‘Six Scilly Swimmers’ set world record time as they complete ‘epic challenge’

A six-person relay team called the ‘Six Scilly Swimmers’ recently achieved a world first as they swam from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly.

The open water swimmers became the first non-wetsuit and officially ratified team to complete the swim and managed a time of 17 hours, 59 minutes and 29 seconds.

Only one relay team are known to have completed the swim before, but they used both wetsuits and fins.

The accomplishment makes the Six Scilly Swimmers the first relay team to complete the approximately 28-mile-long swim under English Channel swimming rules.

The rules stated that they could use: nothing more than trunks or a swimming costume that does not extend down the arms or legs, only one swim hat, goggles and earplugs.

Sam Jones, Richard Pearce, Mark Ransom, George Maguire, Megan Sanders and captain of the team, Cathy Freeman-Brown, made up the Six Scilly Swimmers.

Their attempt began at the cliffs just north of Nanjizal Beach in Cornwall at 10:06am on 15 September, and finished just after 4am the following day as they landed at the cliffs of St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly.

Pioneering relay swim

Each member of the team swam for one hour before being taken over by the next person, resulting in each individual swimming three times.

Bringing the team home in the early hours was team captain, Cathy, who gave one final push to reach the finish just before the end of her third and final hour.

The swim, described as an ‘epic challenge’ by the team, was an inaugural swim therefore two official observers from the British Long Distance Swimming Association were present to record and ratify the achievement.

Alongside setting a world record, the Six Scilly Swimmers also raised more than £4,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), more than doubling their initial target of £2,000.

After the swim, the team took to their Facebook page, saying: “Team are ecstatic but very tired. Thank you to everyone who has supported and sponsored us.”

Mark added: “We hope that this pioneering relay swim will encourage other swimmers to take on this very challenging stretch of water.”

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