Approximately 6 weeks ago, Englishman Charlie Frost stood with his New Zealand friend Mark Varvazovsky, outside his home in Sahte Cennet, and stated that he wanted to swim across the bay sometime in the future. Mark being a keen outdoors person and competitive Multi-sporter back in NZ, suggested that he join Charlie, and that if "we're going to do this, then let's use it to raise money for a local charity". So the idea was put to the local Elementary School in Sahte Cennet, and a date set.On Saturday 21st of October, at 8am, two loan wetsuit clad figures entered the waters of Akbuk Bay at the Akbuk Fish Farms for the inaugural 4km swim across Akbuk Bay to Sahte Cennet. Twenty five years earlier, Charlie had swam a long distance badge in a pool, but for Mark this was a first. "Kayaking is my strength, I only started swimming back in June this year, when the kayak John Jennings and I built went to it's new owner".Supported by John Jennings from Akbuk Estate, piloting the rescue boat, along with Marks' wife Gretchen & Tracy Carr of Turkish Property Zone, both swimmers struck out in flat but overcast conditions. Charlie and Mark had earlier agreed that this was something they would achieve together, and not a race across the bay, that would be left to sometime in the future. Slow but steady progress was made across the bay, and 2h 37min later, a shivering and slightly blue Mark, and Charlie arrived on the Sahte Cennet side to the cheers of approximately 50 supporters from the school, localcommunity, and Expats.Both men stated that they were surprised how much interest and support their challenge had generated. "Next year we hope to have other people join us in the swim, and make it an annual event for this community". From the efforts of the children attending the school, to collect sponsors for the swim, Over 3,000YTL was raised. This money will be used to benefit all the children attending Akbudak Elementary School.Both Crazy Kiwi Mark and Insane Ingiliz Charlie would like to thank everyone who donated to this cause, and a special thanks to John, for looking after us out there.Footnote: On Tuesday 24th October, Mark re-swam the Bay in a time of 1:25`:20".Tracy & Dennis Carr swam support legs to accompany Mark, while John again supplied the rescue boat. Sutka just wanted to fish.
