Martin Strel made his career on the audacious stage swims down the length of the Danube River through Europe, the Mississippi River in the middle of the United States, the Yangtze River in China, and the Amazon River in Brazil. 

Lewis Pugh recently finished The Shark Swim, a 12-day stage swim around Martha’s Vineyard to highlight the perilous plight of  sharks. It was another stage swim successful of his career that has seen him swim down the River Thames in 21 days in 2006, across the Maldive Islands in 40°C water in 10 days, complete The Long Swim, a 560 km stage swim across the British coast of the English Channel in 49 days, completed 14 stage swims over 12 days in the Ilulissat Icefjord within the Arctic Circle as part of his Greenland Swim in water between 0°C and 3°C, a 16-day 123 km stage swim across the Red Sea from Saudi Arabia to Egypt in 2022, and 32-day 507 km Hudson River Swim in 2023.

Meanwhile Ross Edgley is currently en route of The Great Icelandic Swim, a 1,600 km stage swim where he may swim nearly 100 consecutive days around Iceland. Facing constant cold, he has Big Swim Memory from the grit and determination he showed during his 2,884 km 157-day Great British Swim around the coastlines of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland in 2018.

After reporting on and studying these long-duration stage swims, I figured that it was high time that I attempt my own stage swim adventure in 2026, the 10th anniversary of my heart attack and recovery from a coma. My life could have ended in 2016, but through a perfect storm of help and timing from my son, the paramedic team, the emergency room team, the cardiologist who placed a stent in my heart, the critical care unit team, the intensive care unit team, my wife, my children, my parents, and my friends, I remained alive – and became much more appreciative of what life can bring and offer.

Swim Shikoku is a 1,188 km solo circumnavigation swim around the island of Shikoku, one of the four main islands of Japan, that is hoped to be completed in 88 days.

Swim Shikoku is inspired by the Shikoku Pilgrimage, a circular-shaped walking pilgrimage on Shikoku. The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a 30-60 day 1,200 km walk to 88 temples and sacred sites on the island.

The pilgrim’s journey around Shikoku is a symbolic path to enlightenment with temples #1–23 representing the idea of awakening, temples #24–39 austerity and discipline, temples #40–65 attaining enlightenment, and temples #66–88 entering nirvana.

I plan on swimming in a counterclockwise direction along the spectacularly rugged coast in the 17°C – 24°C water between June and September, escorted by experienced kayaker Chris Morgan who has guided Antonio Argüelles, Ross Edgley, and me on a variety of marathon swimming events from Arizona and California to the Yukon River in Alaska.

At times, the conditions will become completely unswimmable due to Pacific Ocean storms or typhoons, I will enter the water at least once per day to continue the non-stop stage swim, if possible. I will attempt to swim between 14-18 km per day, about an average of 4 hours per day, gaining as much benefit as possible through tidal flows and winds, if not prevented by typhoons.

Swim Shikoku starts in mid-June 2026 with an anticipated finish in mid-September. If I do not complete the circumnavigation swim in 88 days, the swim will be deemed a non-completion.

Each day, I will document and photograph the start and finish location and time, total time and distance swum, the water and air temperature and conditions. On the swimmable days, I will attempt to make up the lost distance by swimming further or additional segments.

The current schedule plans on 70 swimmable days and 18 unswimmable days due to weather fluctuations over the 88 days, if luck plays a role in the swim’s success. The start times of all swim stages will be dependent on the anticipated tides and winds.

Anticipated Plan (subject to change)

Segment 1: 200 km from Sadamisaki Peninsula to Uwajima on Days 1–12 with 2 buffer days, an average daily goal of 16.6 km swimming along a rocky coastline with indented bays, picturesque fishing villages, and many inlets along the Ehime Prefecture coastline. There are high-density fish farming (sea bream, yellowtail) and pearl oyster cultivation with net pens with float lines and boat traffic within 500 meters of shore that must be avoided.

Segment 2: 170 km from Uwajima to Cape Ashizuri on Days 13–22 with 2 buffer days, an average daily goal of 17 km swimming along a rugged coast with open Pacific Ocean exposure from Uwajima to Cape Ashizuri where ocean swells will be faced with fewer sheltered landings. River estuaries, changing wind, emerging Kuroshio Current, strong afternoon winds, and many anticipated jellyfish encounters.

Segment 3: 220 km from Cape Ashizuri to Muroto on Days 23–35 with 4 buffer days, an average daily goal of 18.3 km swimming along beaches and rocky headlands where we will face the strong Kuroshio Current with large swells and open ocean exposure. Kelp farms and set nets near sheltered coves that must be avoided.

Segment 4: 200 km from Muroto to Naruto Strait on Days 36–47 with 4 buffer days, an average daily goal of 16.6 km swimming along an urban coastline from Muroto to Naruto Strait with strong tidal influences near the strait and the Naruto Whirlpools where swim time must match slack tide at the Naruto Strait. There are coastal fishing lines that must be avoided.

Segment 5: 180 km from Naruto to Takamatsu on Days 48–58 with 3 buffer days, an average daily goal of 16.4 km swimming in the  Seto Inland Sea where calmer waters, numerous islands, tidal reservals, and ferry routes will be encountered. Adjust swim stages to avoid ports and mussel, oyster, and fish cages that are within 400 meters of shore.

Segment 6: 220 km from Takamatsu back to Sadamisaki Peninsula on Days 59-70 with 3 buffer days, an average daily goal of swimming along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea with ferry routes, strong tidal flows, island navigation, shipping lane wakes, high aquaculture activity, and nutrient runoff and reduced visibility.

Marine risks that will be encountered including set fishing nets (fixed or floating) extending up to 300 meters from shore, floating seaweed/kelp rafts anchored offshore, stake nets in shallow tidal flats, underwater mooring lines and ropes from aquaculture platforms, industrial port debris and waste runoff near urban zones, reduced visibility in harbors and river mouths due to silt and plankton, afternoon wind chop and boat wakes in confined inland straits, aquaculture zones 300–500 meters offshore.

The Kuroshio Current has a strong influence along southern coast that will either assist or oppose the progress of the swim. The typhoon season peaks during August and September when downtime and weather delays will be a forced part of the swim.

Much more to follow…

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