ESTHER Bertram and Nuala Knight made history on Tuesday when they became the first Falklands residents to swim across Falkland Sound. The dedicated pair have been training relentlessly for the cold 4.3km swim which was intended to be West to East but at the last moment became East to West due to unexpected easterly winds they told Penguin News this week.
They explained that after some complex logistics magnificently organised by Myles Lee the night before everyone made it to Jersey Point where they met the Deligniers yacht Le Sourire on which they spent the night. Nuala said: “In the morning there was more chop on the water than anticipated… Huges and Marie Paul and Marilou (Deligniers family) said come and look at the sea.. asking do you want to consider doing it from the East.”
The experienced team explained it would only take 20 minutes to cross and the decision was made.
Across the water they met up with the second support boat owned by Bill Pole-Evans and were rapidly ushered into small boats. “Bill took us to a rock that was attached to the mainland, nose to nose like a frog… they put us in the water we didn’t have to make any decisions everyone had a job. Marilou was in a kayak and everything went smoothly.”

Nuala and Esther explained the training prior to the swim had been quite hard going. Their friend Glenn Welch had worked out a spreadsheet so they knew how much time they would have to add on each week to get to their goal.
This had meant they’d been training regularly in cold conditions over past months, Esther around Stanley and Nuala at Fox Bay, but spurring each other on to last longer.
Much of the discussion had surrounded how to keep warm especially hands and feet – ultimately Esther required three pairs of thin gloves and Nuala two! Half way through the swim Nuala struggled with water shooting in the back of her wetsuit which caused her to have to swim faster away from Esther to keep warm.
On the day though the weather was fantastic; sunny with blue skies and it made all the difference they said.
Despite feeling overwhelmed and anxious at the beginning, once they began it all became real.
Nuala said: “we were swimming at a really nice comfortable pace and it gave us a chance to say we are really doing this – and you just felt so loved and supported.”
Esther added: “Training had been relentless on our own – Glen was amazing spotting me from the land but you were completely alone, and so suddenly on actual the day you had all this safety and Nuala and I were swimming together too.”
It wasn’t all a bed of roses though the image shows that as the women got close to Jersey Point they hit the strong current which began to take them north. Although Nuala had swam ahead of Esther later the impact of the current slowed her
Pointing at a map of Jersey Point Esther said, “I thought I was going to miss this completely…”
Nuala had the same experience and soon both were wondering if they were going to hit dry land at all or be swept into the South Atlantic.
Ultimately some strong swimming had them unexpectedly arrive at almost the same moment on Jersey Point. Mostly to Nuala’s surprise who thought she had left Esther a little behind in her attempt to keep warm.
The tide of course could have been far worse – this was in fact the very best tidal day chosen carefully with advice from Giselle Hazell and Sally Poncet.
Final moments too were less than perfect and involved battling through a mat of kelp.
The pair emphasised the teamwork and camaraderie: Esther said “Nuala is faster swimmer than me so she was helping me breaking the water for me.”
They also talked about Marilou’s support: “She was filming, she was organizing things she had three GPS, she was on the kayak and communicating with everyone.”
The pair say they have been deeply touched by the response to their adventure both in terms of charitable donations but also with regard to the kind and supportive messages before during and after the event.
They would like to thank everyone who kindly assisted and supported them.
Funds raised will go to the Camp Education Development Group; Stephen Jaffray Memorial Fund and Falkland Conservation.

picture Marilou Del