Monte Breaks Another World Record

Five years ago Monte Monfore smashed a world record by nearly an hour when he swam from Bali to Java in just 38 minutes. On May 11th, the 42-year-old Californian swimmer and surfer broke another world record, when he successfully swam 17 kilometres from Nusa Penida to Bali across the notoriously treacherous stretch of water known as the Badung Strait. There has only been one previously recorded crossing by another American, Hall of Fame channel crossing champion, David Yudovin, also from California, in 1997.

Accompanied by a motorised fishing boat, Monfore set out from the beach at Desa Ped in Nusa Penida, at 6.42 a.m. At this early hour the sea was calm and he got off to a strong start. Rules of ocean swimming dictate that a swimmer is not permitted to use fins, wear a wetsuit, or touch the boat. The normally cold water near Nusa Penida was unusually warm and Monfore was concerned about overheating. Approximately every 15 minutes he paused to consume liquid nutrition – a plastic bottle was tied to a rope and thrown to him. Each drink break lasted only 10 to 15 seconds after which swimming resumed.
It took Monfore just over one hour to reach the halfway mark. The second part of the challenge, however, proved to be the most difficult. By 8 a.m. the wind had increased and the sea had become rough. The ocean currents were against him and it required great strength and endurance for Monfore to reach the Bali coast in time to secure the new world record.
The conditions were too rough for the escort boat to land, but Monte Monfore triumphantly reached the beach at Lebih 2 hours 46 minutes and 27 seconds after starting out from Nusa Penida. He broke the world record by just two minutes.
Monfore, whose father is a general surgeon and mother a retired nurse, both living in California, learned to swim at the age of six and began competitive swimming at seven. He was a champion swimmer throughout his youth and in high school after which he retired from competition. He was also an All American water polo player in high school and at the University of California at Berkeley where he majored in Social Science and Mass Communications. At the age of 29 Monfore re-entered competive swimming for a few years and, in 1991, set a Masters Swimming world record in the 400-meter individual medley at UCLA at 30. When not surfing, he swims daily where ever he is in the world and is a member of two water polo teams in Tokyo where he lives and works as a private English teacher. Monfore, who is a lover of classical music, art, and literature, comes to Indonesia to surf and has been to Bali more than 15 times.
When asked for comment Monfore replied, “I would like to thank my new friends, boatmen Dino and Douglas of Jimbaran, Captain Wayan and his First Mate Wayan of Benoa, and my friends and crewmembers Robin Marinos and Rachel Lovelock. I’m very appreciative of their support and encouragement, without which this swim would not have been possible”.
In closing, Monfore added, “I’d like to take this opportunity to campaign for the conservation of the beautiful oceans and reefs, which cover three quarters of the earth’s surface. Awareness and diligence are necessary to safeguard this vital ecosystem, the protection of which is essential to mankind’s existence and survival”. (Lolec/Rachel Greaves)