The first person to swim across the Bristol Channel was Kathleen Thomas, a 21-year-old woman from Penarth who swam to Weston-super-Mare on 5 September 1927. She completed the swim, nominally 11 miles but equivalent to 22 miles because of tidal flows, in 7 hours 20 minutes.
How long is the Bristol Channel swim?
As the crow flies the crossing, from Sandpoint, Somerset to Lavernock Point, South Wales is 12 miles, but swimmers often battle strong currents. It was first swim by Kathleen Thomas, 21, in 1927, followed two years later by Edith Parnell, 16, who remains the youngest person ever to have crossed it.
How long does the Channel take to swim?
between 7 hours and 27 hours
How long does it take to swim the English Channel? It can take between 7 hours and 27 hours or more. The time it takes to swim is dependent upon the speed of the swimmer and the channel conditions on the day of the swim.
How hard is the Channel swim?
The English Channel is a unique and demanding swim, considered by many to be the ultimate long distance challenge. It isn’t just the distance that is the challenge, but more, the variable conditions that you are likely to encounter.
What is the quickest channel swim?
6 hours and 55 minutes
More Channel swim facts
Trent Grimsey holds the record for the fastest swim across the channel, completing it in 6 hours and 55 minutes!
Is it safe to swim in the Bristol Channel?
Brean and Berrow Beaches
Brean Beach is 7 miles long and Berrow another 6 miles and like all these beaches in the Bristol Channel is only safe to swim around high tide.
Can you just swim at the wave Bristol?
We do not currently offer any water-based activities except surfing and bodyboarding at The Wave.
How much training do you need to swim the Channel?
A “split Channel swim” two or three weeks before your crossing is an ideal way to mentally and physically test yourself, i.e. do a 7 hour swim one day then a 6 hour swim the next, then you can taper down your training to just an hour or two on the days before you swim.
Do people swim the Channel non stop?
Today many people have swum across the English Channel – 63% of the swimmers to have completed it have been male. The latest notable crossing was Sarah Thomas of the United States. She became the first person to swim across the channel four ways non-stop in 2019 (it took 54 hours and 10 minutes).
Why do Channel swimmers swim at night?
The swimmers typically start at midnight and must swim for hours in the dark when they can become disoriented and seasick. Seasickness can strike on the 2-hour-plus boat ride to the island, which is what happened to McMahon in 2012. He swam for 3 1/2 hours and cramped up so bad, he had to get out.
Is 20 minute swim enough?
Swimming times for cardio workouts
You still need to start with at least 20 minutes but it has to be a consistent heart pumping uninterrupted 20 minutes to have any benefits of the cardio workout.
How do you eat when swimming the 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.
What is the hardest race to swim?
The 400 IM combines technique, endurance, and race strategy to possibly be the most difficult race in swimming.
What is a fast 25m swim time?
About 13–16 seconds is a good 25 metre time. There is no average time for age because time depends on fitness and skill. Really fast swimmers would do about 11 seconds.
Who is the youngest person to swim the Channel?
Thomas Gregory
Thomas Gregory (born 1976) swam the English Channel in 1988 at the age of 11 years and 330 days. As of 2021 he still holds the record as the youngest person to have done so.
How deep is the water in the Bristol Channel?
Open sea with water depths ranging between 20 and 60 metres. Along with the Severn Estuary (MCA 1), the Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world.
How many people have swam the Bristol Channel?
The first documented swim across the Bristol Channel was in 1927 when Kathleen Thomas swam from Penarth to Weston-Super-Mare in a little over 7 hours and 20 minutes. In the next 93 years, less than 20 more people have made it across.
Is the Bristol Channel warm?
Bristol sea temperatures peak in the range 22 to 24°C (72 to 75°F) on around the 12th of September and are at their minimum on about the 19th of February, in the range 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F). Bristol sea temperatures are always warm reach their maximum in the second week of September.
How warm is the water at the wave Bristol?
The Wave – Bristol, U.K
With summer highs of up to 27°C (85°F) in the pool, comfortably surfing in boardshorts is now possible in the UK (though average is 17-24°C (64°F-80°F) for this time of the year). Winter can see water as cold as 5°C (42°F), but warm wetsuits and hot showers are provided on site.
Is the wave Bristol worth it?
An amazing place – fantastic waves to develop your skills on and work up through the settings. The water isn’t the colour it used to, but its safe. Great atmosphere out in the queue. Good coffee too.
Do you have to wear a wetsuit at The Wave?
For beginners, wetsuits and helmets are compulsory for safety reasons – these and surf boards are provided in the cost of your lesson. Advanced and intermediate surfers are allowed to wear board shorts, along with one of our rash vests, in the warmer summer months.