Victor Piñeiro (47, Argentina, MSF bio here) has completed five channels of the Oceans Seven: Strait of Gibraltar, English Channel, North Channel, Catalina Channel, and the Cook Strait among a variety of other marathon swims.
Previously, his longest swim was a 15 hour 18 minute crossing of the English Channel. But this August 11th and 12th, he really stepped up his distance and time in the water – and cemented his mark on history by pioneering a tough crossing in the Irish Sea.
Piñeiro walked down the steps of the harbor at the Peel Harbour Pier [shown on upper left] on the Isle of Man and started swimming towards Gunn Island, a small, uninhabited island located off the coast of Ballyhornan Beach in Northern Ireland. The scenic island is connected to the mainland by a tidal causeway at low tide.
The 47-year-old finished in the water touching the cliffs [shown on upper right] after enduring 26 hours 48 minutes during his unprecedented 56.3 km solo crossing. He was piloted by David Hughes with the assistance of observers Helen Hughes and Joanne Wallace.
Photos courtesy of Infinity Channel Swimming and Piloting Services.
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