How to Swim the English Channel

Swimming the 21-mile English Channel is considered the "Everest of open-water swimming." People who attempt to do this have to contend with cold, exhaustion and the stress of dodging sea traffic in one of the world's busiest shipping corridors. Think you could do it? Here's how others have accomplished this impressive feat.

Things You'll Need

• Pool or other body of water for your initial training
• Swimsuit that meets the Channel Swimming Association standards
• Squeeze bottles
• Bags
• Oversized cups
• Long pole to pass nourishment to you
• Thin rope to pass nourishment to you from the boat
• Food and drink
• Channel Swimmer's Grease, if you can find it
• Chemical glow sticks
• Passport
• Visa to enter France
• Channel Swimming Association
• Pilot boat to accompany you across the English Channel

Instructions

1. Start training for your swim months in advance. You can start this at your local pool. Most Channel swimmers, however, acclimate themselves to local conditions on the beaches of Folkestone or Hythe in England.

2. Obtain a "standard swim costume" for your attempt. Basically, you cannot have a swimsuit that covers your arms or legs, provides buoyancy or gives you thermal protection.

3. Experiment with different ways to get the food and drink you will need during your swim. Since you are forbidden to have any physical contact with another person during your swim, you will have to be creative in thinking up ways to get your nourishment. Other swimmers have used squeeze bottles and bags passed to them with a pole, strung along on a string to them, or even passing larger-than-normal-sized cups to avoid personal contact with a swimmer.

4. Decide if you want to "grease" yourself up before a swim. Most swimmers do use some of it, especially on areas of the body that may be prone to chafing (neck, shoulder, arm pits, groin), while others slap it all over to provide a little bit of warmth during their swim. Expect to make up your own blend to suit your needs.

5. Prepare for swimming at least part of the Channel in darkness or twilight. Most swimmers attach chemical glow sticks to themselves to help their pilots see them in low-light conditions.

6. Bring your passport and a visa to enter France at the end of your swim. Sure, you may not be planning to stay over, but you could change your mind or require medical assistance at the end of the swim. Besides, if any authorities request to see proof of your identity before, after or even during your swim, it will be a convenient document to have on board the pilot ship.

Tips & Warnings

• The first person ever to swim the English Channel was Captain Matthew Webb in 1875. He did it in 21 hours, 45 minutes on August 24 and 25.

• If you do succeed, you are truly among the sport's elite. Only about 10 percent of those making the attempt complete the crossing.

• Arrange medical, life, accident and property insurance coverages before you swim. Remember that the English Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, and while it is rare that something bad happens to a swimmer, there will always be a risk of injury or death in any attempt to cross it.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Find out more about the Channel Swimming Association at their official website.