EDITOR NOTE: Due to storms, the start time for Swim Cortez has been moved to 12am PST on Monday, November 4th.
Long distance swimmer and Marin County resident, Paul Lundgren announced today that on November 5th, he will step into the waters in San Carlos, Mexico for his third attempt at swimming across the Sea of Cortez. If accomplished, it will be a World Record for the longest unassisted swim in history.
Lundgren also announced that he has signed a sponsorship agreement with Sausalito-based start-up lifestyle brand A Day Well Lived™ to support his swim.
Paul Lundgren, SwimCortez (courtesy of Scott Rokis)
“Having the support of A Day Well Lived brings me one step closer to my dream of crossing the Sea of Cortez,” said Lundgren. “It also confirms that it truly takes a community to achieve great results. While much of what we achieve comes from our own ability to face our inners fears, having the support of a community provides strength to any effort. I’ve been training very hard these past several months and feel ready to once again embrace the Sea of Cortez.”
The swim across the Sea of Cortez, which was famously called “the world’s aquarium” by Jacques Cousteau, will take Lundgren through 80-miles of open Sea with migrating great white sharks, seasonal fluctuations of toxic jelly fish blooms, carnivorous squid and unpredictable, ferocious currents. Successfully crossing the Sea will break the current World Record for an unassisted open water swim, which is currently held by Penny Palfrey of Australia for 67 miles. Lundgren estimates the swim will take somewhere between 40-60 hours.
“As he discussed overcoming fears and taking on extraordinary challenges, I was immediately drawn to Paul’s spirit,” said A Day Well Lived Founder, Todd Lieman. “This effort and Paul’s story typifies what A Day Well Lived is all about: Do what lights you up. Live authentically. Dream big. At the end of the day, we all just want to feel like we ‘did the day right.’ Spend some time with Paul and you’ll know that he does the day right. He’s undeniably inspiring and we’re honored to be part of Swim Cortez.”
Lundren’s swim will also serve to support Eco Alianza De Loreto A.C., a nonprofit organization in Loreto Mexico, the base camp of Swim Cortez. Eco Alianza’s mission is to create healthy and vibrant communities by empowering civil society and government to protect and conserve our natural and cultural environment. Among its programs, the organization teaches young students the skills and develops tools to influence and change old attitudes for a better future.
This is accomplished through creative and informative environmental education programs and workshops, where students learn and explore in both the classroom and the field about environmental values, culture and the economy of the region.
“This swim has become more than just a swim. If I had made it the first try I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to understand that the strength of communities are much greater than anything I can accomplish on my own,” Lundgren added. I have learned the value of connecting with people. I am grateful for my failed attempts. Without them I wouldn’t fully understand what is possible.”
For more information follow Paul and crew at www.solocortez.com
Support Eco Alianza here http://www.swimcortez.com/#!eco-alianza/c1dsi
ABOUT A DAY WELL LIVED
A Day Well Lived™ is a soon-to-be-launched lifestyle brand focused on celebrating gratitude and authenticity. With a growing social media presence and Facebook community approaching 200,000 members, A Day Well Lived is designed to inspire the understanding that good or bad, any day can be A Day Well Lived if its lived present and true. A Day Well Lived will launch its website, mobile app and first apparel products in the fourth quarter of 2013. For more information, please go to http://www.facebook.com/adaywelllived or http://www.adaywelllived.com.
This release was provided to SwimSwam courtesy of Solomon / Finn Partners. SwimCortez images of Lundgren are courtesy of Scott Rokis.com.
Yes, there is something different about the Sea of Cortez, Paul’s personal journey with ‘her’ bring back fond memories … back in the day, I crewed/sailed across her (with dolphin escort, and phosphorescent bow wake); swam in her (the locals at Loreto high tailed it in a skiff, and convinced me to get in the boat as the sharks were around); camped by her (at Shipwreak Beach where a whale hung out right by the steep shore, and at Hermosa Beach with sidewinder rattlesnake tracks in the sand near the tent.) The Baja is a joy, and a mystery, my prayers and best wishes are with Paul and the team!
Meanwhile here is a swim vid I found on Paul’s… Read more »
That sounds like a tough swim with English Channel rules, good luck to him. I have huge respect for the sheer mental and physical fortitude required for these sorts of challenges.