A sunny Saturday with negligible winds and Lake Ontario water temperatures warming up seemed to be a perfect day for Hamilton’s Greg Maitinsky to attempt a record-setting solo swim.

With his support team, Maitinsky arrived at Queen’s Royal Beach in Niagara-on-the-Lake around noon.

He was covered head-to-toe with sunscreen and ready to take on the more than 50-kilometre swim.

Maitinsky was looking to set a record for the fastest solo swim from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto.

The record is held by John Scott, who did it in 14 hours and 33 minutes in 1994.

Maitinsky conquered the lake in 2022 in 16 hours and 16 minutes, but, on this day, the mighty lake won.

After three hours and making his way 10 kilometres across the Great Lake, he was forced to stop due to strong, dangerous currents.

Lisa Burns from Chautauqua, N.Y., was among the numerous onlookers who happened to be on the beach when Maitinksy departed and she asked around, puzzled about what he was doing.

“I can’t believe he’s swimming to Toronto. And we all got to witness him leave,” she said.

A swim cut short is not enough to discourage Maitinsky from trying again, who plans to go for the record at a later date.