British endurance athlete Ross Edgley is 84 days into a 3,220km swim around Britain. He swims during the day, then sleeps aboard a support boat on what is called a Contiguous Stage Sea Swim. He hasn’t set foot on land since he took the plunge on June 1.
The current record for the Longest Assisted Contiguous Stage Sea Swim with a wetsuit but no fins or hand paddles stands at 73 days. If Edgley finishes, he can set a new record, once verified by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
However, he might not keep the trophy for long: Current record holder Benoit Lecomte is over 1,000km into his own 8,800km swim across the Pacific Ocean. This has the potential to eclipse any mark Edgley may set.
Edgley treading water for a brief respite. Can you spot the jellyfish? Photo: Harvey Gibson/Red Bull
Edgley started from the town of Margate, on the southeast corner of Britain. He has made relatively smooth progress but has had some small challenges along the way, including jellyfish stings and chunks of his tongue disintegrating from prolonged exposure to salt water.
The current GPS tracks of Ross Edgley’s clockwise swim around Britain. Photo: Red Bull
On his 74 days in the water, Edgley said:
“I feel an immense sense of pride … it’s obviously no easy feat! Scotland represented such an important point. It meant we stood a chance of getting round John O’Groats [the northern tip of Britain], and back down the other side before winter really kicks in.”
Edgley has swum approximately 1,600 km — over halfway. He is averaging 20km a day.
Links
Pacific Swim Update: Lecomte Hits 1,000km
Benoit Lecomte attempts to swim the Pacific
