A blind long distance swimmer from Australia will join 27 other swimmers today for one of Northern Europe's longest sea swims - the Inishbofin Challenge in Co Galway.
James Pittar, of Killara in Sydney has already conquered the English Channel in 13 hours, has swum the Straits of Gibraltar, the Manhattan Marathon Swim, done six crossings of the Rottnest Channel, Bordighera Italy to Monaco, a swim from Martha's Vineyard to Nantucket Island in New England as well as numerous hometown Sydney swims.
Today's eight-mile swim gets under way at 10.30am from Cleggan Pier to Inishbofin harbour.
Cork-based swimmer Ned Dennison said the other swimmers will look across at Inisbofin before the race and then try to catch their first glimpse from the water after six miles.
However, Mr Pittar (36) will only have the cold reassurance of hearing a whistle blown by his crew. "It is one blast for left and two short blasts for right. This amazing swimmer will be the first blind swimmer in an Irish marathon swim. For James - it is just another challenge," Mr Dennison said.
"These waters are a daunting place to swim a marathon. Halfway through the swimmers lose all sight of land.
"They only take visual comfort from seeing their arms stroking below, their safety kayaker every few seconds and if they are lucky the occasional other swimmer. They may even see the sun on a nice day and jellyfish, as big as bin lids, hopefully below out of reach," said Mr Dennison.
Stephen Millar, the chairman of the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association, will lead six of the swimmers in a relay assisted by Billy Wallace, president of the association.
The other 21 swimmers will take on the challenge of a solo swim. Organisers said the field would be the strongest yet to contest the annual race.