English Channel Swimming History
The history of English Channel swimming begins in 1875, when Captain Matthew Webb swam from Dover to Calais in just under 22 hours, doing breaststroke. For over 150 years since, the 33.3km crossing has stood as the benchmark of open water endurance. UltraSwim 33.3 carries that legacy forward, letting a new generation swim the same iconic distance in warm water, exactly 150 years after Webb first proved it could be done.
ENGLISH CHANNEL SWIMMING HISTORY
From Captain Webb to the Modern Marathon Swimmer
When Captain Matthew Webb waded into the sea at Dover in August 1875, no one knew whether a human could swim the Channel at all. Twenty two hours of breaststroke later, coated in porpoise grease and guided by small boats, he stepped ashore in France and changed open water swimming forever. He had no wetsuit, no tide charts as we know them, and no precedent. He simply kept going.
In the 150 years since, thousands have followed, the rules have been formalised, and the crossing has become the great benchmark of the sport. Yet the cold, the tides and the shipping still defeat most who try. UltraSwim 33.3 honours that history while opening it up: the same iconic 33.3km distance, swum across four warm water days, launched 150 years after Webb. It is a chance to join the lineage and become a 33.3er.
"Nothing great is easy."
Captain Matthew Webb, first to swim the English Channel, 1875, immortalised this phrase which is today a cornerstone of why swimmers from all over the world take on UltraSwim 33.3!
Trudy Ederle and the 1926 crossing
Fifty one years after Webb, on 6 August 1926, the American swimmer Trudy Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She crossed in 14 hours and 39 minutes, almost two hours faster than any of the five men who had managed it before her, in rough conditions that forced others to quit. Ederle returned to a ticker tape parade in New York and changed perceptions of what women could achieve in sport. 2026 marked the 100 year anniversary of her crossing, and UltraSwim 33.3 honours both pioneers by carrying their exact distance into warm water. In the 1950's there was even a series of races with 10 to 15 swimmers in each, actually from France to England rather than the other way around. The English Channel was established as the Mount Everest of swimming.
The pioneers swam alone, you will not
Webb and Ederle crossed with little more than a rowing boat for company. Today every UltraSwim 33.3 includes a big wrapper of kayak, SUP, and boat support, GPS tracking and on water feeding, with a medical and physio team on site each day, so you take on their distance with all the safety they never had.
The legacy in an all inclusive package
From 1,800 euros, your package covers four days of supported swimming, luxury hotel accommodation, breakfasts and refuel lunches, transfers and a preparation programme. The pioneers' distance, once a feat for the few, is now an achievable adventure for swimmers from all over the world, with everything organised for you.
English Channel Swimming History, Answered
COMMON QUESTIONS
Who was the first person to swim the English Channel?
Captain Matthew Webb, a British merchant navy officer, made the first observed unassisted crossing in August 1875. He swam breaststroke from Dover to Calais in just under 22 hours, coated in porpoise grease for warmth, with no wetsuit and only small boats for support.
How did early Channel swimmers prepare?
Early swimmers relied on grease for insulation, animal fat or porpoise oil, and learned to read tides by experience. Training was unstructured by modern standards. Webb prepared by swimming in cold rivers and the sea around England, building tolerance to cold and distance the hard way.
When did Channel swimming become organised?
Channel swimming became more organised through the twentieth century. The Channel Swimming Association formed in 1927 to observe and ratify crossings, setting rules on what counts as an unassisted swim. Those standards, no wetsuit and no touching the boat, still define a recognised solo crossing today.
Who was the first woman to swim the Channel?
Gertrude Ederle of the United States became the first woman to swim the Channel in 1926, crossing in 14 hours and 39 minutes, faster than any of the five men who had preceded her. Her swim was a landmark moment for women in endurance sport.
Why is the English Channel still the benchmark?
The Channel combines cold water, strong tides, busy shipping and a serious distance into one of the hardest tests in swimming. It is close enough to attempt yet hard enough that many fail. That blend of accessibility and difficulty is why, 150 years on, it remains the distance swimmers measure themselves against.
How does UltraSwim 33.3 connect to this history?
UltraSwim 33.3 takes the iconic 33.3km Channel distance and makes it achievable for far more swimmers, in warm water across four days. Launched 150 years after Webb, it is both a tribute to that history and an invitation to be part of the next chapter, to become a 33.3er.
Questions? Captain Webb has answers
Captain Webb is your go-to guide for everything UltraSwim 33.3. Whether you’re wondering about an event, preparing for your swim, travelling to a location or simply looking for more information, Captain Webb is here to help - 24/7.
You'll find him floating in a pink bubble on the right hand side of your page.
