Kapas Marang Swimathon 2023

It all happened because my friend , Krysania, whom I met at the Sports SG swim meet in 2020 told me about this cross channel swim.  The east coast of Malaysia Peninsula has always been a less popular destination to Singaporeans because it was more rustic and “Kampong”(meaning village in Malay Language).  However, it still has its natural beauty and draw to those who love the nature and a simple slow paced holiday.

It first started out as just sharing the info of this swim to like minded people in the Siloso Swim group.  Then, people started to show interest.  Till the end, it was me, Richard and Thim who signed up and was confirmed about going for the swim.  There are not many choice of hotels resorts or what not fancy accomodations like you can find in Kuantan or Cherating.  Marang is a simple laid back town with the Masjid Sultanah Nur Zhairah as the main point of the town.  Most amneties can be found there like supermarket, KFC , Macdonald and a wet market.  The Marang Jetty is also nearby.

Sign Up Website: https://www.racexasia.com/event/boom-kapas-marang-international-swimathon-2023-tmos23

Race Pack Collection

Unlike running races, we see a lot of Ironman finishers in the race pack collection.  At the same time crazy swimmers who did the Perhentian Island relays and cross Island swims.  I instantly felt out of place and like a nemo in the Poseidon party.  But everyone seemed friendly and there were much excitement going on around chatting about the race which will take place tomorrow.  For first timers like me, there are bound to be some nervousness.  Many were repeat participants and they shared some tips too.  This year the waves were very choppy and I guess that is because monsoon ended late.  The deal was to swim from Kapas Island, which you can see from the mainland , back to the Kelulut Beach on mainland.

The pack is simple , the finisher Tee, race tag , timing chip ( which requires a 50 RM deposit). Ferry boat ticket, swim cap.  On site was the BOOM + Isotonic drink booth where you can get a taste of this refreshing drink.

After collection, many went for lunch around the area or head down to Kelulut beach to see the waves.  It was indeed very choppy and windy at the shore.  Organiser was already setting up the main stage and also inflatable finish line.  There was a toilet with bath there but it needs a fee.  There are also a couple of homstays in Kelulut beach.  The price is also very cheap and rooms seemed good.

The Race

We had to wake up early to catch the ferry from Marang Jetty to Pulau Kapas for the start.  At the island is where you have your body marking and bag drop, organiser will bring the bags back to main land once we start.  One by one the speed boat took us across in the dark.  It made me felt like some human trafficking in action 😛 As we hit about 1 km out from the jetty the roller coaster ride begun.  The boat was beating the waves and going up and down.  Some folks are enjoying this free excitement while others are starting to feel sea sick.  But before you can vomit, the boat arrived at the Pulau.  The island seemed rustic and nice, some participants stayed on the island.  We had to walk quite a bit to the bag drop and body marking.  This time I wore all long ( as recommended by the organiser) , I guess they were worried about the sea bugs.

With a lot of excitement and chattering, the participants one by one came in the suddenly the beach was lively full of swimmers of all sorts, so looked professional with their tri suits and skins.  While some looked very relaxed and zen walking around.  It was quite a scene to see the colourful floats.  As the sky lit up, all of us gathered at the starting inflatable float.  I didnt test the water, which I felt was always my style cos its gona be a long long swim.

Race started at 08:10am, all of us started paddling out.  Richard is fast so he went ahead like a turbo jet while me, thim and chris took our own sweet time.

The Swim

They keep saying to sight for the Mt Fuji which is a hill on mainland.  As the distance is pretty far, its not possible to sight anything on the shore until much nearer.

To speak the truth current is in our favour, it was pushing us towards the main land.  But I could not experience the current from my right as the kayakers keep telling me to swim more to the left to be able to reach Kelulut beach.  The safety was very much well covered in this race, there were visible buoys ( although I only keep sighting for Mt Fuji) and many many of the safety kayakers.

All of us started clustered together to spread out in the big sea.  So there were a lot of space and there were times I could not see other swimmers at all because the current was high, rolling around.  My watch went mad and suddenly every ten minutes it buzzed 500m done.

So end up the watch clocked 11Km but it was actually only 6.5km. The challenging part came when we approach the main land.  When I could see the finishing arch, I though, hey not bad I have not deviated much.  This was when I saw the crazy waves crashing on to the shore and I begun to rememeber the race director saying , last part was the hard part.

Couldn’t remember much actually but just when I thought I was finishing good… Boom a huge wave crashed me from behind and before I can react, it drew me back and second one came.  First time experience such effect, so I remembered what some of the Tanjong beach swimmers told me.  When wave crash, swim over or under it.  I decided to act sexy with my free diving and went under.  It helped and when I reach the sand, the helpers on the beach pulled me up and there was Richard too.  He had been helping people up from the waves ( erm about an hour ago).

The Finish

I wanted to bring my 1.5L hydration pack and put inside the float to drink along the way but I FORGOT!! And when I realise that I was already in Yong Peng.  So I brought along a mineral water bottle.  However, during the swim, I did not want to waste time opening the float and doing extra manoeuvre, I ended up just drinking the Boom + Isotonic at the start line.  It was quite strange that the organiser did not put water as a hydration option for the participants.

For the end line also same thing only Boom +  In the end , many just left the cans around.  The bags came in much later, people just rested around , got their results in a very long queue or queued to return the race tag to get back the deposit.

We were given a curry chicken rice lunch pack for brunch and to me I felt that it was quite delicious.  Thim said that it was a specialty from Trengganu.  Finishers were given the medal as they pass through the flag filled finishing red carpet.  There were many photos taken but I have yet to see mine.

Overall a very fun and cosy experience costing about 300RM.  I would say money pretty well spent.  But driving up really took time, however you get to experience the rustic side of Malaysia too.  Would be glad to come back again next year. Hopefully with a much better timing!