Pretoria Boys High alumni Chris Oldnall and Peet Crowther completed a grueling 33km swim across False Bay on 22 November 2024, despite Oldnall battling a stomach bug and seasickness. The feat forms part of their Trilogy Ocean Swim Challenge to raise funds for scholarships. Dolphins and bioluminescence provided unexpected encouragement during the 13-hour ordeal.
Chris Oldnall and Peet Crowther, both alumni of Pretoria Boys High School, embarked on the Trilogy Ocean Swim Challenge in 2024 to support scholarships through a partnership with the South African Hall of Fame. The False Bay crossing, a 33km route from Miller’s Point to Rooiels known as the “Everest of Cape swims,” marked a key leg completed in 13 hours on 22 November 2024.
Oldnall, the school's deputy headmaster, fell ill with a stomach bug days before the swim. He received hydration via drip but pressed on. “So, we launched the boat and off we went, and in the first 20 minutes I started vomiting,” Oldnall told Daily Maverick. Seasickness worsened his condition, leading to dehydration as he struggled to retain feeds for nearly six hours.
As Oldnall recovered, Crowther faced exhaustion and disorientation, prompting their captain, Derrick Frazer, to consider halting the swim. A pod of dolphins then appeared, boosting their resolve. For Oldnall, who links dolphins to his late grandmother, the encounter was profound: “The sun had set and it was flipping cold and uncomfortable, and these dolphins joined us and I just had this rush of energy because I felt this presence of my grandma.”
Nearing Rooiels, bioluminescence lit the water, creating a mesmerizing display. “Even the sea life as it swims and moves you, there’s bioluminescence. So, there’s this whole other world happening below you,” Oldnall described. Despite pain and fatigue, he refused to quit: “I was in this state of absolute exhaustion and suffering, but I was not prepared to give up. Then something like that happens and it’s just crazy, beautiful.”
The challenge began after a March 2024 Cape Town Freedom Swim, where the pair decided on bigger endeavors. The second leg, a 53km solo from Robben Island to Dassen Island, was finished in April 2025. To date, their efforts have raised over R2.5-million, aiding 55 pupils. The final 66km double False Bay crossing is set for May 2026, aligned with the school's 125th anniversary.
Training involved camps in Langebaan, weather monitoring for ideal 15ºC water and calm conditions, and adjustments for seasickness and nutrition. Post-swim, Oldnall dealt with infections, underscoring the physical toll. Marine encounters, including whales, seals, dolphins, and sharks but no great whites, added risks, though dolphin presence signaled safety.
