In 2016, the-then 37-year-old Howard James (47, Great Britain, MSF bio here) set two unique course records in the English Channel:

• the earliest date in the calendar year on which an English Channel crossing was completed: May 16th in 13 hours 13 minutes in 12ºC water [shown above]
• the latest date in the calendar year on which an English Channel crossing was completed: November 3rd in 11 hours 38 minutes in 14ºC water

His “earliest” record broke the old record by 13 days, previously held by Kevin Murphy (77, Great Britain, MSF bio here, shown below with Howard James) on May 29th 1990. The “latest” record broke the old record by 6 days, previously held by Michael Read (85, Great Britain, MSF bio here). That is, in the span of 172 days James broke the records of two of revered icons in the English Channel swimming history.

Reportedly following a meeting between the Channel Swimming Association, Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation, Channel Crossing Association, and the Coastguard egencies from France and the UK, the parites agreedthat the English Channel swim season is between April 1st and October 31st each year.
“This is first and foremost to protect the safety and welfare of the swimmers and support craft involved. Swims outside of this period will not be accepted on the grounds of safety.“

At least for the time being, this locks in James’ “latest” record across the English Channel, although there remains plenty of opportunity in the early part of the season to re-establish the “earliest” record, especially as sea water temperatures continue to gradually rise.

The case of Howard James’ “latest” record reminds us of the case of the youngest record, held by Thomas Gregory [shown below] who swam the English Channel in September 1988 at 11 years and 336 days old in 11 hours 54 minutes. The youngest female record is held by Samantha Druce who swam across in August 1983 in 15 hours 27 minutes at the age of 12 years 118 days. Interestingly, Druce broke the youngest record that was then held by Alison Wetherly who swam earlier on the same day from France to England in 16 hours 4 minutes. Both were 12 years old, but Druce was 43 days younger than Wetherly.

The governing bodies for solo English Channel swimming introduced a minimum age rule of 16 in the year 2000. Prior to the rule change in 2000, there was no strict minimum age limit in the English Channel. This lack of a minimum age rule allowed younger swimmers to attempt and set records. So the records set by Gregory and Druce will stand in perpetuity.

The same is true in the Catalina Channel where the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation set a minimum age limit of 14 years old in March 2011.

This locked into stone the youngest record set by Andy Taylor in 1971 who crossed at 12 years and 128 days before the age restriction was established. Taylor swam the Catalina Channel crossing in a tandem swim with Lynne Cox (14), Dennis Sullivan (14 years) and Stacy Fresonke (age 14 years and 132 days), coached by Ron Blackledge, in 12 hours 34 minutes [see story here]. Since then, there have been two other 14-year-olds who have crossed the Catalina Channel: Margaret Rivard [shown below on left] and Maya Merhige [shown below on right], both in 2021.

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