Season 11 | 2024
The seeds of Season 11 | 2024 for infinity Channel Swimming were fed by reflection. We visited previous trials and tribulations of the North Channel launching our ‘Deep End’ series. Podcasts are a common learning platform, listening to an old Desert Island Discs series inspired the theme of a set of common questions posed to each of our Deep End guests. Opening with Elaine Burrows Dillane many interviews with other North Channel legends followed. We definitely learned a lot and hope this series educated and inspired many.
Respecting the increasing focus on the holistic health of open water marathon swimmers infinity Channel Swimming collaborated with Dr Patricia McParland introducing a complimentary ’Talk About It’ Sports Counseling service for all North Channel swimmers booked with us. This was very well received and we will update with a summary of its impact.
The untimely passing of our friend Gary Fyfe brought us all to reflect on the preciousness of life.
A few road trips included adventures in Cape Town for service development of NEWS, a swim series of four marathon swims: [N] North Channel, [E] Derwent River Big Swim, Tasmania, [W] Monterey Bay California and [S] False Bay, South Africa to be launched later in the season. Also trips to Lanzarote, Greece and Geneva. The Glenns of Antrim and Cushendall were a regular road trip as we watched the progress of our two new Redbay vessels. Launching EILÍFÐ and ÉIGRÍOCH with Tom, Niall Conor, Eugene and all the team who were ever attentive to making sure all was ship shape and ready for life at sea. In keeping with tradition we welcomed both new vessels with a springling of the finest Möet & Chandon thanks to Paul and the team at the Yellow Heifer, Camlough. Not a drop wasted. Each boat received a blessing EILÍFÐ an Old Norse prayer and ÉIGRÍOCH and old Irish prayer for safe passage.
Further celebrations were in order as Pádraig and Shirlí welcomed their daughter Érin. Congratulations to them as they embrace love, life and laughter with their new little lady.
HITtheWALL was celebrated as WOWSA event of the year and our 9th Event was attended by over 100 open water swimmers of all levels of swim skill. The waters were 11- 12*C and it was a limits and beyond test. The historical Battle of Carlingford Lough swim was weathered out and became a battle for the crew to quickly coordinate transport, set up an new course and keep the show on the water setting up a new course in safe harbor in Carlingford. Traveling from all over the world HITtheWALL’ers embraced the weekend of adventure, craic agus ceol.
Overall Season 11 | 2024 was a test of our patience and flexibility. There is no greater patience than a swimmer waiting to get their green light call for their swim. Having completed their training, ticked all the boxes and traveled they are SO ready to face the North Channel, game face on.
Then the wait.
With Mother Nature the ruler of all things North Channel, Pádraig used all his years of knowledge, delving deeper into the all the forces at play. Conflicting app data made this a greater mindfield, deeper than the North Channels cold Beaufort’s Dyke. Often, nothing is better that looking at realtime actual happenings. A few times we sailed out from Bangor and we saw that the seas were unsuitable for swimming, other days surprisingly, what we saw conflicted the app data with swimmable sea states.
Daily updates from infinity Channel Swimming to each solo or relay team member were greeted with mixed feelings. The maybe tomorrow, then switch back to amber, then the maybe nots to the back to waiting and no go…. There currently is no swimmable weather was the least favourite for ALL! Patience is definitely a virtue. Some asked for specific dates to suit for their crew availability, others increased frustration called it a ‘sH*t show’. Everyone was on tenterhooks. We could only advise ‘be ready to go at any time day or night’. Every candle was lit, the child of Prague was out and Master Milo walking the Camino had candles lit in every church he walked passed. Thankfully, some got to swim. Unfortunately some were weathered out, notably more this season than ever before. It was difficult to accept defeat to the forces of nature. Gutting that swimmers had to go home not getting their dream date with many tears shed. Fickle weather and changing systems to blame. Credit to our Pilots, Crew and ILDSA Observers for being ever on standby. Compliments to our swimmers for their trust in us.
With four months as our season we certainly took advantage once the calmer waters welcomed us and opportunity knocked.
On the water Oisín McGrath took a new course record for Prone Paddle (3:58:02) from Mark Walton (4:55:15).
Our target to increase the profile of the Dál Riata Channel was well received with four successful Solos: a new course record for Andrew Packer, Dave Berry ticking off a two year old goal to get this one in the bag and a very special swim for Olga O’Sullivan in memory of her husband and great to see Milko VanGool back on the marathon swim circuit one of the early North Channel swimmers (North Channel #17). Team Gan Amin took the course record as the only relay taking this challenge for 2024.
No tidal pattern is ever the same, and no swim line is ever the same – this years swim tracks had less curve in the early hours (more flatline) and not textbook by any means meaning constant challenge and recalculations by pilots navigating the course. The approaches to Scotland ever a challenge with counter currents meaning more grit required.
Developments with Evan Morrison at track.rs for a North Channel tracking system helped show our positions as the world tuned in. Great communication between pilots, crew, swimmers and between boats harvested fantastic swim results for the North Channel.
Solos : 21
Relay: 9
Celebrations a plenty knowing the wrath they each faced. Water temperature rarely saw above 15*C this season and the lions mane and mauve stingers were always at home.
The new bricks at Pier 36 are colorfully decorated with the names of the successful finishers.
For those who did not make a finish we celebrate your achievement also, as you reflect and refocus. We all can see meaning in ‘glory comes from daring to begin’.
On 13th July 2024 Daniel Smyth earned the title of youngest overall at Age 17 years 34 days Ireland to Scotland in 12:26:44 passing his record to Brian Foster on 15th September 2024 16 years 328 days on route to creating history with a first ever two way in the Male category. Jessika Robson (NC 2023) remains youngest female Age 17 Years 23 Weeks 2 Days.
Notably Jessika and Daniel with others including Andrew Packer, Milko Van Gool (NC 2013), Paul de Waard (NC 2024) Douglas Riberio (NC 2023) Corrina Nolan (NC 2023) John Charles Curley (NC 2023) Ger Devin (NC 2024) and Carmel Collins (NC 2017) completed the Irish Triple Crown: North Channel, Galway Bay and Fastnet.
Rocío Moro (NC 2024) completes her Original Triple Crown with Milko Van Gool (NC 2013) Fletcher Barr (NC 2023) Paul Leonard (NC 2024) and Douglas Riberio (NC 2023) also joining her once their ratifications are complete.
We celebrate firsts for country: Bulgaria: Peter Stoychev, Hong Kong: Ryan Leung, Finland: Telle Maukonen, Costa Rica: Rocío Mora and Ecuador: Sara Palacios and Sayani Das first Female for India.
Team work and strategy were definitely evident as 5 and 6 person relays took the NC challenge this year. Czech Youngsters 60+ were weathered out, returned home in June came back in September, sailed to Scotland and turned back with no swim due to a quickly changing weather pattern then finally got their result with a 13:57:13 finish celebrating on a beach at Saltpan Bay Scotland. Third time lucky! Team Terrible Ideas Club took the fastest relay of the season in 11:20:48
Brian Foster’s 2 way was a turn around alright! All year this young man swam multiple laps of Sandy Cove, Catalina Channel, English Channel amazing feats in their own right at age 16. All the while a bigger goal was on his agenda. Discussion pre season in 2023 and in early 2024 with Brian and his Mum and Dad showed promise of an opportunity to celebrate Brian’s open water skills with a first Male North Channel 2 Way crossing. Not one stroke did he falter executing a powerful performance to the awe of all. 15-16 September 2024 (1 way)10:32:25; 2 way 24:50:13.
Oceans Seven
We celebrate Barbara Hernandez Chile (NC 2023), Mark Sowerby Australia (NC 2023), Zach Margoilis USA (NC 2019), Paul Georgescu Romania (NC 2023), Petar Stoychev Bulgaria (NC 2024) and Nathalie Pohl Germany (NC 2024) as 2024 sees the completion of their Ocean Sevens.
NC Sub 10 Club
Petar Stoychev 09:56:50 and Rachel Hollingsworth 09:49:09 join the NC Sub 10 club.
The North Channel season ends at 164 solos and 68 relay teams in all history.
St Elsewhere
Plans for the Isle of Man were a no go despite much weather watching. Weather definitely beat the OA GIANTS and Victor Pinero with no swims possible.
Holly Monson gave an impressive entrance to the world of marathon swimming with great swims on Port Oriel and Carlingford Lough. Holly is the first person we know to be served ice cubes in her feed bottle in Irish waters. The youth definitely are showing their skill this year with Oscar Black topping most podiums on our CLWF swim series for Southern Area Hospice and also taking the Course Record for Carlingford Lough in his first Marathon swim 04:58:53
We always struggle to accept the season is over but appreciate the time to reflect and mend our nets. All infinity vessels are back to base for some TLC and our winter servicing programme. There may be travels a plenty. We will continue our crew training and selection and look forward to developments with NEWS Swim Series.
The ILDSA Awards will be in February 2025 so we might see you there.
HITtheWALL 2025 schedule TBA Provisionally May 24th 25th 2025: watch our socials for updates.
If your swimming tag us @infinitychanne3 we love to swim with you and our infinity swim caps blue, white, yellow and green make appearances all over the world.
The North Channel 2025 calendar is fully booked when once again you will travel from all corners of the world to the Emerald Isle and we look forward to the adventures.
Our thanks to:
Belfast Coastguard, Bangor Harbour, Bangor Marina, Michael Young and Warrenpoint Port Control, Fred and team at Ardglass Marina, Cushendall Coastguard, Portpatrick Harbour, Portpatrick Coastguard, Redbay Boats, CH Marine, AQUAHOLICS, Charles Stewart, Steven Munatones, PURE Engineering, Glenapp Castle, XOCEAN, HYDRO SURVEY, infinity Swim Academy, Ralph Carson, Evan Morrison and Track.rs, ILDSA, IMSHOF, MSF, Chunky Dunkers, Ned Denison, WOWSA, Pier 36, ARTEMIS Technologies, CLWF Committee, Crooked Lake Triathlon, Newry Triathlon Club, Setanta Triathlon Club and Lough Neagh Muster Dunkers.
Huge thanks to The infinity Crew
Our pilots
Pádraig Mallon, Ian Conroy, Bobby Forsythe, Barry Duffy, Jerry McGrady, Connla Conway, Danny Gallagher, Kieran McClelland, Jacqueline McClelland.
Our Crew
Aoiffe, Aaron, Adrian, Adrian Poucher, Afreen, Aoife T, Cameron, Caoimhe, Daniel, Donna, Ella, Grainne, Helen, Jen, Joshua, Kathy, Keith, Lewis, Milo, Mickey L, Morgan, Patricia, Penny, Rachel and Sammy.
infinity Channel Swimming
glory comes from daring to begin
