Persistence Pays Off After 28 Hours and 44 Minutes

Courtesy of WOWSA, English Channel. Jackie Cobell captured the attention of the global English Channel swimming community by her daunting 28 hours 44 minute crossing yesterday.

Family, fans and friends from around the world followed Cobell’s swim via the Channel Swimmers Google Group and track her location via SPOT as Lance Oram and the crew of the Sea Satin patiently escorted her.

In setting the longest time for a solo swim across the English Channel, breaking the former record of Henry Sullivan in 1923 (26:50) Jackie become an inspirational icon for many who dream of crossing the English Channel.

Her persistence, backbone, decisiveness, determination, doggedness and sheer grit in the cold water through the night and across the tides will encourage many for years to come.

As suggested by Forest Nelson, what is incredible is to compare the enormity of Jackie’s 28-hour swim with Philip Rush’s three-way crossing of 28 hours 21 minutes. Both, for various reasons, were incredible endeavors that demonstrated the majesty of the human spirit.

Graeme Schlachter recreated Cobell’s route across the Channel via for her SPOT tracking above.

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