Feb 17 2008

Question: How wide is the English Channel?

Published by neal at 3:27 PM under Logistics

Answer: Width ranges from 112 mi (180 km) in the west to 20 mi (32 km) in the east, between Dover England and Calais France. Swimmers are typically concerned with the narrowest point, and that question 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.

english_channel_width.jpg

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12 responses so far

12 Responses to “Question: How wide is the English Channel?”

  1. # 10 Degrees Latitude » Summertime bikingon 24 Apr 2008 at 11:20 PM

    [...] 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 [...]

  2. # Chrissieon 27 Jul 2008 at 9:01 AM

    Wow! I wish I was as fit as you and Adam. I can barely swim 100 meters. Sad huh?

  3. # Alexon 19 Sep 2008 at 4:29 PM

    Sounds like Fun love to do it but im 16 and in college so i cant shame that well ill do it after

  4. # IM-PRO-VIS-ATIONon 15 Oct 2008 at 8:06 AM

    Did it eight times in a row…
    easy
    secret is….
    NO Burger King.

  5. # IM-PRO-VIS-ATIONon 15 Oct 2008 at 8:07 AM

    Jks

  6. # Elizabethon 01 Mar 2009 at 5:24 PM

    i’m actually planning on swimming the channel myself. i plan to do it before before i turn 21

  7. # Stormon 01 Nov 2009 at 8:14 AM

    I’m 14 and Im swimming it this summer

  8. # Anonymouson 12 Apr 2010 at 2:38 PM

    I’m planning on swimming the channel next year 4 children In need

  9. # Anonymouson 05 Feb 2011 at 3:20 PM

    I’m not exactly the typical person who likes to exercise but i’m training to row the length of the channel on a rowing machine this year for Comic Relief (red nose day)

  10. # Carloson 23 Apr 2011 at 3:01 PM

    Has anyone tried swimming the whole way under water using a SCUBA tank?

  11. # manoranjan singhon 23 Feb 2012 at 5:09 AM

    SIR,
    I have experience to swim many hours & want to cross english chanle ,pls guide me how i will cross english chanle

  12. # manoranjan singhon 23 Feb 2012 at 5:09 AM

    my mob no is 9301508111

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