LAKE COUNTY — Friends and strangers cheered a Bay Area man as he finished a 17.68-mile swim of Clear Lake Saturday at Austin Park, a personal distance record and a first for the lake.
Jamie Patrick, who owns a home in Hidden Valley Lake, said the swim was incredible and when he was finished, community members walked up to shake his hand.
“It was pretty cool to see people who I”m sure thought I was a bit crazy showing their support and asking lots of questions,” Patrick said. “They seemed to be proud of their lake and proud of what just happened.”
He was the first to swim the length of Clear Lake, he said according to swimming records.
“Being the first to swim the length of Clear Lake feels incredible,” Patrick said. “I hope that my story motivates others to strive toward their own goals that they may initially perceive as out of reach. We all must be proud of Clear Lake and do all we can to protect such an incredible resource.”
The swim was part of Patrick”s training program to swim three lengths of Lake Tahoe equaling 66 miles in summer 2011. He named it the Tahoe Triple. Patrick plans to swim one length of Lake Tahoe ? 22 miles ? in June and two in August. It would be the first double crossing of Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Triple would also break the open water swim record at altitude.
Filmmaker Martin Sundberg is making a documentary on Patrick”s swims, aiming to create a relationship between water and the viewers so they can take action to prevent or combat pollution. They started filming Saturday.
Supervisor Rob Brown called Patrick before the swim, he said.
“I thought it was just phenomenal,” Brown said.
Brown wanted to see Patrick out on the lake and cheer him on, but he was in Reno for the weekend, Brown said. He said he was glad the swimmer used Clear Lake as a starting point for the Tahoe Triple.
“You don”t see people that motivated, that driven and successful at it,” Brown said. “I think it”s great. I would have loved to have been there.”
Patrick got up about 3 a.m. Saturday and jumped in the lake about 5 a.m. in Nice, he said. It was pitch black with only shore lights visible. The air was 44 degrees and the water was 59 degrees, so Patrick wore a wet suit.
“The water was glassy and the swimming was smooth and fast,” Patrick said.
As the sun rose, his crew on the chase boat met up with him in the lake, Patrick said. Fisherman rode by to say hello and take pictures, while others slowed so as not to cause too many waves.
“The support from the boaters and fishermen was inspiring in itself,” Patrick said.
He stopped to eat and drink every 20 minutes. Patrick swam freestyle the entire length. It took him seven hours and 34 minutes to swim 17.68 miles, which was faster than his anticipated nine hours due to ideal conditions, he said.
Matt Richardson drove the pontoon boat Saturday and kept Patrick”s food and liquid intake in check during the swim. Richardson competed in water polo with Patrick in high school and was Patrick”s best man at his wedding.
“Jaime did fantastic,” Richardson said. “He finished about an hour faster than expected.”
Patrick swam about 2.4 mph the whole way, which Richardson said was impressive considering that”s a standard pace during Ironman competitions of just 2.4 miles. Richardson said after consulting with law enforcement, Patrick decided to finish his swim at Austin Park in Clearlake. Fish spawning areas, moss and mud prevented Patrick from swimming to the southeastern tip.
During the swim, Patrick ate Snickers, M&M”S, pieces of a turkey and cheese sandwich on wheat bread, energy bars, power gels and bananas to keep up his energy. He also had Cytomax sport drink, Richardson said.
Patrick had a great attitude during the swim, Richardson said.
“He looked so good and so strong,” Richardson said. “I didn”t doubt that he was going to be able to make it.”
Richardson said he had a great, fun time.
Patrick agreed.
“One of the things my crew kept commenting on is that they did not realize how beautiful Clear Lake is,” Patrick said. “Lake County has so much to offer. From fishing, cycling, hiking, hunting, boating, and now swimming we hope that we can show the rest of the world the many recreational opportunities that Lake County has to offer through our film.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
