Shipp To Shore…Twice
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. On May 31st, Bill Shipp completed what may be the first documented solo double crossing of the Chesapeake Bay as part of his training for an upcoming solo attempt of the English Channel in September.
Shipp, who has done a number of marathon swims along the East Coast, left Sandy Point Beach at 8:30 am and swam first leg to Hemmingway’s Beach in 2 hours 23 minutes. The conditions were nearly ideal as he cruised along in relatively calm water. But the situation flip-flopped on the return leg.
On the way back, Shipp fought a strong southerly current. There was no let-up even as he picked up the pace.
The distance of the double crossing was 8.8 miles which took Shipp 5 hours 3 minutes.
“It was a credit to my support crew, Alison Meehan and Captain Eliot Powell for the successful swim.”
Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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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