KARDINYA resident Lachlan Smith will swim the 20km between Perth and Rottnest Island for the 11th time when he competes alongside mate Jimmy McMahon in the Port to Pub on March 25.
The men will swim under the team name DuaBirLagi, Indonesian for “two more beers” and inspired by Mr Smith’s two years as a diving instructor in Bali.
Swimming as part of a duo, Smith took part in the inaugural Port to Pub last year and has also completed the Rottnest Channel Swim nine times.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“We missed out in the ballot for the Rottnest Channel Swim last year but a friend had told me about the Port to Pub so we signed up for that instead,” he said.
“As it turned out we got a call from the Rottnest Channel Swim people at the last minute offering us a place so we ended up doing it twice in 2016.”
With usual swimming partner Tony Hopkins unavailable, Smith has enlisted the help of McMahon but joked he might be completing the swim solo.
“I’ve got a couple of concerns about how much training Jimmy has been doing but that will come out when we’re halfway out there,” he said.
“We’re not going to be setting any records that’s for sure but as long as the weather is fair we’re hoping to get across in around six hours.”
Far from a sportsman himself, Smith said he enjoyed the Port to Pub because it made for a good day out.
“It is a great day for everyone involved and a fantastic excuse to spend a weekend with family and friends on Rottnest Island,” he said.
“I’ve always had an affinity with the ocean and love any activity that gets me amongst the waves.”