First Person to Swim The Atlantic Ocean
In Summer 2025 Andy will set off from Brazil in an attempt to become the first person to "officially" swim across the Atlantic Ocean
Has Anyone ever swam the Atlantic before?
Yes! According to Wikipedia 3 individuals claim to have swam the Atlantic – Benoit Lecomte (from Massachusetts to Brittany, France in 1998), Guy Delange swim (from Cape Verde Islands to Barbados in 1994) and Jenifer Figge (from Cape Verde Islands to Trinidad in 2009).
However there is “controversy” on all attempts as no GPS data was used to chart the entry into the water after each break. For example uncertainty about the distance that Lecomte actually covered swimming in the water rather than riding in a boat with the prevailing currents. According to the Rocky Mountain News, Lecomte would have had to average 8 mph (13 km/h; 3.6 m/s) to have swum the entire distance, 3 to 4 times as fast as other long-distance swimmers.
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SO THERE IS NO OFFICIAL RECORD FOR SWIMMING THE ENTIRE ATLANTIC OCEAN!! (ie no breaks or overnights drifting on a boat)
How am I preparing to swim the Atlantic?
Whilst Andy swam 1.2 miles a day as part of the 70 x 70.3M triathlons in 70 days challenge and he's done many sea and lake swims.....it's a little different to swimming 3000 miles across a potentially rough sea therefore he will be working on building up his open water swimming abilities over the next 18 months.
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Andy will be doing a variety of different swimming training including interval training, sprints and long distance swims in both the pool and sea and build up to a series of challenges.
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In Summer 2024 Andy is planning to swim all the longest lakes in England - Coniston, Ullswater and Windermere as well as many crossing from Torquay to Brixham to build up his sea swimming. Andy's training plan will also include crossfit style hit sessions, strength and weight training and yoga to ensure his body is in peak condition to take on such an arduous physical challenge required to swim the tough Atlantic.
What will be the biggest challenges?
Sickness, storms, jellyfish and sharks!! - That's what will be the biggest challenge. It's hugely important that we do our research, bring on an experienced boat and crew for the crossing and speak to the shark experts on how we can deter them from thinking Andy is on the menu! Also there are many deadly jellyfish which Andy will need to protected from - one sting and the challenge could be over......
