What is it like to swim the English Channel?

The water is cold, the weather and water conditions are unpredictable and there are strong tides. The first two elements are reasonably easy to understand. Keep in mind that no wetsuits are allowed and the average swim takes 12 hours.

Is the English Channel safe to swim in?

The answer depends on several different factors but the short answer is yes it is hard. Even if you get the perfect day, you still are swimming over 21 miles in water under 62 degrees Fahrenheit. On a good day swimming the channel is hard and on a bad day it is really hard.

How far do people swim when they swim the English Channel?

The English Channel is the body of water separating England and France, and the 33 km (20.5-mile) swim across it is the world’s most historically significant and iconic marathon swim. The standards and traditions of Channel swimming inspired the global sport of unassisted Marathon Swimming.

Has anyone died trying to swim the English Channel?

Like any extreme sport, Channel swimming has risks attached to it, and over the years ten swimmers have died while attempting the swim.

How long does it take to cross the English Channel by boat?

How long does it take to cross the Channel by Ferry? The wide number of ferry routes that we offer across the Channel means that there is not one specific sail time, especially as they can widely vary from anywhere between 35 minutes to 11 hours.

Are there jellyfish in the English Channel?

It is common in the English Channel, Irish Sea, North Sea, and in western Scandinavian waters south to Kattegat and Øresund. The lion’s mane jellyfish uses its stinging tentacles to capture, pull in, and eat prey such as fish, zooplankton, sea creatures, and smaller jellyfish.

Can you swim the Channel in a wetsuit?

1) Since the first Channel swim in 1875, there have been 1,731 successful Channel swim crossings. 4) For a swim to be officially recognised, you cannot wear a wetsuit! In fact, the only equipment you are allowed is a swimming hat, goggles, a nose clip, ear plugs and your costume.

How cold is English Channel?

Surface temperatures range from 45 °F (7 °C) in February to 61 °F (16 °C) in September, although shallow coastal waters are warmer in summer. There is little temperature change with depth in the well-mixed eastern waters of the channel, but bottom-water temperatures fall to 41 °F (5 °C) in the west.

How do you eat when swimming the English Channel?

The key is to choose foods which are easy to chew and swallow, and which you enjoy. During your swim, your tongue and mouth will likely become irritated due to the salt in the water, so you will likely be unable to consume chewy foods or gels very well. Some people do not ingest solids at all during their swim.

How many miles is it to swim across the English Channel?

About the English Channel Swim. The English Channel Swim begins either in Dover, England or at Cap Gris Nez , France, and at 21 miles (33.8 kilometers) is the narrowist distance between England and France. Tides, currents and weather can make the actual swim distance closer to 24 miles (38.6 kilometers).

Who was the first American to swim across the English Channel?

LONDON – An American cancer survivor has become the first person to swim the English Channel, which separates England and France, four times nonstop. Sarah Thomas set off from Dover just past midnight on Sunday. She completed her fourth lap of the channel 54 hours and 13 minutes later on Tuesday morning, after 133 miles of swimming.

Who was the first woman to swim across the English Channel?

Gertrude Caroline Ederle (October 23, 1905 – November 30, 2003) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in five events. On August 6, 1926, she became the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

Can you swim across the English Channel?

The English Channel is the stretch of water between England and France. The shortest route to swim across it is 21 miles long, but that can change depending on the current. The Channel is one of…