Land’s End to Dover: Lewis Pugh starts 350-mile Long Swim challenge
Written by News on 12/07/2018
Oceans campaigner Lewis Pugh has set off on his formidable mission to swim the length of the Channel – from Land’s End to Dover.
He hopes to complete his 350-mile swim in 50 days – wearing just a cap, trunks and goggles – in order to raise awareness of the need for ocean conservation.
His quest is part of the worldwide Action for Oceans campaign, which calls on governments to fully protect at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
Pugh has spent months preparing in the sea off Cape Town, where he lives.
He has also been writing a blog where you can follow his progress.
On the eve of the swim, he wrote: “This is the longest swim anyone has ever done, adhering to Channel Rules in water this low temperature.
“I honestly don’t know how I’m going to do this. But I do believe I’ll see the white cliffs of Dover.
“So that’s the paradox that’s going through my mind.”
:: Speedo diplomacy – Who is Lewis Pugh?
The 48-year-old endurance athlete has swum the waters of the Arctic, the Antarctic and any number of other seas, rivers, streams and lakes.
He has even done a high-altitude paddle on Mount Everest but has previously said that this swim will be one of his biggest challenges.
“I’ve swum in some of the most dangerous and coldest waters on Earth but I rank this [swim] a 10 out of 10 for difficulty,” he said.
From Land’s End in Cornwall, Pugh will head east, battling the currents and frigid temperatures for up to five hours a day.
He hopes to make Dover in 50 days but the tides, headwinds, and sheer loneliness of open water swimming may have the last word.
Some 1,800 people have done the 21-mile (33km) crossing between England and France, but Pugh will attempt the entire 348 miles of water officially designated as the English Channel.
:: How will the swim affect Pugh’s body?
:: Follow Sky News from Thursday 12 July for updates on Lewis Pugh’s progress
:: Sky’s Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at www.skyoceanrescue.com
(c) Sky News 2018: Land’s End to Dover: Lewis Pugh starts 350-mile Long Swim challenge
