Gordon’s Bay swimmer Johann Beytell conquers the challenging Robben Island circuit

Gordon's Bay open-water swimmer Johann Beytell, 45, can now be counted among the elite group of only 29 swimmers who have circumnavigated Robben Island since 1987 after completing the gruelling 11km loop on Saturday, February 7.

But beyond the statistics and the distance, the achievement marks a deeply personal milestone in a journey that began not in open water, but in a doctor’s office.

Unlike the well-known 7.4 km Robben Island to Blouberg crossing, the full circumnavigation offers no visible finish line and no tidal assistance. Every metre must be earned.

Water temperatures range between 12°C and 15°C, and swimmers must contend with unpredictable currents, wave action and marine life. The swim can only take place when approved by the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (CLDSA) during a narrow weather window.

Starting and finishing at the Murray's Bay Harbor, Mr Beytell and his support crew navigated mist, strong currents and stinging jellyfish during the five-and-a-half-hour effort. Seals made fleeting appearances, more focused on hunting than the lone swimmer moving steadily through their waters.

Although he has previously completed a 12km open-water swim, Mr Beytell described the Robben Island circuit as more challenging.

“Swimming a complete circle with no clear sense of progress makes it as mentally demanding as it is physically tough,” he said.

True to his preference, he swam “skins” - without a wetsuit - fully exposed to the cold Atlantic.

Born and raised in Oudtshoorn, he swam casually as a child but never pursued the sport seriously. As an adult working in Paarl as an accountant, exercise became inconsistent.

By late 2016, he found himself obese and dealing with very high blood pressure. Determined to change his health trajectory, he entered the Cape Mile despite having no open-water experience.

He began training for the February 2017 event, combining swimming with walking and gym cardio. His first open-water mile in a dam in Grabouw proved transformative.

“I got hooked to open-water swimming and have not stopped since,” he says.

That decision set him on a steady course of increasingly ambitious swims:

• Robben Island to Blouberg (7.4 km) – June 2021

• Preekstoel to Mykonos (12 km) – October 2022

• Robben Island to Blouberg (7.4 km) – October 2024

• Robben Island circumnavigation (11 km) – February 2026

After completing the Robben Island to Blouberg crossing twice, he yearned for something “more adventurous and exclusive”. The circumnavigation became the obvious next step.

Mr Beytell moved to Gordon’s Bay in 2022 after four years of long-distance weekends with his fiancée, whom he met in 2018. When his employer agreed to a hybrid remote arrangement, he relocated permanently - drawn both by love and by the ocean.

He is now one of six volunteer administrators of the Gordon’s Bay Open Water Swimming Group, a passion project that provides safety-in-numbers swims for ocean enthusiasts and triathletes preparing for race season.

The group typically meets at Main Beach and swims the 2km harbour wall route, often extending towards Bikini Beach or adding extra loops. Thanks to the bay’s sheltered conditions and proximity to shore, it is considered an ideal entry point for ocean swimmers.

Mr Beytell frequently monitors sea conditions and calls for swims, so consistently that fellow swimmers have affectionately dubbed the area “Beytell Bay”.

Fellow open-water swimmer Joanna Retief said Mr Beytell's circumnavigation of Robben Island was proof of his discipline and dedication.

"One must remember that it is not just like swimming 11km in a swimming pool, where you can touch the sides or kick off the sides. Part of the discipline is that you are not allowed to touch or hold on to the support boat, nor are you allowed to hold on to any flotation device if you are tired," she said.  

CLDSA chairperson Tracey Steyn confirmed that Mr Beytell is among only 29 ratified swimmers who have circumnavigated Robben Island since 1987. 

"His circumnavigation of Robben Island is no small feat. Very few swimmers have taken on the full loop. It’s long, committing, and you have to wait for the right conditions, as each side of the island can behave very differently. This was a true bucket-list swim for Johann, and he showed real patience in waiting for his window," she said.

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