KRALENDIJK – Koen Verhoeven and Eden-Lee Schwager won the Swim to Klein Bonaire competition on Sunday. Verhoeven was the fastest among the men, while 17-year-old Schwager claimed her first victory in the women’s race. Both the competitive and the recreational swimmers had to deal with strong currents and high waves.
Verhoeven won the race, once again organised by Aquatics and Jong Bonaire, for the third time, in just over 25 minutes. Last year he had to concede the victory to another swimmer. This time he managed to finish first again, despite the difficult conditions on the water.
“There was a lot more current than last year,” Verhoeven says afterwards. Especially on the way back from Klein Bonaire towards Bonaire, it was hard to hold the right course. Because of the current and the waves, swimmers also got a lot of salt water in their faces, combined with the low sun, which limited visibility.
Avoiding a curve
According to Verhoeven, it is important to navigate well during the crossing. “You try to swim in as few curves as possible,” he explains. Because of the current, swimmers can drift off their line without noticing and then have to swim extra hard against the current in the final stretch.
The swimmer trains in the water five times a week and does strength training three times a week. In the coming months, races in Aruba and Curaçao may be on the programme. He is also looking forward to the Caribbean Championships in Trinidad, which are currently scheduled for early April.
First victory for Schwager
In the women’s race, the victory went to Eden-Lee Schwager. For the 17-year-old swimmer it was her first win in the event. Four years ago she finished second.
“It was tough for a while,” Schwager says. The start in particular was demanding, as many swimmers entered the water at the same time and everyone tried to find a good position. She, too, felt the strong current during the race.
At the finish, Schwager initially did not know she had won. “I saw a bunch of guys coming towards me with a livestream. They said: ‘Oh, you came first,’” she says.
Unlike Verhoeven, Schwager trains about three times a week in the swimming pool located in the sea off Bonaire. During the race she mainly tried to keep to her own pace and not pay too much attention to the other swimmers.
Organisation satisfied with safety
Organiser Björn Saragoza of Stichting Jong Bonaire also looks back on the event with satisfaction. The organisation had been nervous beforehand about how the swim would go, partly because of the weather conditions and the strong current.
“It was very nerve-racking for me too, especially as coordinator, making sure everything runs smoothly,” says Saragoza. “But now we can see, and say, that it went well.”
Safety
According to the organiser, there were no incidents. He expressed his appreciation for the people who supervised the water and safeguarded the participants, including the boat crews and the kayak escorts.
“They simply did a fantastic job,” Saragoza says. According to him, the swimmers’ safety came first, especially given the high waves and the current that were clearly noticeable during the race.
Proceeds for young people
The Swim to Klein Bonaire is one of the larger annual events of Stichting Jong Bonaire and is sponsored by Guardian Group. The proceeds go back to the youth organisation and are used, among other things, for materials and activities for young people.
Saragoza estimates that about 900 people had registered and that around 700 participants eventually entered the water. This means the swim remains an event that attracts a lot of interest on Bonaire.
Next edition
The organisation is already looking ahead to the next edition. It will be a special one, as the Swim to Klein Bonaire will then be organised for the 25th time. Saragoza wants to make it a special edition, although the plans still need to be worked out further.
“We’re going for the 25th year. We want to make something big,” he says. “We’re thinking of bringing in an international band. But we still have to make the concrete plans. And ultimately, the safety of participants remains our priority.”
