Sicily to Malta

Finding Intention

The Sicily to Malta swim was the moment I understood what endurance, purpose, and community could really mean. In 2020, after years of pushing my limits around Malta and Gozo and raising awareness for our seas, I set out from Sicily in the dark, covered in sudocrem, knowing I had more than 100 kilometres of open water ahead of me and no guarantee I would ever see home from the waterline. That crossing tested everything I had: jellyfish stings, disorientation, rough night seas, and long hours where the only light came from the mast of the boat guiding me forward. But it also showed me what carries you through the impossible: Lara’s calm presence, a crew that refused to give up, a country following every stroke, and a purpose bigger than fatigue. When I stepped out of the water in St Julian’s after 28 hours of nonstop swimming, I realised this crossing was never just about reaching Malta. It was about proving that we can go farther than we think, especially when we move for something that matters.

Read the observers logs here

One swim, one team. Thank you to Lara Vella and Mark Buttigieg (Handlers), Twain and Gordon (RIB Drivers), Andrea Agius and Peter (Motivators), Jan (Boat Captain), Simon (Team and Operations Manager), Alex (Food Logistics), Richard (Swimmer Support), David (Boat Captain), Christoff (Navigator), Maya (Doctor), and Jon from Lovin Malta (Media and Drone).