English Channel

The English Channel is the body of water separating England and France, and the 33 km (20.5-mile) swim across it is the world's most historically significant and iconic marathon swim. The standards and traditions of Channel swimming inspired the global sport of unassisted Marathon Swimming.

Two organizations have exclusive authority to sanction cross-Channel swims: the Channel Swimming Association (CSA, founded 1927) and the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (CS&PF, founded 1999). The English Channel swim forms part of both the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and the Oceans Seven.

English Channel Records

Overall

First
Fastest
Most Crossings
Age

Directional and Gender-specific



English Channel Swims


Reviews

Reviewer: Marc Schregardus (October 2023)
Swam in 2023 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️

Pilot: Pathfinder - Eric Hartley
Fees: GBP 3,500
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️✩️✩️
Comments: "I thought Eric was a great pilot. We met beforehand and we (my support crew) and myself all got on well with him. He was very clear about what was required from our side. He always responded quickly to all my communication in the lead up to the swim (I'm based in Australia)."

General Comments: "I had the perfect day for the swim (calm and warm water), so was very lucky. This also meant that I loved the swim itself - and the time was reasonable (for me) 11h58m"


Reviewer: Joelle Beard (August 2023)
Swam in 2015 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️

Pilot: Reg Brickell
Fees: £4,500
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "Reg and Ray Brickell were fantastic!"

Association: Channel Swimming Association (CSA)
Fees: Approx. £300
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "Everything about the organization, piloting, and observation of this swim was a fantastic."

General Comments: "My swim was in 2012. It will not let me list 2012 as a year."


Reviewer: Jessica Kieras (August 2023)
Swam in 2022 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️

Pilot: Stuart Gleeson
Fees: 3,300 GBP
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "Stuart is a fantastic communicator, updating me constantly on the weather and meeting up before the swim to go over everything. Level headed and kind, this is a person you can trust with your life and your big EC dreams!"

Association: Channel Swimming Association
Fees: 400 GBP
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️★️


Reviewer: anonymous+verified (August 2023)
Swam in 2022 (Finished)

Pilot: Paul Foreman
Fees: AUD $6000
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️✩️
Comments: "They truely cared whether I got across or not. The skipper in the wheel house was always watching me and cheering me on!"

Association: CSPF
Fees: Approx $300
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️✩️
Value: ★️★️★️★️✩️
Comments: "The certificate and merchandise to celebrate the completion lacks gravitas for such a monumental swim. First world problem and the only change I would recommend."


Reviewer: Sarah Thomas (August 2023)
Swam in 2019 (Finished)

Pilot: Eddie Spelling
Fees: $2500/lap
Communication ★️★️★️★️✩️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "Eddie is a passionate and skilled pilot. He genuinely cares about a swimmer's success and he and his team are kind and compassionate. He knows the tides like the back of his hand. Anastasia is also a great boat- plenty of room for crew and dry spaces in case it rains."

Association: CS&PF
Fees: 720 GBP
Communication ★️★️★️★️✩️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️✩️✩️
Value: ★️★️★️★️✩️