St. Lucia Channel Swim
The St. Lucia Channel Swim (or the Saint Lucia-Martinique Channel Swim) is a solo and relay 21-mile (33.5 km) channel swim across the St. Lucia Channel between Martinique and St. Lucia annually during the first week of July. Past years: 7-8 July 2018. 4-9 July 2019
Contents
St. Lucia Channel
Saint Lucia Channel is a strait in the Caribbean Sea, at 14.15°N 60.95°W, that separates the islands of Saint Lucia and Martinique.
Organizer
Conditions
Conditions in July generally call for water in the high 70’s with medium sized Atlantic swell. Conditions can vary day to day.
Host
St Lucia Swim Federation, Sue Dyson
Completed Swims
- In 1988, Jacques Sicot swam from Saint Lucia to Martinique across the St. Lucia Channel in 12 hours at the age of 39.
- In May 2006, Yann Richard completed a 34 km channel crossing from St. Lucia to Martinique in the Caribbean Sea in May 2006 in 11 hours 50 minutes.
- On 13 May 2018, Olympian Gilles Rondy from France completed between Saint Lucia and Martinique in 10 hours 58 minutes.
- On 16 May 2018, Molly Nance completed a 34 km channel crossing from St. Lucia to Martinique in 13 hours 56 minutes.
- On 7 July 2019, Sandra Frimerman-Berquist completed a 34 km channel crossing from St. Lucia to Martinique in 10 hours 37 minutes.
- On 7 July 2019, Kevin Pollman completed a crossing of the Saint Lucia Channel in 12 hours 50 minutes.
- On 13 October 2020, Katie Blair from Germany attempted a 66.2 km two-way crossing of the St. Lucia Channel between Saint Lucia and Martinique in the Caribbean Sea. She made the first crossing to Martinique, but was stopped short on her way back to Saint Lucia after being in the water 29 hours 10 minutes at the age of 41.
- On 11 October 2020, Christophe Maleau from Martinique completed a 34 km channel crossing from Saint Lucia to Martinique in 13 hours 50 minutes 47 seconds at the age of 12.
- In October 2022, Melodee Liegl completed a 34 km channel crossing from Saint Lucia to Martinique in 13 hours 14 minutes, but she had to get onboard her escort boat for an hour during a lightning storm.
2018 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year Nomination
The event was nominated for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association:
Whether a channel swim is 32.3 km (Catalina Channel), 33.8 km (English Channel), or 35 km (North Channel), any crossing over 30 km represents an epic distance and presents all kinds of challenges from currents and jellyfish to winds and waves. Nathaniel Waring, Sue Dyson and their colleagues on St. Lucia in the Caribbean Sea have organized a new warm-water channel swim for channel swimmers of all ages and abilities around the world. The 33.5 km (20.8-mile) between the island of St. Lucia in the south and the island of Martinique in the north in the Eastern Caribbean Sea’s Windward Islands that can be attempted year-round in addition to a race held in July that includes 1 km, 3 km and 5 km races and clinics. For creating a warm-water (25°C - 26°C) channel swim between volcanic islands with beautiful green mountains with Atlantic Ocean swells with dynamic conditions, for organizing an international event co-hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and the Department of Youth & Sports, and for establishing a swim that can become a warm water crossing that attracts top open water swimmers from around the world, the St. Lucia Channel Swim between St. Lucia and Martinique by Sue Dyson and Nathaniel Waring is a worthy nominee for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year.
External links
- Melodee Liegl, A Deeply Passionate Aquatic Ambassador
- Katie Blair Attempts Two-Way Crossing Of St. Lucia Channel
- Sue Dyson Explains The History And Challenge of St. Lucia Channel Swims
- Katie Blair, Ted Lomicka, Chris Allshouse To Attempt St. Lucia Channel Swims
- Nominate Your Favorite Product, Event, Movie Or Book For The 2019 World Open Water Swimming Offering Of The Year
- St Lucia Channel Swim Facebook page
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- 21 Miles To Go Across The St Lucia Channel
- A 34 km Warm Water Caribbean Channel Crossing
- Molly Nance Kicks Off St Lucia-Martinique Channel Swim
- Marathoning Molly, Magnificent
