Jonathan Cowie
Graham Kennedy’s Channel crossing.
Photo by Raphael Ruz
There may be longer swims, there may be tougher swims, but the English Channel still stands as the blue riband marathon swim. The storied 21-mile stretch of water between England and France has challenged swimmers for generations, ever since Captain Webb first crossed it in 1875. Now one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, more and more swimmers each year are attempting to dodge the ferries and complete their own personal Channel journey.