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Relay team successfully completes 36-mile round-island swim

Relay team successfully completes 36-mile round-island swim

Friday 02 August 2024

Relay team successfully completes 36-mile round-island swim

Friday 02 August 2024


Six swimmers from the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club fulfilled their dreams of completing a 36-mile relay swim around the island last week.

The Jersey Joy relay team set off in an anti-clockwise direction from St Helier on the morning of Friday 26 July.

Jean Rhodes, Rachel Sayers, Rhiannon Patel, Claire Pedley, Janine Ward and sea-swimming sensation Sally Minty-Gravett had a tough day ahead.

Jersey_Joy_Relay_Team_before_their_swim.jpg

Pictured: The Jersey Joy relay team prepared for the challenge with considerable training.

To complete the challenge, each team member swam for an hour each on rotation the whole way round the island. 

The ladies endured a bout of intense training to prepare them for the swim, which was initially suggested by Jean.

This included a qualifier swim of 90 minutes in cool water, followed by a 60-minute break, before another hour of swimming.

On Friday, the Jersey Joy relay team successfully completed the round-island challenge in 10 hours and 27 minutes. 

The team faced challenging sea conditions throughout the challenge, including choppy tides and swell.

At one point, they were propelled forward from currents on the North coast at a speed of six knots.

Jersey_Joy_Relay_Team_after_their_swim1.jpg

Pictured: The Jersey Joy relay team celebrating their successful round-island swim.

The team were supported by the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club’s boat, which was piloted by committee member Martin Powell with Club President Jenny Fitzgerald on board as the observer.

The relay team's success joins the list of celebrations due for the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club's 50th anniversary this year. 

With over 600 members, the JLDSC always welcomes new swimmers.

Anyone interested can contact the club via their website.

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