Welcome to the Investec Maldives Challenge

26 February- Closing message from Lewis

I woke this morning very badly burnt and therefore resisited the blandishments of the Tourist Board which wanted me to swim a further 15kms against the current to reach a tourist island, Balathaa. Insted, having decided that the reef I reached last night was insufficient, I completed the final four hundred meters from the reef ,where we got nastily cut on the coral, to my final destination, Etheremadivaru Island, an uninhabited but beautiful place, which is being converted into a very upmarket resort.

I must say that the sense of relief is immense: it has been a long and tiring 10 day swim but it was worth it.It is clear that the Maldives Government is grateful for the attention it has brought to bear on their future. It has also created a major point of discussion for the school children on the islands.

Murad, our mentor who has done a fantastic job meeting our requests for assistance, took me and the team to Bathalaa for a celebratory lunch. What I didn't know was that he had arranged a reception committee of guests from the resort, a local band and a huge welcome banner. Frankly after the lunch and press interviews I and the team were so tired that we all found it difficult to keep awake on the fast boat ride back to Male.

And so ends another adventure. As usual I couldn't have done it without the support of sponsors, particularly Investec, and the team who organised all the support: swimmers, photographers, dog's body (the General) and the pill producer (Jenny). Thank you to them all and in particular the people of the Maldives whose encouragement and friendliness made the whole venture a pleasure, as well as an ordeal.