‘I just knew I was getting to the other side:’ local swimmer completes Strait of Georgia crossing

Getting underway was a major accomplishment for Buggey, who’d originally intended to make the attempt around Canada Day.

However, securing a support boat in the same time window as favourable tidal and weather conditions proved a big challenge.

Once underway, Buggey’s focus was firmly on the next stroke and trying to stay somewhat oriented.

“I think genuinely, all that was going through my head was ‘one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three,’ for hours and hours until I went absolutely insane. I’ll be happy to not have to count for a while. I don’t know how to turn my brain off when I swim. I have been trying to train it out of me, and I absolutely cannot. Every time I take a breath, I just count, and I cannot stop for the life of me.”

Buggey at the end of her swim, greeted by family and friends at Schooner Cove in Nanoose Bay. (Image Credit: Submitted Photo)

Her support boat remained around ten metres away at all times, with Buggey stopping roughly every 30 minutes for those on board to throw her food and fresh water.

For the swim to count as an official, unaided attempt, Buggey was not allowed to use a wetsuit or touch the boat.

The vessel was also a big navigational aid, as she was prone to zig-zagging on her own.

Supported by swim club friends and family as she approached Schooner Cove, Buggey said getting out of the water was almost as tough as the swim itself.

“My legs didn’t work, and I fell over and cut myself on some barnacles, but then my legs figured it out after about 30 seconds. I had a few people from my swim team there, and I had some family there.”

Learning her time, knowing she was well under her own projections of 12 to 13 hours, Buggey said it was a fantastic achievement.

Going into the swim, she just wanted to finish.

“I didn’t really care so much about getting records and whatnot, but I had it in the back of my mind. I even told the people in the boat, “I think the fastest woman is like 11 hours and 20 minutes…if it looks like at any point I’m going to be under 11 hours potentially, just let me know and I’ll go faster just to make sure I get that.'”

Ordinarily a pool swimmer, the decorated Buggey, who has competed at swim meets around the world, is now turning her attention back to the lanes and calmer water.

After taking some time to recover, she will resume training for several events, including the individual medley, at the 2027 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

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by Alex Rawnsley

‘I just knew I was getting to the other side:’ local swimmer completes Strait of Georgia crossing

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