About the English Channel

The English Channel is considered one of the world’s most difficult Open Water Swims

Rules:

• What swimmer can wear: One Hat, one swimsuit, goggles, grease and earplugs
• No Physical Contact with boat or any person
• Swim Starts from walking into sea from dry land
• Swim Ends by finishing on dry land
• Qualifications: To Qualify a swimmer must complete a 6 hour swim in 60 degrees Fahrenheit or colder

Channel Facts:

• DISTANCE: 21 Land miles/ 34 kilometers if swimming in a straight line
• WATER TEMPERATURE  59  – 64.5 degrees Fahrenheit ( 14 to 18 degrees Celcius)
•  WINDS    6-7-mile per hour winds ,up to 15-25 mile per hour wind gusts
•  SHIPPING over 800 vessels per day
•  HAZARDS: Jellyfish, Hypothermia, Debris in the water
• TIDE : Strong Tidal Flows
• AVERAGE SWIM TIME: 10-20 Hours

About Channel Crossings:

• FIRST MALE CROSSING: In 1875, Englishman Captain Matthew Webb in 21 Hours
• FIRST FEMALE CROSSING: In 1926 American Gertrude Ederle in 14 Hours, 39 minutes
• FASTEST CROSSING: In 2007 Peter Stoychev of Bulgaria crossed in 6 Hours, 57 minutes
• SUCCESSFUL SWIMMERS: 1,013 and counting
• LONGEST CROSSING CROSSING: In 2010 English soloist Jackie Cobell in 28 Hours, 44 minutes

Channel Swims Depart Dover and swim to the shores of France

 

Source: Channel Swimming  & Piloting Federation