The next day
at 6 a.m., my challenge begins.
It’s the perfect time
to attempt this swim.
There’s a small window when the currents
and the tides are at their weakest.
But I’m not allowed
to swim from the island itself.
It’s a federal offense,
and if I attempted it,
I could ironically find myself in jail.
So instead,
I must start a little way offshore.
Okay, here you are.
Alcatraz.
It’s amazing. This amazing weather.
Thank you for doing this.
Pedro Ordoñez knows
these treacherous waters
better than anyone.
He’s agreed to be my coach and guide.
Usually the currents
change by the minute, so…
Yeah.
The waters close to the island.
to the island, to the most dangerous.
The surface may look dead calm,
but don’t be deceived.
Beneath
it’s crisscrossed by riptides
and strong currents.
And I’m plunging right
into the heart of it.
That’s where I’m heading for Alcatraz
right behind me. I can hear the bells.
I can hear the bells.
This is properly magical,
I can already see why
this is considered such an iconic swim.
I just really, really hope I can make it.
Okay, You ready, Pedro?
You ready, Pedro?
We’re ready.
To jump in.
Yes.
We’ll call the Coast Guard.
You’re out in the water.
Breathe.
In an hour,
the tidal reach over three knots.
As fast as a long distance
Olympic swimmer.
I need to be out of the water by then.
Definetely no sharks, Pedro?
No sharks.
Around the island.
A reef forces
the water in every direction.
I’ve got to pull hard
to escape the currents,
but I can’t use too much energy
too early.
Lower your head.
Lower your head.
My technique’s not great,
and it’s making the swim even harder.
It’s hard work,
but that’s because I’m not
a particularly good swimmer.
I’ve got a wetsuit on
for added buoyancy and warmth.
But the escaped prisoners
would have been naked
or in that prison uniforms
with water temperatures
as low as ten degrees Celsius
and strong currents
dragging them out to sea.
It’s easy
to imagine how things could go wrong.
Oh, that’s it.
That’s better.
That’s better.
750 meters.
Almost half a mile gone.
I’ve made it out of the turbulent water.
And it’s a relief
to finally be able
to take in my surroundings.
Amazing.
Beautiful, keep going.
Almost there, almost there.
Its something
very special.
But being out here,
the Golden Gate Bridge over there
Alcatraz behind me,
and one of the
most scenic
cities in North America.
San Francisco.
It’s magical,
as dawn breaks.
This is one of those experiences
I’ll never forget.
Good job.
Good job. Good job.
We are almost half way.
We are almost half way.
Almost there.
Almost two kilometers down,
the tides of strengthen
to over two knots.
They are pulling me off course,
To the right.
Just relax.
I need to swim diagonally to the right
just to keep in a straight line.
Go Ben, you are doing great now.
As I fight exhaustion
and the ever strengthening tides,
I can’t help but
think of all those who never made it.
But I have a major advantage.
A man who can guide me
through these swirling waters.
Go for it.
I make it through the worst of it.
And the end is now
tantalisingly close.
I love it. I love it.
Go ahead Ben.
