The north channel is a 34.5km in a straight line swim from Northern Ireland to Scotland. The tides run north to south and vice versa with swimmers going west to east across the tide, many end up swimming between 40-50km in total. The swim goes over Beaufort Dyke which is 300m deep and never gets much above 11-12 degrees.  The north channel is one of the Ocean 7 series swims and is seen as one of the most challenging due to the cold waters and wildlife that can be seen and encountered.  It is a haven for jellyfish and sightings of great white sharks have been seen visiting.

The three amigos are planning to cross the channel on the tide of the 14th September 2021.  They got together over covid and decided to do a challenge to keep the body and mind active.  Blair’s idea was couch to channel, after completing many endurance events on land including the Race Across America, Race around Ireland on bikes and endurance marathons sea was the next chapter! 

While training we have noticed the increase in people utilising the fantastic Irish Sea for mental health and exercise.  With this in mind we believe the RNLI and coast guards who help to keep us all safe will need more funding with the busier waters.  For this reason we have decided to dedicate our swim to all those who have lost their lives in water (135 per year in ireland) and even more importantly to try and reduce the amount lost in future via education and the RNLI. Therefore all funds raised will be going to Dunmore East Lifeboat.

RNLI lifeboats in Ireland protect hundreds of communities through our 24-hour search and rescue service. They rely on the safest, most reliable lifeboats and modern stations to launch from. Ireland's unrivalled coasts and inland waters are valued by local communities and visitors alike, with millions travelling to enjoy them, and work on them each year. But the water remains an unpredictable environment that can catch people out. People will always need our help and we will always be there to answer that call.