Fastest two-way swim crossing of the North Channel

Endurance swimmer Sarah Thomas (USA) swam from Scotland to Ireland and back again in 21 hours 46 minutes 38 seconds on 9–10 July 2022, becoming the first individual to complete a consecutive double crossing of the North Channel. The swim was verified by the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association (ILDSA). Thomas was piloted by Pádraig Mallon and Jacqueline McClelland of Infinity Channel Swimming on board the vessel Ānantya.

As per ILDSA rules, the route must follow the Admiralty Chart 2198, Southern Part which measures 18.6 nautical miles (35 kilometres; 21.5 miles).

Thomas set out from Salt Pan Bay, just north of Portpatrick, in Scotland at 6.15 p.m. on 9 July, reached The Gobbins on the Islandmagee peninsula in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, 10 hours later, and then returned to her starting point at 4.01 p.m. the following day.

She didn't originally intend to attempt a double crossing, but after making such good time on the first leg, she decided to go for the unprecedented two-way swim.

One of the "Oceans Seven" (seven of the most challenging open-water swims in the world), the North Channel is notorious for its cold water, changeable weather and abundant jellyfish. Sarah said post-swim: "I am well, other than an entire body covered with jellyfish stings. That might have been the hardest, most painful thing I’ve ever done.”

This isn't the first time that Thomas has pushed the boundaries of endurance swimming; she also became the first person to complete four nonstop crossings of the English Channel between the UK and France on 15–17 September 2019, with a cumulative swimming time of 54 hours 10 minutes.