Dominic Boon is an employee of the Human Resource Department of FLOW in Florida. With the losses experienced by the people of Jamaica brought on by Hurricane Melissa, he decided, with the rest of the local Flow team, to devise a means of raising contributions especially for the Jamaicans who have been affected. This he did by swimming from Anguilla to St. Marten and return on Tuesday, November 18th.
In addition, funds raised through Dominic’s swim will go towards benefitting students in French and Dutch St. Marten as well as to provide assistance for the All Nations United Swim Club here.
Director of All Nations United Swim Club, Ritchie Stevens, escorted Dominic on Calypso Charters during this swimming venture. The Anguillian spoke with him and he provided some coverage of the amazing feat:
“Dominic began his swim from the Forest Bay around 7:30 a.m.,” Richie said, “heading south to St. Martin, which is about 7 miles away. The weather was favourable, and he arrived in Grand Case French St. Martin at about 11:15 a.m – a swimming distance of 7.3 miles. There he was met and greeted by the FLOW team of St. Marten.
“Dominic departed French St. Martin, heading north at 11:25. As we got halfway, the weather began to deteriorate. Conditions became overcast, and the water became very choppy. Some rain did fall as well, on our way back over.”
By 2:30 p.m. an enthusiastic team of local FLOW employees and members of the media had braved the overcast, nippy weather to gather at the beach in Rendezvous, just outside the Anguilla Great House.
We were eager to welcome Dominic back home. All eyes were fixed on two boats in the distance that were now escorting him back. From that distance we could barely see his green cap bobbing up and down, until we were gradually able to glimpse a portion of his upper frame as he got closer to the shore.
By this time, everyone was filled with excitement and cheerful screams. Shouts of heightened joy were carried by the chilly breeze.
Finally, at about 3:05 p.m., Dominic began to put on his demo of swift breast strokes, as he neared the shore. Then, by 3:08, he vigorously ran up on the sand, greeted by the happy host of his hilarious FLOW colleagues, a couple of whom excitedly embraced him with a FLOW banner.
Dominic was as energetic as ever. He was not “out of breath”, and his teeth were not even chattering, as would be expected from the cold, water. He showed not the slightest shiver. It was as if he was cut out for that kind of swim. The swimming distance from Grand Case to Rendezvous was just over 7 miles or 11 kilometres.
He said he enjoyed his journey back and forth, but complained about the mighty waves which gave him somewhat of a challenge on his way in. “Those waves made me real tired,” he recounted, “but I feel good now. I feel elated, in fact, all I want now is a cheeseburger!” “Well, you are in the right place for that,” a FLOW colleague quickly responded, pointing to the Anguilla Great House Restaurant.
Richie expressed how delighted he was to escort Dominic on the fundraiser excursion. The All Nations United Swim Club is leading the way when it comes to water safety,” he humbly boasted.
He said that lately his organization has been trying to get sponsors to put on an open-water swim, and he is very pleased to see the support that one swimmer, Dominic, got. “Hopefully,” he said, “folks will see what we are trying to do and come on board to assist us.”