New World Record OW Swim

Katie, I told in detail what occurred during the alleged 3 separate massacres of endangered sharks in an email to Todd Cameron and several others, including different publications. In brief summary, I saw 3 separate incidents where sharks swam around Penny. These were in the daytime under gorgeous conditions while I was on her escort boat. I had an excellent view of the situation. As I explained to Todd who has been quoted in several publications, Penny was not under direct attack. However, a shark did come up to one of her kayakers. If I were that kayaker, I would have similarly defended myself with a paddle. I understand from many in the community that even those actions are indefensible. However, I believe it is a natural human response to attempt to defend oneself in the open ocean. As the shark was circling the kayaker, another one of Penny's support crew tried to get between the kayaker, Penny and the shark with a small Zodiac. He cut (killed) a fish and threw them in the opposite direction of Penny. The sharks swam in the direction of the bleeding fish. On two of these occasions, he attempted to hook the sharks with a baited fish. One shark was hooked and the crew member tried to pull the trashing shark into the Zodiac with his bare hands and a fishing line. If anyone has ever tried to pull a 6-8 foot trashing shark into a small Zodiac with bare hands around a fishing line, you will know that is an extraordinarily difficult thing to achieve. The shark was not caught nor pulled into the Zodiac. Without being able to be held or pulled into the Zodiac, I always wonder how the crew member was supposedly able to machete the shark to death, especially since the sharks got away and the crew member never dove in the water and there was no blood in the water and no blood in the Zodiac. I can confirm this because I was in that very Zodiac on the next shift. In summary, I did not see any sharks being killed, although I saw two sharks attempt to be hooked and pulled from the water. I have invited several individuals who are quite upset at Penny and her crew (myself included) to appear on Open Water Wednesday in order to describe this swim and these incidents and how this swim is not an example of all the good that is created by the open water swimming community. These individuals include some of the most well-known open water swimmers in history. If they agree to appear, I am hopeful their views of the sport and the desirability of respecting all marine creatures will be heard, discussed and accepted widely.

Katie, I told in detail what occurred during the alleged 3 separate massacres of endangered sharks in an email to Todd Cameron and several others, including different publications. In brief summary, I saw 3 separate incidents where sharks swam around Penny. These were in the daytime under gorgeous conditions while I was on her escort boat. I had an excellent view of the situation. As I explained to Todd who has been quoted in several publications, Penny was not under direct attack. However, a shark did come up to one of her kayakers. If I were that kayaker, I would have similarly defended myself with a paddle. I understand from many in the community that even those actions are indefensible. However, I believe it is a natural human response to attempt to defend oneself in the open ocean. As the shark was circling the kayaker, another one of Penny's support crew tried to get between the kayaker, Penny and the shark with a small Zodiac. He cut (killed) a fish and threw them in the opposite direction of Penny. The sharks swam in the direction of the bleeding fish. On two of these occasions, he attempted to hook the sharks with a baited fish. One shark was hooked and the crew member tried to pull the trashing shark into the Zodiac with his bare hands and a fishing line. If anyone has ever tried to pull a 6-8 foot trashing shark into a small Zodiac with bare hands around a fishing line, you will know that is an extraordinarily difficult thing to achieve. The shark was not caught nor pulled into the Zodiac. Without being able to be held or pulled into the Zodiac, I always wonder how the crew member was supposedly able to machete the shark to death, especially since the sharks got away and the crew member never dove in the water and there was no blood in the water and no blood in the Zodiac. I can confirm this because I was in that very Zodiac on the next shift. In summary, I did not see any sharks being killed, although I saw two sharks attempt to be hooked and pulled from the water. I have invited several individuals who are quite upset at Penny and her crew (myself included) to appear on Open Water Wednesday in order to describe this swim and these incidents and how this swim is not an example of all the good that is created by the open water swimming community. These individuals include some of the most well-known open water swimmers in history. If they agree to appear, I am hopeful their views of the sport and the desirability of respecting all marine creatures will be heard, discussed and accepted widely.