Harry Sutherland

Harry Sutherland aboard New Breeze after his IJsselmeer crossing

Harry Sutherland (born March 1958) is a British entrepreneur for Africa, based in County Cork Ireland.

Open Water Swimming Highlights

He started open water swimming in 2021 at the age of 63.
In May 2023 he swam a double Robben Island (Blouberg - Robben island - Blouberg) in South Africa. He completed the 14.8km swim in 5 hours and 17 minutes and in 2023 set the record for the oldest man to do so and was awarded the Barny Cemel Veteran's trophy.
In August 2023 he swam the 22km Lake IJsselmeer in the Netherlands (Medemblik - Stavoren) in 8hours and 25 minutes coached by Marcel van der Togt.
He completed a 33.5 km crossing of the English Channel from England to France on 28 July 2024 in 13 hours 29 minutes with escort pilot Eric Hartley and observer Keith Oiller. He set a Channel Swimming Association record for the Oldest British Man at 66 years 141 days and received the 2024 Channel Swimming Association Award for the Oldest Successful Swimmer.
Harry Sutherland, Jaco Van Zyl of South Africa, Dylan Bodenstein of Mauritius, Milko Van Gool of the Netherlands), Jonathan Weinand of Zimbabwe, and Fred Sissons of the USA completed a swim on 30 November 2022 with swim times ranging from 2 hours 51 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes.
Etienne Mallac of Mauritius, Harry Sutherland, Mark Elsbury of Mauritius, Jaco Van Zyl of South Africa, and Jonathan Weinand of Zimbabwe completed a swim on 31 October 2024 with swim times ranging from 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 4 minutes.