MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentine swimmers planning to cross Falkland Sound next March
The four swimmers will remain a week in the Falkland Islands waiting for the right moment for the crossing 
Advisor Plitt was in the Falklands in 2008 when he coached open sea swimmer, Maria Ines Mattos in an unsuccessful crossing of the Falkland Sound Four professional swimmers from Mar del Plata, Argentina have announced they are preparing for a great challenge: next March they plan to cross the Falkland Sound joining West and East Falklands. Diego Piccardo, Martín Sánchez, Adrián Echeverría and Guido Ganín are training with professor Andrés Rosso under the supervision of the several times open sea champion Claudio Plitt.
According to the plan announced and reported in the local media, the swimmers will remain a week in the Islands waiting for the right moment for the crossing. It is estimated that in March the sea temperature will be in the range of 7 degrees Celsius. However the group will be needing special gear, a full wetsuit to join Fanning Head with Chancho Point.
Meantime in Mar del Plata taking advantage of the winter months the group is training in what they believe are similar conditions, with neoprene surfing suits, which nevertheless are not the most flexible for swimming.
One of the masterminds behind the challenge is a former Malvinas veteran and currently sports professor in Mar del Plata, Julio Aro. With his foundation “Don't forget me”, Aro advises athletes regarding the terrain and water conditions, and also with the formalities to comply with before the Falklands' government.
The crossing has the purpose of promoting the DNA-project from the Aro Foundation, for the identification of the 123 Argentine combatants fallen during the 1982 conflict, buried in the Argentine cemetery at Darwin, but whose remains still have no names.
Advisor Plitt is no stranger to the Falklands; he was in the Islands back in 2008 when an Argentine open sea swimmer, Maria Ines Mattos tried unsuccessfully to complete the six kilometers between West and East Falkland. Apparently on that occasion sea conditions, following a three hour attempt impeded the swimmer from completing the crossing.
According to his biography, Plitt was open waters swimmer world champion in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1986. He also figures in Fort Lauderdale Hall of Fame and in 1986, 87 and 88 won the Lake Saint Jean competition in Canada.
By 1990, when he retired, Plitt had participated in 160 international competitions averaging 8 to 9 hours in open waters, and establishing a record in the international field of this specialty.
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Read all commentsI think this is a great idea. Connections between neighbours promotes understanding and acceptance.
Aug 06th, 2015 - 05:44 am 0However if any of the participants use the occasion as a platform for some Peronist irredentist wet-dream of the mythical Malvinas then it should be shutdown instantly.
History can't be undone and there is a need to identify all the remains of the canon fodder of past and present Argentinean governments, however they will be swimming the FALKLAND SOUND in the FALKLAND ISLANDS and not Estrecho de San Carlos in the Malvinas.
And now for something completely different ..............
Aug 06th, 2015 - 06:08 am 0The Falklands Islands Police are very busy these days, having to post such releases as below (I suspect that any corresponding Arrgentine Police Force might somehow be a bit envious of such nefarious activity):
_____________________
Royal Falkland Islands Police:
Local residents on Tuesday afternoon drew the attention of the RFIP police to a significant amount of dog excrement had been left on a pedestrian footpath close to the junction of JAMES STREET and SNAKE HILL. This particular area is a regular thoroughfare for children and parents walking to and from school.
Whilst we are aware that most dog owners are very responsible and clear up after their animals, on this occasion, it was clear that this did not occur. Should someone’s pet foul upon a pedestrian footpath, then out of courtesy for others, please ensure that it is cleared up.
Following the incident this afternoon, it was home owners in JAMES STREET that had to wash the footpath down in order to make it useable for pedestrians, even though their animals were not responsible for causing the mess in the first place.
*** UPDATE ***
A further incident occurred in the very same area on Wednesday afternoon, and was reported by local residents to a passing police patrol.
Dog owners are duly advised that it is an offence under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Ordinance 2000, which applies to every road, footpath, road verge, car park, children's playground, recreation ground, pleasure ground, wood or other open space provided for public use or enjoyment within Stanley.
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Oh if we all were only such cursed with such wicked circumstances. I know I am truly jealous.
As usual, the trolls just won't understand.
Another thinly disguised propaganda exercise - the FIG need to clamp down on these activities.
Aug 06th, 2015 - 06:22 am 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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