Ilfracombe to Swansea, 18-7-2025, 13hours 52minutes 47seconds. Fastest Female….and outright fastest crossing on this route!

Captains log – The story of the swim by Off the Slip (Toms alter ego!) –

Absolute privilege to escort Makala across the Bristol Channel. Fabulous swim! The long version…

Sunday. Makala.

Originally booked for a few tides time, a decent looking forecast and a super speedy swim the day before, the channel opened up for Makala to have her crack at Glenthorne to Porthcawl; ended up being a super fun day out and [another] awesome result!

The long version: We actually got a lie in for this one not locking out til way after the sun had come up in regular marina hours!!! On the crossing over we had a decent easterly hitting us beam on, splashing waves over the boat. Everyone kept a brave face but its not a huge confidence booster! The forecast had a F3 gusting 4 for a few hours on the English side dropping in the afternoon, so we were in for a bit of a fight for [hopefully] a cracking afternoon and finish.

Makala had a tough swim in the North Channel earlier this year so I was secretly hoping the Bristol channel would be kind to her.

It wasn’t kind….but it wasn’t too mean. Makala was swimming strongly and and really good spirits and that early chop didn’t seem to phase her, the track grew ever further North despite the wind. After it turned a few hours in, the wind started to drop. The sea calmed, the sun was out. For the second day on the bounce, we were in a great place with a happy boat, happy swimmer, great position, just waiting to pick up the ebb to carry us home!

As we got closer to Porthcawl the tide did threaten to sweep us past Sandy Bay and the waiting Bluetit flock on the beach…..but with a little bit of encouragement, Makala stepped up a gear and cruised out of the rip into a millpond flat bay to claim an awesome finish in just over 11 hours. When we all got into the beach she was bouncing around like she hadnt even swum a stroke. Hugely well deserved result!

Two days, two superb swims, two superb tracks. Two days of meticulous prepared swimmers, making an incredibly tough swim look almost like a formality. Congratulations both!

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