Briton’s Palk Strait ‘escapade’ sends ripples across world
A Hong Kong-based open water swimmer Adam Moss who bought a property in Galle 16 years ago may have done more to boost tourism in Sri Lanka than the authority itself by swimming across the Palk Straits in an epoch-making event causing ripples across the world.
No less than 11 Indians, including Sri Lanka-born Guinness World Record holder V.S. Kumar Anandan, have swum across the divide from 1954 even during turbulent times. It has taken a Briton inspired after watching an episode of BBC’s Top Gear, where the hosts floated tuk-tuks across the Strait, to make it an iconic event.
Moss and Edie Hu, an American, set off from Talaimannar Beach, Sri Lanka at 5.30 in the morning on Wednesday, February 26, swimming the 29km Palk Strait (near Adam’s Bridge) to India in 10 hours and 18 minutes. Their time is the second fastest time of official record after M. Tulasi Chaitanya, who crossed in 2018, in 8 hours 25 minutes.
“It is an amazing achievement for which I am still pinching myself. Since we got approval from the MoD (Ministry of Defence) on January 9, it’s barely been six weeks and we put together an amazing team. And it’s the first time Sri Lankans have been able cross into Indian waters,” said Moss, who expressed surprise Sri Lankans have not attempted the swim which he hopes to make it an annual event.
“That Top Gear programme was such a good advertisement for the country. I don’t think many Sri Lankans have watched it. So we have filmed quite a lot of the escapade and we would be producing a short teaser. May be a three-minute trailer, may be even a documentary about it. That’s really going to focus on my love of the country and how wonderful and supportive everyone was. It will show Sri Lanka in a very good light. I think in some way I can give back to the country which has been so nice to me,” said Moss, a financial professional, who has business interests in Sri Lanka.
The crossing was not without high seas drama. The support team did not receive official confirmation from the Indian Coast Guard that the accompanying vessels from sponsor Sail Lanka, including the 54’ catamaran, Sapphire, their ribs, kayaks and crew would be allowed to cross the Indian Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) until just 4km from entering Indian waters. They were thankfully told that they could proceed but they were not allowed to step onto the dry land at Dhanushkodi, India. The group was accompanied all the way to the IMBL by the Sri Lankan navy. While on the Indian side, the coast guards assisted with navigation for the remainder of the crossing.
“We only got permission from the Indian side four kilometres before crossing IMBL which was very well received. And in the afternoon when we were approaching the Indian shoreline, one hoovercraft actually made the water choppy for us. The last 3 or 4 kilometres was the hardest part. We were respectful of the need not to set foot on dry land,” said Moss, 48, from Manchester, who became the first Briton to swim the Palk Strait.
“We did it according to English Channel rules, only wearing swim suits and goggles. Edie was wearing a cap. We were not allowed to touch the craft until we swim all the way but we feed every 45 minutes or so on liquids, carbohydrates, proteins and stuff. I had some red bulls and mars bars as well. She has done it many more times than me,” said Moss, whose longest open water swim was for 15 kilometres over four hours.
He trained for the last six months for this swim with Edie and other open water swimmers in Hong Kong.
“In Hong Kong I was on the pool once a week for about 4,500 metres. A couple of times during weekends, I did 5 to 10 kilometres. Since I have been in Sri Lanka, I am also doing yoga. Yoga helps you how to breathe. It’s very important when you are swimming,” he said of his preparations.
On the difference between open water and pool swimming, he said: “It’s a bit challenging for some. In the ocean they are scared of other animals that you can’t see. But I got over that a while ago. Edie is experienced and helped me enormously. I’ve trained a lot with her.”
Edie Hu is an accomplished female open water swimmer, who is based in Hong Kong. She has previously swum 45km around Hong Kong (only the third person to do so) and swum the English Channel as a two-woman relay. She is the second female to have swum the Palk Strait.
They became the first non-Indians to swim the strait and only the 12th and 13th persons to have completed the crossing.
“This was the most amazing day of my life. Without Edie, Sail Lanka, Vayu, the Sri Lankan Navy and all the wonderful crew we put together in a matter of weeks, this would not have been even remotely possible. I am blessed to have been able to pull this off, and thank the Indian Coast Guard for their support and cooperation,” said Moss.
“We had a blessing from a Catholic priest and a Buddhist monk the day before we set off.”
A father of three daughters, he had hoped to swim the Strait on February 25, his youngest daughter’s birthday, but weather conditions prevented him from doing so.
Now that the expedition is complete, Adam would like to retroactively raise money for Youth Diabetes Association in Hong Kong, as well as other deserving charities on both sides of Palk Strait.
“I just enjoy really being in the water. It’s really a good exercise I think,” said Moss who began swimming seriously two months ago to be in shape for a knee operation. But after he reached his target weight he decided not to stop, sparing him the agony of knee replacement surgery scheduled for April.
“A lot of people think this is a race. But I’m doing it as an invitational event. I want to make it an annual event, in one form or another. My intention is if I can to invite a couple more next year, maybe even a Sri Lankan could take part jointly. It strikes me that it’s only been ever done by Indians. That can change,” said Moss.
Without a shadow of doubt, he is love with Sri Lanka and its people.
“I’ve had a relationship with the country for 16 years pretty much. I think it is one of the best places in the planet. I’m grateful for having got my investment or piece of land 16 years ago. Making it an annual event for Sri Lanka would be good. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to stressful organising it and hard work training for it,” said Moss thanking the organisers for the amazing experience.
Adam and Edie could not have done this without the generous sponsorship of Sail Lanka, Vayu Resort, Amazoil, Sharkbanz, as well as the support of the Sri Lankan Navy. Sail Lanka also thanked the Indian Coast Guard for welcoming and escorting their boats, crew and passengers into their waters. The owner of the company, Pierre Pringiers said: “This is the first passage to India for our company and is a major step for the future of tourism and economic development in the north.”