English Channel - All You Need To Know

English Channel  separates southern England from northern France and links the southern part of the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean

The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with 600 tankers and 200 ferries passing through every day

For a swim to be officially recognised, you must not be assisted by any kind of artificial aid – and you are only permitted to use goggles, one cap, a nose clip, ear plugs and one costume, that must be sleeveless and legless. 

You are allowed to grease yourself up for insulation – many use goose fat

Of the thousands of swimmers to have completed the challenge, 63 per cent have been male. The average age of solo swimmers is 35 and a half

Swimming the Channel is not cheap and will set you back a few thousand pounds, the largest chunk of which goes towards a registered pilot and escort boat (up to £2,750).

The distance swum is approximately 21 miles, but changes according to the current. Tides need to be taken into account and most swimmers tackle a sort of S-shaped course.

Argentinian Antonio Abertondo became the first person to swim the Channel both ways non-stop in 1961. It took him 43 hours.

Alison Streeter holds the record for most crossings. The Briton has swum the Channel 43 times.