Location
Manly to Queenscliff Beach, Sydney, Australia
Date
December 12, 1999
Distance
36.8 km (23 laps)
About This Swim
On the 12th of December 1999 I swam 23 laps of Manly to Queenscliffe beach which is a 1.6 kms for each lap totalling 36.8 kms taking about 11 and a half hours. The hardest thing about this swim was that for the entire day we had a 30 knot Southerly breeze, which meant that every second lap you would be against the wind and so you would battle for a long time against the wind and then you would turn around and swim with the wind and then in not much time you would be back to swimming against the wind. It was a mental battle the entire day. To this day it still remains a record for the number of laps completed of Manly to Queenscliffe beach
The Manly to Queenscliff swim is one of Australia's most iconic ocean swims, covering the distance between two of Sydney's famous Northern Beaches. In 1999, James Pittar set a record that still stands today - completing an extraordinary 23 laps of this challenging course.
This endurance achievement, covering approximately 32 kilometers of ocean swimming, showcased James's exceptional stamina and mental fortitude. The record remains unbroken to this day, testament to the extraordinary nature of this accomplishment.