Open water swim events for couples and families: take on the English Channel distance together with UltraSwim 33.3

Non-swimming partners (NSP in our language) and family are part of the trip, never left on the sidelines. While you swim they explore the coastline dipping in and out of the racecourse, get immersed in local activities, relax at the spa hotel and gather at the finish to join you for post-swim refuel lunch. Evenings bring everyone together over dinner with the wider community.

Your F3 (friends, family and fans) will support you while you swim but will have slower mornings with later breakfasts, partake in local activities with a knowledgeable guide leading the programme. Everyone is welcome and they will have just as much fun as you - but feel part of it, which is unusual for sporting events of this nature.

Some prefer to roll their sleeves up. A limited number of volunteer roles open at each event, from crewing the boats and running feed stations to joining the safety team as an experienced kayaker - we call this 'F3 VOL' and you have to apply to join this programme which is not guaranteed. Your partner, if accepted will have to pull their weight in the organisation team but for the active partner it's a great way to experience the event, and with no F3 Supporter package to pay. Whichever way they take part, F3 turns a solo challenge into a shared adventure, and the untimed final swim often becomes the moment the whole group remembers.