On Friday August 17, as many Ontarians are sitting down to dinner, 14 year old Annaleise Carr will be entering Lake Ontario at Queen’s Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake, taking her first stroke towards swimming across the lake.
The next day, as many Ontarians are sitting down to lunch, the Walsh, Ontario native will be completing her anticipated 18-hour swim at Marilyn Bell Park on Toronto’s waterfront.
The Humber Sailing & Powerboating Centre will be supporting Annaleise’s 52.5 kilometre swim across Lake Ontario by providing two sailboats as part of the boat formation surrounding the grade nine student.
The boats are 31-foot Catalinas named Sunrise and Ceilidh. Humber sailing staff, instructors and the Sailing Club Commodore will skipper and crew each boat.
“We are proud to be part of Annaleise’s crew and to have Humber sailboats supporting her swim across Lake Ontario,” says Karen Tavener, director, Humber Education and Training Solutions. “It’s an honour to be asked to participate. She is a remarkable young lady determined to conquer the challenge. It will be a great thrill watching her do it.”
Annaleise is trying to set a world record by becoming the youngest person to swim across Lake Ontario. Her route follows that taken by Marilyn Bell in 1954, the first person to swim across the Lake. Annaleise is swimming to raise $30,000 for Camp Trillium, which offers recreational experiences for children with cancer and their families.
