Press Release: David Rich Swims from France to Italy
David Rich becomes first American to cross Bonifacio Channel
Water World Swim and Dolphin Club member completes 15K challenge in less than five hours
SAN FRANCISCO and SARDINA, Italy—July 12, 2015—Water World Swim, the universal expert on open water swimming, today announced the first-ever successful crossing of the Bonifacio Channel by an American swimmer. Dolphin Club and Water World Swim member David Rich, from San Francisco, completed the 15-kilometer swim in 4:56:27. David began his swim on July 8, 2015 at 7:45 a.m. local time in Corsica, France, and completed his journey on the shores of Sardinia, Italy at 12:42 p.m. local time. His journey took him from north to south through mostly calm water conditions but with strong currents pushing him East throughout the crossing. The water temperature measured 71 degrees Fahrenheit.
“This challenge was extremely taxing but rewarding at the same time,” said Rich. “When I set out to cross the Bonifacio Channel, I knew I would be the first American to do so, which is an incredible honor, but my main motivation was to take in a new swimming culture and gain exposure to the local people. I would like to thank the people of France and Italy for all their hospitality and my fellow swimmers worldwide for all of their support. I look forward to sharing my adventures so others can partake in a similar experience.”
Water World Swim coach Alessandro Gottardis and Water World Swim Europe Coordinator Pat Tomada, as well as boat pilot Tomasso Muntoni were on site to support David’s latest achievement. The seaside towns of Bonifacio and Santa Teresa Gallura also provided critical elements to make the swim possible, including all medical equipment and first aid, inflatable boats with captain and assistants.
“People are all separated by oceans, but swimmers have the ability to unite us all,” said Water World Swim founder and head coach, Pedro Ordenes. “David is the perfect ambassador to be the first American to cross the Bonifacio Channel because he embraces this core Water World Swim value. Everyone at Water World Swim is very proud of David’s historic accomplishment to become the very first American to successfully swim from France to Italy.”
Water World Swim is the universal expert on open water swimming that provides a safe, guided, and fun environment for swimmers of all levels to uncover a lifelong and life-affirming love for the planet’s most exotic natural pools. From weekly swims in local waters to international expeditions, Water World Swim unites the world through swimming. For more information, please visit www.waterworldswim.com.
About David Rich
David Rich is an American technology executive and long-distance swimmer from San Francisco, California. A competitive pool swimmer since age 6, David transitioned to open water swimming when he started competing in triathlons in the late 1980’s. Since then, he has been training and racing year round with the Dolphin Club in the San Francisco Bay, completing the distance from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco over 30 times. David has traveled the world as an early pioneer and competitor in numerous relay and solo swims, some across continents including: the English Channel (relay from England to France) and solo swims across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Africa, the Maui Channel in the Hawaiian islands, Lake Windermere in England, Lake Zurich in Switzerland and the Dardanelles Strait in Turkey which separates Asia from Europe.
About Water World Swim
Water World Swim is the universal expert on open water swimming. With nearly 30 years’ experience tackling the biggest aquatic challenges on Earth, Water World Swim has helped unite the world through swimming by successfully guiding excursions across the English Channel, the Strait of Magellan, the Bonifacio Channel and more. Lead by Head Coach Pedro Ordenes, who holds a world record with more than 900 Alcatraz crossings, Water World Swim provides a safe, guided, and fun environment for swimmers of all levels to uncover a lifelong and life-affirming love for the planet’s most exotic natural pools. For more information, please visit www.waterworldswim.com