Australian marathon swimmer Penny Palfrey is coming back to Hawaii in March, this time with a different swimming goal. The former Olympic-hopeful and 48-year-old grandmother wants to swim the Kaiwi Channel (Molokai to Oahu- 26 miles), the Kaluakahi Channel (Kauai to Niihau- 17 miles), and the Alalakeiki Channel (Maui to Kaho’olawe- 7 miles).

Penny will be doing one of the swims alone; the other two would be with her husband Chris Palfrey, also a marathon swimmer. She won’t completely commit to the other two swims, preferring to play that by ear depending on her physical condition after her Kaiwi Channel crossing.
 
“If I am feeling good after this swim, with no injuries, shoulder soreness, etcetera, I plan to swim the Kaluakahi Channel along with Chris. Then we plan to do the Alalakeiki Channel together later in our trip. So potentially I may swim three channels during the month of March. It’s looking like a very exciting trip for us. Depending on the weather, I may even be able to sneak in three channels in three weeks!” said Penny.

Open water swimmers are escorted by a safety boat with lifeguards to monitor her physical safety, and her swim advisor Steve Munatones. All swims will be completed without taking a rest break, so the swimmer has to swim through the night, only treading water to eat. Sharks, jellyfish, swells, and tidal flows are some of the hazards they’ll encounter.
 
Aside from the enormity of Penny’s own swim goals, swim advisor Munatones shedded light on the uniqueness of a husband-wife duo. “To have both a husband and a wife simultaneously perform marathon swimming at the level at which the Palfreys do is unprecedented. Usually one spouse does the swimming and the other does the supporting. To do marathon swimming at the same time has to be difficult – extremely difficult.  Their success can only be as a result of having a truly special, mutually respectful relationship and accommodating personalities.”
 
Penny was in Hawaii in November 2010, to try at a historic swim from Oahu to Kauai. Stinging Portuguese Man ’o war aborted that attempt, but Penny leaves the door open for a third try at some point in the future.
 
While on Oahu, the Palfreys and Munatones will be staying at Waikiki Parc Hotel, which they have said they like because it’s close to the beach, making training sessions convenient. (Full disclosure: I work for the corporation that owns Waikiki Parc.)
 
Penny and Chris’ schedule:
March 2, 2011 (Wednesday) – check in at Waikiki Parc Hotel
March 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 – Penny to swim Kaiwi Channel, weather permitting
(Crew: Steven Munatones, Jeff Kozlovich, Chris Palfrey; Captain: Jim Dickson)
March 15 - Chris (& Penny?) to swim Kaluakahi Channel, weather permitting
March (TBD)  - Chris & Penny to swim Alalakeiki Channel, weather permitting