Paula Armstrong: From NSRI Rescuer to Open Water Conqueror

For Paula Armstrong, the ocean has always been more than just water – it's a place of challenge, resilience, and deep connection.

Caption: Station 3 Table Bay volunteers Roxy Trailor, Paula Armstrong, Ben Connolly, and Charl Maritz after completing the swim from Robben Island to Big Bay.

A former volunteer at NSRI Station 3 Table Bay, Paula is making waves in long-distance swimming, conquering some of the most gruelling swims South Africa has to offer.

Reflecting on her recent False Bay swim, Paula describes it as "absolutely grueling." Stronger than expected winds created difficult conditions, making it nearly impossible to settle into a rhythm. Yet, through sheer determination, she pressed on.

"The trick to staying motivated over such a long distance is to swim 'feed to feed.' Your support crew feeds you liquid carbohydrates every 30 to 45 minutes – a small reprieve in the monotonous journey. I generally take my watch off for long-distance swims because I will battle emotionally, knowing that I still have so far to go. All I need to do is get through the next 30 minutes. I don't think further than that. And I keep doing that until the job is done.

Now, Paula has her sights set on one of the most prestigious open-water swims in the world: The English Channel. The preparation for such an undertaking is physical and deeply psychological. "I've had to get my mind around swimming that kind of distance and really evaluate whether I have the capacity to put in the time and resources it demands," she explains. "For me, there are a few golden rules: Find the right team to journey with you; take yourself seriously, and make this your priority for the time being."

Paula's experience in the water is vast, but no two swims are ever the same. Her most recent Robben Island to Blouberg crossing, captured in stunning photographs, was particularly challenging. "The beauty of a Robben Island swim is that every single time you do it, it is different. On that particular day, we had limited visibility, so we couldn't gauge our progress. We also had pretty cold water, which made everything significantly more difficult," Paula explains. She adds, however, "I have had some of my best moments and some of my worst moments on that stretch of water. That's what makes it special."

Her time at the NSRI has played a crucial role in shaping her understanding of the sea. "The most pertinent lesson sea swimming has taught me is how quickly conditions can change. From one stroke to the next, you move into a different world – you can never relax. I've also learned the importance of trusting the people around you. Jumping into the sea and heading across big open stretches of water requires that you know that the people out there with you know what they're doing, and that they are absolutely focused on getting you home safely. It's the same with the sea rescue crew."

Balancing the demands of training and volunteering was not easy, and Paula eventually had to temporarily step down from the NSRI. She has vowed to return once her English Channel swim is done.

Paula's journey is a testament to endurance, passion, and unwavering commitment. Whether she's braving the icy waters of False Bay or training for one of the toughest swims in the world, her story is one of relentless pursuit – a quality that makes her both a remarkable swimmer and a dedicated rescuer.