Peach-fuelled Vancouver swimmer Jessi Harewicz braving Georgia Strait - Action News
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British Columbia

Peach-fuelled Vancouver swimmer Jessi Harewicz braving Georgia Strait

As a Vancouver woman attempts to become the third ever to swim across the Georgia Strait, the sport of open water swimming appears to be gaining popularity and the cold, dark and unpredictable conditions seem to be a selling point.

30-km swim from Sechelt to Nanaimo could take 12 to 16 hours depending on conditions

Two hours into her swim Jessi Harewicz seems unaffected by frigid waters, keeping her blood sugar stable with fruit. (Emily Van Gulik)

Vancouver swimmer Jessi Harewiczis getting into a flowas she works towards crossing the Georgia Strait, fuelled by canned peaches and pure will.

"She's gotten into a rhythm now," said friend and crew-member Emily Van Gulik after 33-year-oldHarewiczhad been swimming for two hours.

Van Gulik is helping feed Harewiczsugary energy boosters, fruit or small hunks of peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

"She'll kind of scarf down whatever we've got for her kind of floating along," said Van Gulik who is also providing updates onHarewicz's Facebookpage.

The swimmer's fathersaid, sofar, he doesn't believe thechilly conditions have affected his daughter in a major way,despite the fact sheis not wearing a wetsuit.

"When she comes up for the feeds, if I don't get it right, I get an earful!" saidRichard Harewicz,who often paddles beside his daughter."That is how I can tell."

Harewicz isattemptingto become the third woman toever to swim across the Georgia Straitaccording to the B.C. Masters Swimming Association.

Her efforts come asthe sport of open water swimming gainspopularity withcold, dark and unpredictable conditions a selling point.