Lindsey Walke - Eddystone Rocks to Plymouth

Eddystone Rocks to Plymouth
22.1 km (13.7 miles)
8 hours, 34 minutes on 12 June 2024
Observed and documented by Neil Brinkworth
Contents
Swimmer
- Name: Lindsey Walke
- Gender: female
- Age on swim date: 48
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Resides: Plymouth, Devon
Support Personnel
- Amanda Holland - crew
- Denise Ward - crew
- Mike Goodman - crew
Observer
Neil Brinkworth
Escort Vessel
Name | Type | Port |
---|---|---|
Size Matters | 45ft commercial diving vessel | Plymouth |
Swim Parameters
- Category: Solo, nonstop, unassisted.
- Rules: MSF Rules of Marathon Swimming, without exception or modification.
- Equipment used: Textile swimsuit (one-piece ladies), cap, goggles.
Route Definition
- Body of Water: Plymouth Sound / English Channel
- Route Type: one-way channel swim
- Start Location: Eddystone Rocks below the Lighthouse (50.187087, -4.26564)
- Finish Location: Plymouth Hoe / Leander Steps (50.36386, - 4.14423)
- Minimum Route Distance: 22.1 km (13.7 miles) (map)
History
LongSwimsDB: Eddystone Rocks.
Swim Data
- Start: 12 June 2024, 09:49:00 (British Summer Time, Europe/London, UTC1).
- Finish: 12 June 2024, 18:23:29
- Elapsed: 8 hours, 34 minutes, 29 seconds.
Summary of Conditions
Feature | Min | Max |
---|---|---|
Water Temp (C) | 13.7 | 14.8 |
Air Temp (C) | 12.3 | 14.9 |
Wind (knots) | 3.5 WSW | 14.8 SW |
GPS Track
Trackpoint frequency: 15 minutes. Download raw data (CSV).
Speed Plot
Nutrition: See log.
Observer Log
Swimmer Statement
I’ve been a competitive swimmer since i was 13yrs old & always had a dream to swim the English Channel. I’ve swam at a regional level in my younger club days, for the British Army when i served & now the police. I’ve always swam for fitness & enjoyment in the pool & open water my whole adult life.
Through this i met lots of new people who had become good friends & whom shared their experiences of marathon swimming. This over time does influence you & they encourage you to try & challenge yourself.
After being born & raised in Devon & Cornwall you are spoilt for open water swimming locations. The Eddystone lighthouse is a local landmark & had become iconic with a few recent attempts amongst swimmers.
I decided to enter the channel & got a June 2025 slot but decided to utilise the eddystone swim as a trial run. I had only ever swam 8 miles competitively in my 20’s before. Alongside some longer training sessions this year. I needed to see for myself i was capable mentally & physically as i was scared!
Having now successfully completed the swim i am in shock, but at the same time extremely happy with the result. It has filled me with confidence & pride that I’m capable & my fitness is on track.