Mannar (Sri Lanka): It is the rising temperature of the sea water and not the lure of a world record that compels ace swimmer Bula Chowdhury to advance her schedule to cross the Palk Strait in the Indian Ocean, the last of the seven seas to be conquered tomorrow (Aug 20, 2004).

Chowdhury, who earlier had decided to start from Talaimanar on the Sri Lankan coast tomorrow morning, would kick off her water expedition two hours past midnight.

As per the revised schedule, Chowdhury is expected to reach the Indian coast at Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu by tomorrow afternoon, taking around 12 hours to cover the 40 kms stretch of the Indian Ocean.

"I had to advance my schedule so as to avoid the rising temperature of the sea water during the day time which makes the sea more turbulent so I want to cover as much as possible under the night sky," the Kolkata girl, who has become habituated to rule the cold water seas, said.

A successful attempt to cross the "difficult channel" would not only get a rousing welcome at Dhanushkodi but also make the 34-year old, mother of one child, and the first woman in the world to have conquered the seven seas.