Kristin Roe swims from Robben Island to Cape Town - 2006

Kristin is a twenty six year old Canadian living and working in Cape Town, South Africa. She is in Cape Town on behalf of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health at Dalhousie University in Halifax. She is working as a researcher on Gender and HIV/AIDS at the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa.

Kristin is scheduled to attempt the Robben Island crossing as of November 14, 2006. The actual day of the swim will be determined on wind conditions. A short media alert will be issued as soon as this date is determined. She will be accompanied by South African long distance swimmer Hester Snyman. Tony Sellymer, a legendary South African open water swimmer, will pilot the boat used for assistance during the swim.

Swimming World reports:

Roe Completes Fundraising Swim -- December 7, 2006
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, December 7. KRISTEN Roe, from Prince Edward Island, Canada, continued her philanthropic ways earlier this week when she completed an open-water swim from Robben Island to Cape Town, South Africa. The swim by Roe raised money for individuals who are fighting AIDS or the HIV virus.

A year ago, Roe navigated the Northumberland Straight while raising funds for the same cause. This time around, she tackled an eight-mile stretch of frigid water in just over three hours. Roe told CBC News that she was battling the conditions early on due to the tightening of her arms. The money raised from her most recent swim will benefit South African women with HIV.

Robben Island Swim: The first Robben Island swim was recorded in 1899 when Henry Charteris Hooper swam from Robben Island to the old Cape Town Harbour. Today, swimming Robben Island has become a nemesis to many accomplished swimmers around the world, mostly due to the cold water temperature, often dropping to 11° C. The swim remains a goal to many swimmers worldwide, because of the physical challenge, as well as the historical significance of the Island. The average temperature of the water is between 11-16°C.

August 19, 2010

Kristin Roe swims across English Channel

After a grueling 16 hour and 40 minute swim, Halifax resident Kristin Roe successfully swam across the English Channel, considered to be the Mount Everest of marathon swimming.

On Thursday, July 22, Kristin departed Dover Harbour, U.K., at 7:45 a.m. (BST) and completed her swim at approximately 12:25 a.m. (BST), making landfall near Calais, France.  
The distance from Dover to Calais where Kristin’s swim took place is approximately 35 kilometres.  
Water temperatures hovered around 16 degrees and conditions in the Channel varied with Kristin
fighting her way through moderate seas, whitecaps and nausea for many hours.  

Although exhausted, Roe was  in good health.