At about 4:40 p.m. on Monday SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Jill Yoneda crawled up the Clover Point boat launch with every last bit of energy, exhausted from more than 10 hours of swimming 29.5 kilometres.

She swam until she hit land, but she couldnB次元官网网址檛 walk. Yoneda is the 12th known swimmer to make the crossing between the Washington state shore and Victoria.

This might be my fav so far. It's a screen cap but it tells you what Yoneda went through.

B次元官网网址� The Saan Man (@TravisAPaterson)

Here's Jill Yoneda's epic crawl over the finish line today.

B次元官网网址� The Saan Man (@TravisAPaterson)

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a nice day for a swim,B次元官网网址� stammered Yoneda, who was shivering from the effects of the cold water. B次元官网网址淚t was a perfect day and I couldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it without my crew.B次元官网网址�

About 40 minutes later Susan Simmons became the 13th person to swim across the Juan de Fuca as she stepped on to the shore of Dallas Road where the beach meets the breakwater of Ogden Point.

Susan Simmons coming out of the water

B次元官网网址� Saanich B次元官网网址 (@saanichnews)

The geography of SimmonsB次元官网网址� landing was ideal as she promptly made her way up for a beer at the Ogden Point Cafe.

A well deserved beer for the 8th person to cross the Juan de Fuca without a wetsuit

B次元官网网址� The Saan Man (@TravisAPaterson)

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 really like a salad and a beer, maybe something local,B次元官网网址� she told TV cameras as she stepped out of the ocean.

Simmons also joins the list as the eighth swimmer to make the crossing without a wetsuit.

Northwest Open Water Swimming Association, or , which tracks open water swims in the Pacific Northwest, knew of seven successful unassisted swims and four swims with wetsuits.

What makes Simmons and YonedaB次元官网网址檚 accomplishment stand out is that both women have overcome serious physical afflictions in their lives.

So far, Yoneda has had nine surgeries on her legs alone. Her most recent surgery, on her right leg, pulled all the muscle off her right tibia to create room for the major artery. ItB次元官网网址檚 the ninth surgery to correct a rare condition called popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, which affects her from the knee down. She hopes to have the left leg operated on in the fall. Yoneda also has titanium plates in her back and neck. Yoneda also has drop foot on one leg, not that it slows her in the water.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still kind of in shock that I made it,B次元官网网址� said Yoneda, at about 5 p.m. Monday. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 think I was going to make it.B次元官网网址�

The power of the ocean and of the human body proved themselves as despite wearing a wetsuit Yoneda was taken to the hospital to recover from the cold, while Simmons, whoB次元官网网址檚 trained far more in the discipline of open water swimming (no wetsuit), was able to walk out of the water and use only a towel to dry off.

B次元官网网址淪tayed at the hospital for a bit because I was hypothermic then had a good nights sleep,B次元官网网址� said Yoneda. B次元官网网址淐an barely move my arms today and the legs are quite painful but it was worth it!B次元官网网址�

Simmons, meanwhile, started swimming to deal with multiple sclerosis. ItB次元官网网址檚 lead to several big swims including the length of Cowichan Lake, twice, a non-stop, 31-hour adventure in 2014. SheB次元官网网址檚 since attempted but failed to swim 105-kilometres in Cowichan Lake for an open-water record, but did conquer a 50km stretch of the Great Bear Sea (split into two days of 25km each) last year, with Yoneda swimming most of that.

But through it all, and with an appreciation for Marilyn BellB次元官网网址檚 1956 crossing, Simmons hadnB次元官网网址檛 considered the Juan de Fuca.

B次元官网网址淕reat Bear was my first big ocean swim and it was so easy [thanks to the ocean buoyancy compared to the hard swim of lake water], that I thought I got to try this, it was a really easy swim,B次元官网网址� Simmons said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e just floating in the ocean.B次元官网网址�

The Routes:

On Monday, the duo left at separate times from Dungeness Spit, a little west of Port Angeles. Yoneda knew their swim times would likely differ so there was no need to swim together. They each had two kayakers for support, plus a boat, while Yoneda had a paddleboarder and a second boat also cheering her on.

Yoneda launched a little after 6:30 a.m. with a goal of hitting Clover Point.

Simmons launched around 8 a.m. with a goal of hitting either the Inner Harbour (she wanted to swim right to Ship Point), Ogden Point beach or Clover Point.

At near the same time Yoneda was crossing Ross Bay to finish at Clover Point, Simmons B次元官网网址渟pent an hourB次元官网网址� spinning near the entrance to the Inner Harbour.

B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 happening, once I realized that we changed course for Ogden Point,B次元官网网址� Simmons said. B次元官网网址淚t probably added a kilometre or more but, oh well.B次元官网网址�

The Cause:

From the start SimmonsB次元官网网址� swimming challenges always included a fundraising component for MS, though she has a new cause since the MS Society closed its centre Victoria in the fall. Simmons is to raise money to reopen a in Victoria.

Since MS showed up in SimmonsB次元官网网址� life, sheB次元官网网址檚 used a vegan (and often raw) diet to combat the disease, coupled with a high level of exercise.

When the centre closed it left more than 200 people using the fitness centre and physiotherapy looking elsewhere.

B次元官网网址淲e know exercise works, we know we need these services and when they closed it was devastating for the community,B次元官网网址� Simmons said. B次元官网网址淪ome of them are shut-ins now, not only canB次元官网网址檛 they afford those things, because theyB次元官网网址檙e almost all on disability.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e taking matters into our own hands. What we really want is physio and eventually a gym again, hope to open a new centre.B次元官网网址�

Yoneda is also asking for those inspired to donate to a local she recently visited in Tofino.

- With files from , Peninsula B次元官网网址 Daily