Skip to content
Triple Crown of the "Impossible"
Leonard_Jansen
Charter Member
Like I said in the other post, I had lots of time yesterday while being yardwork-waterboarded to think.
It occured to me that there must be three swims that are so difficult, albeit doable, that each one would, of itself, be extraordinary. Anyone able to complete all three (channel rules) would be in a class by themselves. Here are my three suggestions:
1) North Channel - Obviously this is doable since a small number of people have done it. However, this certainly meets the extraorinary criteria. This is the "easy" (ha ha) swim of the three. Issues: Cold, jellyfish, currents, weather, rough.
2) Farrallons - Only done twice, although a few people have knocked on the door lately and that number is sure to increase slightly sometime in the near future. This is one of those swims that makes me break out into a cold sweat when I think about it. Issues: Cold, distance, weather, rough, men in grey suits.
3) To my knowledge this next one has not only never been done, but it has never even been mentioned by anyone. So you are hearing it here first: Tristan da Cunha to Nightingale Island - About 20 km from the most remote inhabited island (pop 275) in the world to it's nearest uninhabited island. (There is another island about 20 km away and another about 35 km away, but I believe they are wildlife preserves, so landing there might not be allowed.) Issues: This is the dark side of the moon - not even a guess as to what you would be up against, fairly difficult to get to, nearly impossible logistics (?).
I did not mention Cuba-Florida as it has yet to be done under "channel" rules, although I strongly suspect that with a bit of luck on currents and jellies, Penny Palfrey, et al could do it. Still...
Sea of Cortez might be a (very) worthy substitute in the near future, if/when that gets done.
The appeal of having a warm water swim to replace one of these colder swims is very strong in my mind.
Any other suggestions?
-LBJ
It occured to me that there must be three swims that are so difficult, albeit doable, that each one would, of itself, be extraordinary. Anyone able to complete all three (channel rules) would be in a class by themselves. Here are my three suggestions:
1) North Channel - Obviously this is doable since a small number of people have done it. However, this certainly meets the extraorinary criteria. This is the "easy" (ha ha) swim of the three. Issues: Cold, jellyfish, currents, weather, rough.
2) Farrallons - Only done twice, although a few people have knocked on the door lately and that number is sure to increase slightly sometime in the near future. This is one of those swims that makes me break out into a cold sweat when I think about it. Issues: Cold, distance, weather, rough, men in grey suits.
3) To my knowledge this next one has not only never been done, but it has never even been mentioned by anyone. So you are hearing it here first: Tristan da Cunha to Nightingale Island - About 20 km from the most remote inhabited island (pop 275) in the world to it's nearest uninhabited island. (There is another island about 20 km away and another about 35 km away, but I believe they are wildlife preserves, so landing there might not be allowed.) Issues: This is the dark side of the moon - not even a guess as to what you would be up against, fairly difficult to get to, nearly impossible logistics (?).
I did not mention Cuba-Florida as it has yet to be done under "channel" rules, although I strongly suspect that with a bit of luck on currents and jellies, Penny Palfrey, et al could do it. Still...
Sea of Cortez might be a (very) worthy substitute in the near future, if/when that gets done.
The appeal of having a warm water swim to replace one of these colder swims is very strong in my mind.
Any other suggestions?
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Comments
http://santabarbarachannelswim.org/islands/sannicolas.html
61 statute miles to the mainland, by the shortest route. Never attempted by any route. Logistically difficult due to it being a US Navy weapons testing facility.
@Evmo - OK, that is certainly a worthy candidate. I assume that you feel that it is "doable" at some level even if it hasn't been done - getting strafed aside. I'd say "no" if the Farallons swim was kept on the list if only not to have 2 so close together.
Still looking for a warmer water suggestion, however, since I think that would give some balance and not just favor cold water swimmers.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Perhaps it would be better, though, to focus on more "doable" distances in the 20-40 mile range (at least, doable by more people), where the great challenge derives mostly from conditions or psychological factors. In that case, I'd certainly endorse the Farallones & North Channel. As for the third... what about False Bay?
"I never met a shark I didn't like"
The English Channel was once on this list. How fun would it be to see a few other get knocked off?
I don't wear a wetsuit; it gives the ocean a sporting chance.
With all of the political aspects a swim like that could have, it's not hard to imagine that getting major international media coverage
It occured to me that there must be three swims that are so difficult, albeit doable, that each one would, of itself, be extraordinary.
Further thoughts:
1) I mostly was thinking along the lines of 3 swims that have a "holy #@*$%" reaction from other swimmers when they hear that someone has done one of the swims. I think that means that a given swim must have a certain recognition factor, at least within the swimming community. This would rule out some of the swims proposed that are little known or unknown. Admittedly, my third recommendation would fall into that category, but I hoped to spark some interest in what would be a very rare endevour.
2) The swim must either have been done, albeit rarely, or be at least theoretically doable. It would be too easy to say "Swim from New York to Florida", but that is vaccuous. Likewise, it isn't just about distance or cold or whatever - any combo of factors can apply as long as it has the "holy @*&$%" factor.
3) I want 3 swims. The idea of, say, a list of 40 swims as mentioned is certainly a great idea (and SHOULD be done as it would be a great service to the community), but I am looking for 3 that when put together will set a person apart and make them a member of a very small group.
4) A warm water swim isn't necessary, per se, but it strikes me that being able to master that kind of temperature range is additionally impressive. That said, Mandai's suggestion that we boil the person alive might be tempting, but only if we don't like them much. Let's set the upper limit as FINA's (ill-advised) 31 C. (Tobias - You need to move from Dubai before you denature the proteins in your brain with water that hot!)
5) The three swims should have a "reasonably wide" geographic dispersal. See my comment to @Evmo about Farallones and the CA channel swim.
6) @Evmo - tell me about False Bay - I am having senior moment on the details.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
http://www.marathonswimmers.org/forum/discussion/324/false-bay-attempt-this-christmas
Speaking of bay crossings, Monterey Bay might be a good candidate, if perhaps too geographically close to the Farallones. Still just one solo success, Cindy Cleveland in 1980.
"I never met a shark I didn't like"
It's possible as it's been done 3 times, but it's a monster of a swim.00 http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Isle_of_Wight_Circumnavigation_-_Solo
loneswimmer.com
Out of curiosity, why that particular route? A nod to the famous Ted Erikson / Abou-Heif duel in 1963? That's the funny thing about lake swims - there's always a shorter route across.
In Lake Michigan, the one I was hoping to do this summer is South Manitou Island to Leland. Sixteen miles. Beautiful area, familiar to many who live here in Michigan, but to the best of my knowledge no one has done it.
My upcoming move to the San Luis Obispo area kept me from it this summer, but some day. . .
But if you link a few swims together in a theme: eg the big lakes : Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, Lough Neagh or the Channels as mentioned before: Catalina, North and English. And simply seek the quickest to swim all three (even non stop). I think it would generate much more excitement and would be practical. I guess one year, someone might swim all Oceans Seven swims inside a year. But why not three big swims in three days including travel time?
My original point was that I was looking for something that would be extremely exclusive by way of difficulty of each swim and completing all 3 would be something extraordinary. I am not overly concerned about it being "popular" or the time frame in which it might be accomplished.
Your idea has great merit and I think it is another triple crown of sorts, although I'm not sure what you would call it. (The Triple Crown of the Daft ???)
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Keep moving forward.
http://www.henleyontodd.com.au/
Done once by Tammy Van Wisse in 17hrs 46mins.
1996 in the shark cage days. Possibly wetsuit as well but not sure. Her website seems to be gone.
http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Tammy_van_Wisse
I think the route is from Victoria to Flinders Island just north of mainland Tassie.
White Pointers, rough, remote, coldish 14-18C.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
I thought I'd bump @Leonard_Jansen's idea, and maybe specify it a bit further...
Most of us know that the Oceans Seven are not the "toughest 7 swims" in the world, despite frequently being described that way in the media.
So what are, actually, the "toughest" (yet doable) swims in our sport?
And by "doable," perhaps we draw a line at minimum 5 total successful swims - which would include the Farallones, but exclude certain famous swims that have only been done once (by @pennypalfrey, @chloemccardeldotcom, @ssthomas, etc.), and swims that have never been done.
So far in this thread we have:
Other nominations?
since all three so far are salt water, and since titicaca doesn't have five, I think Loch Ness deserves consideration. Cold water, challenging weather and lake monsters. Hard to beat.
Engaging in a bit of forum archeology during a sleepless night and reading this old thread I realize that the stuff we thought was (bordering on the) impossible only ten years ago is now actually being done:
Exciting OWS times!
Milko
https://db.marathonswimmers.org/p/milko-van-gool/
I think Foveaux strait in New Zealand makes Cook Strait look like a nice relaxing swim where Foveaux is 1000km south colder, rougher and bigger marine life
Bimini to the the mainland of Florida is still unfinished (IIRC).
I was thinking exactly the same!
I propose that nobody will every be able to swim a 3 way North Channel. See you in 10 years!
What will sey 3× North Chanel without goggles !!!
More more hard and heavy!
My opinion!
Not quite at the 5 minimum, but consider Alenuihaha Channel
(30 miles) Island of Hawaii to Maui
2011 Mike Spalding February, 2011
2009 Linda Kaiser September 12, 2009
2009 Penny Palfrey March 10, 2009
1970 Harry Huffaker 1st Channel Crossing