Has a Jerseyman set world record for earliest Gibraltar swim?

Tuesday 29 March 2016

Jerseyman Eric Blakeley is believed to have set a new world record yesterday morning by completing the first swim across the Strait of Gibraltar in the season.

In a time of six hours and 51 minutes, Mr Blakeley swam the 12 nautical miles from Tarifa Island at the southern tip of Spain to Isla Perejil on Morocco’s north coast.

Mr Blakeley is a former Channel Television reporter and news editor, who has also scaled the “Seven Summits” – the highest mountains on each of the continents.

Despite the stretch of water being one of the busiest in the world, it wasn’t a tanker or a ferry that Mr Blakeley had a close brush with, but a pod of dolphins that showed an interest in the world record attempt.

Mr Blakeley said that he was philosophical about the record, which is awaiting formal ratification – saying it would probably be broken before this time next year.

He said: “It’s nice, but it’s not as if I’d set a new speed record, or was even the oldest person to complete the swim.

“It’s for the earliest swim in the season, and the way swimmers are pushing the boundaries these days means it’ll probably be broken just before this time next year.

“When we motored out of the harbour towards the start point at the base of the lighthouse it was so rough I didn’t think I was going to be allowed in the water.

“The seas looked mountainous and I certainly don’t think we would have sanctioned a round Jersey swim under such conditions. Then suddenly, the boat captain told me to jump in, and swim towards the rocks, but to make sure I wasn’t smashed against them.”

Mr Blakeley is back in Spain, and will be returning to the Island at the end of the week.