The Team

Duncan Edwards (the Anchor)

Duncan is as comfortable on top of the water as he is in the water, and he’s spent a lifetime doing both. Whether it be open-water swimming around some rock or buoy, swimming competitive mile upon mile, doing the Robben Island crossing (multiple times), playing water polo, marathon canoeing down rivers, paddling a surf-ski from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to East London (240 km multiple times), or surf lifesaving as part of a local club.

And he’s filled his cupboard with several awards and honours along the way in recognition of those efforts.

He is the anchor of the team, quietly working away, keeping the peace when things get chaotic, and making connections with the clients to ensure they get to love the water and being outdoors as much as he does. Duncan has your back on our adventure swims.

Ralph West (the Pater)

Father Ralph as he is fondly known by some, was born with web feet. And he has spent a lifetime putting that gift to test despite early on employing a motorbike in an attempt to rearrange some body parts. He has done a solo Robben Island crossing, represented South Africa in the 26,4 km Transcendence Marathon Swim in Switzerland, is a current world record holder in the 6-man relay team that swam 351 km’s over ___ days. He’s done every Bell Buoy swim (5 km’s) since its inception 11 years ago and inaugurated the Cape Recife Lighthouse swim of 11km’s. And he surfed, and he was a surf lifesaver.

Ralph is the explorer of the team, nothing excites him more than a stretch of open water that hasn’t been swum before, and he is meticulous in ensuring all the necessary details are in place before any swimmer enters the water. 

Marguerite Smit: (the Just-do-it)

Magga was born and raised next to the Indian Ocean. Where’s there’s an open patch of water, she has to swim it. Whether it’s the Great Lakes while living in Chicago, or crater lakes in Uganda, the Kromme, the Lilypads swim, Whiskey Creek, the Bellbuoy, Sundays River Mile, or the first woman to round the Cape Recife Lighthouse, you’ll find Magga forging her path through the waves.

She is a volunteer rescue swimmer for Coastal Water Rescue and spends much of her free time on the beach at little nippers with her son. As a single mom, life hasn’t always been smooth waters, but that’s never put her off, she just gets on and does it (with kick-ass style). As the team creative, she translates the detail into pictures and ideas for potential open-water adventure swims in SA.

Also, as chief in amongst a collection of men, she won’t pick up your towel for you, but make no mistake every detail to make your swim awesome will have been taken care of.

Kevin Richards (the Shepherd of the Sea)

Also known as the Gentle Giant, Kevin (the founder of BluSmooth wetsuits) grew up at the local public pool where his grandad ran the changing room lockers. Swimming is in his blood. Surf-lifesaving from the age of 9, spending day after day on the beach, Kevin has represented South Africa in swimming, triathlon, and surf-lifesaving at an international level.

These water sports have taken him all over the world and he’s had the privilege to swim in locations that range from the Seine River in Paris to Bondi Beach in Sydney, to a chilly lake Sweden, to the Mediterranean, and more…including a swim in the mid-Atlantic while crossing the ocean by yacht. Those years of experience and opportunity drive Kevin’s passion to pass that know-how and pleasure on to others.

Through gentle advice and encouragement, he shepherds new and experienced swimmers alike through beach breaks and stroke improvements to go the distance, to swim beyond their normal limits. With Kevin on or in the water, you’re assured of having the best possible swim you can.