Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Is it physically possible to swim across the Irish Sea?

Options
  • 10-09-2019 11:30PM
    #1
    devvetop
    Site Banned Posts: 1 ✭


    From the Forty Foot to Holyhead?

    You often hear about people swimming the English Channel so I was wondering is it possible to swim from across the Irish Sea? How good a swimmer would you need to be? Is it difficult? How long would it take to get from the Forty Foot to Holyhead?


«1

Comments

  • Options
    #2
    BDI
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,005 ✭✭✭BDI


    Youd wanna bring an umbrella with ye. Get soaked.


  • Options
    #3
    Ten of Swords
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,709 CMod ✭✭✭✭Ten of Swords


    Look up Ben Lecomte!

    Moderator: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender, Vegan & Vegetarian

    Category Moderator: Social & Fun



  • Options
    #4
    Yer Da sells Avon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,736 ✭✭✭Yer Da sells Avon


    BDI wrote: »
    Youd wanna bring an umbrella with ye. Get soaked.

    Just check the weather forecast before you set out. Be grand.


  • Options
    #5
    MJohnston
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,147 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    Yes, just not in the particular spot you mentioned:
    https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/three-dublin-swimmers-successfully-complete-16665916


  • Options
    #6
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    Try rowing it first.

    I doubt it, pretty cold, if it takes the ferry 4 hours I would say your into swimming for days on end, probably not possible unless you can build some sort of a habitable swim suit, I would say almost impossible. How would you maintain energy levels etc?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    dreamers75
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,558 ✭✭✭✭dreamers75


    38km vs 96km (I used howth because its closer)


    Would say its extremely difficult but Im sure there is someone who would try it.

    Probably this guy

    https://www.givemesport.com/1503705-zach-bitter-has-broken-the-100mile-world-record-in-11-hours-and-19-minutes


  • Options
    #8
    policarp
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,680 ✭✭✭policarp


    devvetop wrote: »
    From the Forty Foot to Holyhead?

    You often hear about people swimming the English Channel so I was wondering is it possible to swim from across the Irish Sea? How good a swimmer would you need to be? Is it difficult? How long would it take to get from the Forty Foot to Holyhead?

    Try it.


  • Options
    #9
    suicide_circus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,801 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    dublin to holyhead is 80km


  • Options
    #10
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 33,659 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    suicide_circus wrote: »
    the channel swim is just over 20 miles, the irish sea close on 40

    Over 50. And that's in a straight line, not accounting for tides.


  • Options
    #11
    dreamers75
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,558 ✭✭✭✭dreamers75


    MJohnston wrote: »
    Yes, just not in the particular spot you mentioned:
    https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/three-dublin-swimmers-successfully-complete-16665916

    Thats a relay, does it count regarding the Op?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    STB.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭STB.


    56 Nautical miles. Thats what it is.


    Many have done it, for charity, including Ronan Keating.


    Too many hours in the water (24-30 depending) and too many jellyfish (fecking loads) to dodge.


  • Options
    #13
    adox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,093 ✭✭✭✭adox


    devvetop wrote: »
    Yes I know it is physically possible, I should have asked how hard it would be in terms of conditions.

    I’m no expert but I’d say it’s easy.


  • Options
    #14
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    I doubt it is possible, certainly not non stop.

    Try swimming from Bray Head to Howth and let us know how it feels.


  • Options
    #15
    MJohnston
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,147 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    dreamers75 wrote: »
    Thats a relay, does it count regarding the Op?

    There's a few have done it solo:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Channel_(Great_Britain_and_Ireland)#Solo

    I'm from Donaghadee, they used to have a mural that featured some auld lad doing the swim.


  • Options
    #16
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    STB. wrote: »
    56 Nautical miles. Thats what it is.


    Many have done it, for charity, including Ronan Keating.


    Too many hours in the water (24-30 depending) and too many jellyfish (fecking loads) to dodge.

    When ?


  • Options
    #17
    STB.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭STB.


    IAMAMORON wrote: »
    When ?

    2011

    swim_pa

    https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/ronan-keating-and-pals-complete-charity-swim-of-irish-sea-26767033.html


  • Options
    #18
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    MJohnston wrote: »
    There's a few have done it solo:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Channel_(Great_Britain_and_Ireland)#Solo

    I'm from Donaghadee, they used to have a mural that featured some auld lad doing the swim.

    The op is not talking about the Scottish Channel.

    He is asking about the Irish Sea to Holyhead.


  • Options
    #19
    MJohnston
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,147 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    IAMAMORON wrote: »
    The op is not talking about the Scottish Channel.

    He is asking about the Irish Sea to Holyhead.

    The OP asked if it's possible to swim across the Irish Sea. Asked and answered,

    Mod: no need for insults


  • Options
    #20
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    STB. wrote: »
    2011

    swim_pa

    https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/ronan-keating-and-pals-complete-charity-swim-of-irish-sea-26767033.html

    It was a relay though? They took it in turns with a boat etc?


  • Options
    #21
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    MJohnston wrote: »
    The OP asked if it's possible to swim across the Irish Sea. Asked and answered,

    But the Scottish channel is not the Irish sea ?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #22
    Blanc von lobster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17 ✭Blanc von lobster


    Didn't Sean Conway, the guy with the red beard, do it when he swam from Lands End to John O'Groats in. 2013?


  • Options
    #23
    STB.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭STB.


    IAMAMORON wrote: »
    It was a relay though? They took it in turns with a boat etc?


    They did it in relays.


    There are solo swims over the distance were you have a boat tracking you if it gets treacherous, but you cant touch it. Get this though, the Long Distance Swimming Association dont recognise any records if you wear a wetsuit!


    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/accountant-47-swims-from-ireland-to-wales-in-29-hours-1.286290


  • Options
    #24
    Force Carrier
    Closed Accounts Posts: 594 ✭✭✭Force Carrier


    Are we allowed to rest in the water a minute when we get there or do
    we have to swim straight back?


  • Options
    #25
    rizzodun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,598 ✭✭✭rizzodun


    Imagine being half way over and realising you left the immersion on...


  • Options
    #26
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    There is or was a guy currently swimming the Irish Coast. But I think he takes breaks and sleeps.

    Can you fall asleep and rest without becoming hypothermic, delirious and then potentially drowning? Probably not I think.

    The question needs to be, how long can you swim for non stop without needing to rest ?

    I would say non-stop from Sandycove to Holyhead is not possible.


  • Options
    #27
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 36,733 CMod ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    If you swim like a fish.


  • Options
    #28
    Feisar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,035 ✭✭✭Feisar


    Quick google search

    The longest distance ever swum without flippers in open sea is 225 km (139.8 miles) by Veljko Rogošić (Croatia) across the Adriatic Sea from Grado to Riccione (both Italy) from 29-31 August 2006. The attempt took him 50 hours 10 mins.

    First they came for the socialists...



  • Options
    #29
    Mervyn Skidmore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,271 ✭✭✭Mervyn Skidmore


    It's possible, but you have to remember not to start swimming within one hour of eating something.


  • Options
    #30
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    Eddie McGettigan did 40 miles in 29 hours, swimsuit assisted mind you. Any bastard who says that it is not a massive achievement to swim from Wexford to Wales can massively fúck right off, that is gargantuan.

    However Sandycove to Holyhead people are saying is 50 + miles. You are into swimming non stop there for nearly 2 days. Is that even possible? Surely you would slow down dramatically once exhaustion set in?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #31
    ceadaoin.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,135 ✭✭✭ceadaoin.


    A woman swam from Cuba to Miami which is a lot further than Dublin to holy head. 102 miles and took 27 hours so I'm sure it could technically be done. Obviously the water temps are a bit different though.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Nyad


Advertisement
Advertisement