Gartan Open Water Swimmers set for North Channel challenge

A group of six from the Gartan Open Water Swimmers are set to swim the North Channel in aid of charity.

The six-person team will swim an hour at a time as part of relay, leaving from Donaghadee and to make for Port Patrick in Scotland.

Karen Crawford, a Sligo native and long-time Letterkenny resident, will be joined by Rea Doherty from Ballybofey, Letterkenny's Mark Loughridge, Sinead Diver from Dungloe, Carrigart-based GP Sarah Brennan and Derry native Garvan McCann.

Their window opens on Saturday at midnight and the group will have until July 2 to complete their mission. c

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The aim of their challenge is to raise money for The Samaritans and an iDonate site has been launched. You can donate here.

“The big thing about the North Channel is the challenge of the sea temperature can change very quickly,” Karen Crawford says. “Swimming across the current is a big thing, especially as you reach Scotland when the current is pushing you back all the time.”

The water also has a large population of lion's mane jellyfish.

Paddy Bond will join them on the voyage as the crew member, who will be on the boat to provide assistance and ensure the swimmers are nourished.

“You're only allowed one person with the team because we are doing this in accordance with the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association rules for the North Channel,” Karen says. “There are a lot of rules: You only have one swimming at a time and at the end of the hour, the next person gets in and has to pass the other without touching them.”

They'll have a swim suit, one hat and a pair of goggles as well as their refreshments.

In May, they did a qualifying two-hour swim between Rathmullan and Ottway with the water temperature beneath the regulation 14 degrees (it was 12.9 degrees).

Infinity Channel Swimming will provide their expertise in the form of a pilot boat and Karen says that Ann Marie Ward, the renowned long-distance swimmer from Portnablagh, has been an 'inspiration'.

They are indebted to those from the Gartan Open Water Swimmers who have provided help and support over recent months.

Last Saturday, the group went off Arranmore island and practised jumping off the boat to swim hard.

“There was a basking shark in the area, but we didn't see it,” says the relieved Karen, who is eagerly awaiting the call to go now.

“We've done a lot of preparing. It has been about building a tolerance to the cold, building up endurance in the cold water. We are always very conscious of the safety aspect – particularly on coming out of the water, warming up well and minimising the risk of hypothermia.

“Some of us have actually got hypothermia, but we have a good handle on the safety now. We just can't wait to get into the water and get started.”