Martyn Webster - Loch Awe

Torran Bay to Kilchurn Rail Bridge

36.3 km (22.6 miles)

13 hours, 30 minutes on 9 July 2018

Observed and documented by Catriona O'Keefe

Fastest Loch Awe crossing

Contents

Swimmer

  • Name: Martyn Webster
  • Gender: male
  • Age on swim date: 51
  • Nationality: Great Britain
  • Resides: Switzerland

Support Personnel

  • Martin O'Keefe - pilot
  • Catherine French - crew
  • Catriona O'Keefe - observer

Escort Vessel: Loch Awe Boats rental (Ardbrecknish)

Swim Parameters

Category: Solo, nonstop, unassisted.

Rules: MSF Rules of Marathon Swimming, without exception or modification.

Route Definition

History

See Loch Awe swims (LongSwimsDB)

Swim Data

  • Start: 9 July 2018, 06:10, British Standard Time
  • Finish: 9 July 2018, 19:40:37
  • Elapsed: 13 hours, 30 minutes, 37 seconds.

Summary of Conditions

Feature Min Max
Water Temp 14C 21C
Air Temp 11C 18C
Wind calm 12-14 knots

See third-party weather data below.

GPS Track

Trackpoint frequency: 30 minutes. Download raw data (CSV).

Speed Plot

Observer Log

Download PDF

Photos

Click to enlarge.

Torran Bay Pre- start - grease up
Away we go!
Leaving Torran Bay - Youth Hostel in Background
The Loch Ahead
Coming through Innis Stiure 2h 30
Third Feed at 3h
Pilot Martin O'Keefe Approaching Castle
Blarghour Farm watched from the shore
5.5 hr - Just past Blarghour Farm
7 hrs ish Wildlife
9hr Feed Portsanochan
Opposite Claddich. Crossing to the other side nearing 10hr
Pylons across the Loch at 11hr
Loch Awe Church
Approaching Kilchurn Castle
Approaching the turn to river Orchy
13hr 16 min. Swimming up river Orchy
Kilchurn railway bridge
If you look closely there I am under the bridge. Job done
Back to the boat
Back at the boat
Heading home
Satisfied
Back at Loch Awe Boats....Yay

Video

Crossing the Entrance to River Awe….rough!

Media

From Oban Times, August 2, 2018.

A man from Switzerland has swum the length of Loch Awe in what might be a record time.

Martyn Webster completed the 23.9-mile swim in a time of 13 hours, 30 minutes and 37 seconds.

He is waiting for confirmation of his record by the British Long Distance Swimming Association.

Martyn started at Torran Bay and finished at the Kilchurn Rail Bridge.

Martyn, who is an experienced long-distance swimmer and has completed swims around Manhattan Island and across the Straits of Gibraltar, said he found this swim ‘tougher than the English Channel’.

His support boat was hired from Cliff and Janet at Loch Awe Boats, Ardbrecknish.

Weather Data


Source: Weather Underground, July 9, 2018