A former Victoria resident plans to swim the length of the Gorge waterway — from Portage Inlet to Victoria Harbour — this month to raise money for the Gorge Swim Fest Society.
Marlaina Rhymer, who now lives in Squamish, grew up in Victoria, where her mother still lives.
The idea for the swim came when she last visited and spent time with a family friend involved with the Gorge Swim Fest Society, which promotes swimming in the waterway.
“When I was a kid growing up in Victoria, the Gorge didn’t have the reputation of being a suitable swimming spot at all,” Rhymer said. “It was known for being polluted.”
Since the 1990s, cleanup efforts have improved the water quality, a boon for fish and swimmers alike. Now it is a great swim spot, home to the annual Gorge Swim Fest and a regular training spot for triathletes.
“I really love how the community came together to make this place special and beautiful again, and thought it would be an interesting challenge to try to swim it from end-to-end, Portage Inlet to Victoria Harbour,” Rhymer said. “And why not support one of these fantastic local organizations in the process?”
To that end, she’s launched an online fundraising campaign with proceeds to the Gorge Swim Fest Society.
Rhymer, founder of the Swim Wild Squamish outdoor swim club, swims year-round in the open water.
“In the summer, I can train longer distances when the water is warmer, and in the winter, I can acclimatize my body and mind to stand the cold water,” she said.
She recently completed the 12-kilometre swim from Penticton to Okanagan Falls in Skaha Lake.
The Gorge swim is about half that distance but has its own challenges. The Tillicum Narrows will likely be the trickiest part of the swim, Rhymer said.
“At this location, the entire Gorge Waterway squeezes through a mere 45-foot-wide channel,” she said. “As the tides go in and out, this can mean some significant rapids, standing waves, and strong currents.”
She will attempt this swim at slack tide, when the water is going neither in nor out, but said she’ll get out and walk around if the conditions are not favourable for a safe swim.
“Otherwise, I’ll plan to complete the entire swim without touching the boat, land, or any other flotation devices while wearing only typical pool swimming gear: swimsuit, cap, goggles, earplugs,” she said.
Rhymer’s other concerns are boat traffic and seaweed.
“The seaweed isn’t harmful, of course, but it freaks me out when it touches me when I’m in the water,” she said.
She plans to stick to the deeper parts of the waterway in the hopes it will be less weedy, “but I may just have to breathe, stay calm, and swim through it.”
A kayaker will help her navigate through the boat traffic.
Rhymer is watching the tides to determine the best day to do the swim this month.
Keep up with plans for the swim on Rhymer's fundraising page.
— With files from the Times Colonist
