North Channel

The North Channel separates Northern Ireland from Scotland. The body that ratifies its crossings, the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association, recognizes only one route: departure and arrival within the southern part of Admiralty nautical chart 2198, between the Ards Peninsula and the Rhins of Galloway. Between Donaghadee and Portpatrick, the closest points of departure and arrival, the distance measured by us is 34.9 km (21.7 mi); the association gives 18.6 nautical miles, 35 km (21.7 mi), and warns that with the tides, one swims at least 40 km (24.9 mi).

In both directions

The association ratifies the crossing in both directions without distinguishing between them, and here it is a single crossing: the direction is chosen using a filter in the rankings. When the observer has marked the point of departure and the point of arrival, the direction is read from there; for many crossings, the register does not state it. Most start from Northern Ireland, from Robbie's Point in Donaghadee or from the Gobbins cliffs at Islandmagee, and arrive in Scotland at Portpatrick, Killantringan Bay, or Knock Bay. A channel pilot recounts that the Scottish coast is almost entirely cliffs, with only one sandy beach, and that the crossing from Scotland to Ireland is tougher. The finish counts when on dry land, on a beach or on rocks with no more sea behind, or by touching the cliff; where the waves break on the rocks, the pilot decides.

Cold and jellyfish

The water is between 11 °C (51.8 °F) and 15 °C (59 °F), and the regulations require that it reach at least 12 °C (53.6 °F) before starting. The season runs from June to September, and in the register, most crossings are in July and August. Then there are the jellyfish: the association writes that the hundreds of lion's mane jellyfish in the channel are "mostly unavoidable", along with other species. Those who have swum at night have seen them by the hundreds under the boat's lights.

The rules

Fabric swimsuit, one-piece or two-piece, that does not extend below the shoulders or below the knees; a swim cap; grease and goggles allowed; no wetsuits or technical swimsuits, no electronics. No contact with the boat or other people. On board, there is an association observer for each direction of the crossing, and crossings are not ratified retroactively.

Who ratifies it

The Irish Long Distance Swimming Association keeps the register of North Channel crossings since the first one, Tom Blower's in 1947, and has been following attempts since the Sixties. Since 2018, the North Channel Swimming Association has also existed, with similar rules; its crossings appear in the same register, which is the source of the rankings on this page. Many rows contain the water and air temperatures measured by the observer.