Bravery In The Tsugaru Channel
Of all the Oceans Seven swims, the Tsugaru Channel between Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan is probably the least known. Nicholas Cederwell, a 42-year-old from Great Britain, set off on his July 23rd attempt of the channel with Syuji Yasozumi as his pilot and Haruyuki Ishii as his observer aboard the SUN II. Nick swam valiantly for six hours before being pulled after an initial rainfall followed by cloudy skies and bumpy seas in the 21.5°C (70°F) rough waters of the Tsugaru Channel.
These videos below were taken by Ishii-san that give aspirants a good idea of what to expect, even after waiting for good conditions. “I waited in Northern Honshu for several days to attempt the swim and, in spite of the poor swimming conditions, I decided to give it a go. I started at dawn in the rain which was a strange feeling,” recalled Nick. “The water temperature was OK for the first three hours, but then it got much colder (17°C or 62.6°F). I found it hard to continue in these [rough] conditions. It was a good experience and although it was hard to stop, I don’t have any regrets.”
The Special Olympics has an oath that is wonderfully appropriate for the open water world and in relation to Nick’s attept, “Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Copyright © 2010 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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