English Channel

Introduction:

My current goal is to take on the classical challenge of open water swimming:  crossing the English Channel.  This 350 mile long body of water separates England from France and joins the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea.  Ranging in temperature from 59°F/60°F at the end of June to 64/65°F by the beginning of September, the English Channel is a test of cold water endurance, physical toughness, and mental tenacity.

Distance Across:

It’s hard to assess exactly how wide the English Channel is for a swimmer aiming to swim across due to the tidal flows through the Channel.  The shortest direct distance is approximately 21 miles from Shakespeare Beach in Dover to Cap Gris Nez halfway between Calais and Boulogne.  Due to the 12 hour cycle of the Flood and Ebb tides, however, it is inevitable that a swimmer will stray from this direct route and swim some version of a backward “S” across the Channel.  Some swimmers end up swimming close to 21 miles, while others can swim as long as 28 miles.  The general trend is this:  the faster you swim, the shorter the distance you swim, as the tides have less of an effect on you.

General Information:

In addition to the daily cycling of the Flood and Ebb tides, there is an overarching 14 day tidal cycle caused by the positions of the moon, sun, and earth.  The maximum tide, called the Spring Tide, occurs when the moon is in line with the sun and the earth.  The minimum tide, called the Neap Tide, occurs when the moon is positioned 90° to the earth.

Most swims, including mine, are attempted during the slacker Neap Tide because the longer the period of slack water when the tide turns, the slower the tidal flow, and the more direct a path a swimmer can make.

Successful swims are 100% dependent on having a good pilot – the captain of the escort craft who guides the swimmer across the Channel.  His job is to have you swim through the right course at the right time, trying to take advantage of small tidal changes that can help while avoiding those that can hinder.

Timing when swimming the Channel is also critical to success.  For example, one can imagine that over the course of 8-14 hours, a swimmer needs to feed – typically swimmers feed every half hour.  However, according to the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, if you waste two minutes on each feed and you feed every half hour, then on a 12 hour swim you will have lost 48 minutes. This can be the difference between landing with the tide or having to swim for another 2, 3, or 4 hours.  Clearly, there are a lot of elements at play when attempting this swim.

Cost:

Key phrase:  Exchange Rate.

If you live in the US, this little factor can really augment the cost of your Channel attempt.  Below is an itemized example of what deciding to swim the Channel could cost:

Pilot and Swim Fees: 2350£ = $3350

Flight: $1100

Accommodations: 2000£ = $2850

  • Note:  This part is tricky because it depends on how early you want to arrive to acclimatize, and when you project you might have the opportunity to swim given the start of your tide.  I estimated I would arrive 2-3 days prior to the start of my tide, given that I am in Position 2 and therefore not likely to swim on the first few days of the tide.   You have to accept the fact that you could be there 7-10 days waiting for your opportunity to swim.  Additionally, you probably want to stay somewhere in which your support team can be with you (so an establishment that houses 3-6 people). Therefore, I used a stay period of 2 weeks in calculating the cost of accommodation in one of the Dover bed and breakfasts that caters to Channel swimmers.  Prices vary, so I also used the high end estimate.

Food (you and your support crew for 2 weeks): 1000£ = $1500

Rental Car: at least $700

Gear (swim equipment, athletic nutrition):  $250

As you can see, it really adds up!

Some Stats:

  • 24 August 1875 – 25 August 1875 Capt. Matthew Webb made the first crossing of the English Channel from England to France.
  • 6 August 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the Channel. She did it in 14 hours 31 minutes, breaking the men’s record of the time by two hours.
  • In 1961 Antonio Abertondo from Argentina became the first person to swim the channel both ways non-stop.
  • In July 1972, Lynne Cox became the youngest person to swim the English Channel at age fifteen, breaking both the men’s and women’s records. She swam the channel again in 1973, setting a new record time of nine hours thirty-six minutes.
  • In 1983, 12-year-old Samantha Druce crossed in 15 hours and 27 minutes to claim the title of youngest person to successfully swim the English Channel.
  • The fastest verified swim of the channel was by Petar Stoychev on 24 August 2007. He crossed the channel in 6 hours 57 minutes 50 seconds.
  • The fastest verified female channel swimmer is Yvetta Hlaváčová in 2006. She crossed the channel in 7 hours 25 minutes and 15 seconds.
  • The fastest verified two- way channel swimmer, in a time of 16 hours 10 minutes, is Philip Rush in 1987.
  • The fastest verified female two-way channel swimmer, in a time of 17 hours 14 minutes, is Susie Maroney in 1991.
  • The fastest verified three-way channel swimmer is Philip Rush in 1987. He crossed the channel (England/France/England/France) in 28 hours 21 minutes.
  • The fastest (and only) verified female three-way channel swimmer is Alison Streeter in 1990. She crossed the channel (England/France/England/France) in 34 hours 40 minutes.
  • The woman with the most crossings, holding the undisputed title of “Queen of the Channel”, is Alison Streeter MBE with 43 crossings, including one 3-way and three 2-way swims.
  • The “King of the Channel” title has been awarded to Kevin Murphy (34 crossings, including three doubles).
  • Vicki Keith was the first person to cross the Channel swimming butterfly