Feb 17 2008
How wide is the English Channel?
The first question folks ask us when they find out we’re training to swim the English Channel is “How long of a swim is that?”. The answer has two parts.
1. How far in miles:
The short answer is 25 miles. The English Channel is 20.3 miles wide at its narrowest point. The common start and end points for swimmers widens this a little to 20.6 miles wide, as the crow flies (lucky crow). Unlike crows, swimmers contend with tidal currents that weave them off-course. Weaving makes the actual distance across the channel closer to 25 miles for most swimmers. Some particularly lucky or experienced swimmers manage to swim direct, traveling only 21 miles. Unlucky swimmers have gotten caught in especially powerful tidal currents and end up swimming up to 30 miles to cross the English Channel.
2. How long in hours to swim:
The short answer is 14 hours. Time is a factor of speed and distance. Adam and I have swum together for many hours averaging 1.5 mph. At this swim rate, a bee-line (21 miles) for France will be a 14 hour swim. If we zig-zag (28 miles) it will be a 19 hour swim.
Here is a quick map mock-up of two swim routes and our projected swim times if we follow each route. For more swim route maps check out this link.
[...] bikes will take us 1000 miles from northern Scotland to Paris. They will not be coming on our 24-mile swim of the English Channel, although Willier are almost light enough for [...]
Wow! I wish I was as fit as you and Adam. I can barely swim 100 meters. Sad huh?
I tried to cling to the bottom of the euro star. Unfortunatly I fell off in Calais and had to walk the wrong way up the Channel Tunnel and was hit by several trains. Can you help me buy a cheap lilo?
Sounds like Fun love to do it but im 16 and in college so i cant shame that well ill do it after
Did it eight times in a row…
easy
secret is….
NO Burger King.
Jks