 16.8km from Bohol to Cebu last June 12,” he added.
Macarine and his official navigator, Edwin dela Cruz, arrived in the United Kingdom last Monday for the acclimatization training and eventual historic swim in the English Channel being the first Filipino and the third man in Southeast Asia to attempt the swim.
“Thank God I’m acclimatizing well to the cold water,” he said.
Next week the Pinoy Aquaman has to endure the six-hour certification swim under the English Channel Swimming Association rules.
“I must swim for six hours with a water temperature of 15 degree Celsius or below before I will be allowed to swim the English Channel,” he added.
The 40-year-old triathlon-lawyer is determined to cross the English Channel next month.
“Swims usually start at or near Shakespeare’s Cliff or Samphire Hoe (in between Folkestone and Dover), and aim to finish at or near Cap Gris Nez (between Boulogne and Calais),” the Channel Swimming Association (CSA) describes the England-to-France swim in its website.
The former varsity swimmer of Silliman University in Dumaguete City told MindaNews that he is doing good with his training in London.
Macarine pioneered crossings in and outside the country to promote his lifetime advocacy for clean seas, environmental tourism, and climate change awareness.
Just like in his previous open water marathons, Macarine followed the Marathon Swimming Federation Rules and performed solo swimming without floating aid or help from any human or sea vessel.