Swimming the English Channel 2015

I started my adventures through the art of swimming. Swimming in the pool for lengths on end whilst competing for the university eventually didn’t satisfy me anymore and became monotonous and boring… What did I do? I changed things up in order to keep developing, I challenged myself to swim across the English Channel and started open water training which lead to the attempt on the 25th June 2015 at 16:40pm.

I led a team to swim across the English Channel in a relay format to raise funds (£3,000) for three charities: Help for Heroes, Surrey Dolphins Swimobility and Centrepoint in their journey from Shakespeare's Cliff of Folkestone, England to Cap Gris-Nez of France. It was completed in a time of 12 hours and 28 minutes.

This marked the start of extreme endurance adventures and the seeds were sown.

Official log of our swim can be found here on the Channel Swimming Association website.

Key Metrics / Stats

Start: Shakespeare's Cliff of Folkestone, United Kingdom

Finish: Cap Gris-Nez, France

Duration: 12 hours 28 minutes

Largest relay team to complete the English Channel Swim

Distance: 21 miles (straight line), actual distance covered = 30 miles

Calories burned: ~10,000 kcal per day

Environmental contributions:

• Boat Pilot Support Emissions: We encouraged eco-responsible navigation and reduced idling where safe.

• Second-hand or reused equipment and even food: Reduced embodied emissions from manufacturing new items by using existing goggles, swim caps, and swimwear.

• Wetsuit-free swimming: Since Channel rules require skin swimming (no wetsuit), environmental benefits include: no neoprene production, no microplastics from wetsuit wear, minimal gear footprint (just goggles, men's trunks and female swimsuit).

• Zero-Waste & Waste Accountability: Pack in, pack out: carrying all non-biodegradable waste for the full journey. We conducted recycling or proper disposal upon arrival back in the UK.

• Zero single-use plastic: all reusable and durable.

• Training sustainably: The majority of training in local pools or open-water spots to avoid excessive driving. Replace pool visits with open-water sessions during summer to reduce pool energy consumption.

• Travel & Transportation Footprint: Use low-emission transportation to reach Dover/Folkestone (shared vehicle transport with crew and trains).

Partnerships and charities

Charity Fundraising for the Event