Graeme Lowe (61, Jersey, MSF bio here, IISA bio here) from Jersey became the first Channel Islander to swim the North Channel. In 2015, he completed a 12 hour 27 minute crossing from Donaghadee , Northern Ireland to Killantringan Lighthouse, Portpatrick, Scotland.

His open water pedigree was well established before succeeding at the notoriously difficult North Channel: from Jersey to France in 2011 in 7 hours 43 minutes, across the English Channel in 2011 in 13 hours 35 minutes, around Manhattan Island in 2012 in 8 hours 33 minutes, in Lake Zurich in 2012 in 9 hours 35 minutes, and across the Catalina Channel in 2013 in 11 hours 40 minutes.

It has certainly been a good, exciting life beyond the shoreline.

Lowe describes his adventures in the open water and good life on dryland in a soon-to-be released autobiography, A Life Well Swum – Finding Myself in Open Water.

His love for the ocean began on the isle of Jersey in the English Channel. As he writes in his book, “…I only wanted to get fit, but a few lengths in the local pool rekindled a childhood ambition he thought he had left behind: to swim the English Channel.“

A Life Well Swum follows his journey from those childhood dreams to marathon swims around the world. He writes passionately about the cold and fatigue, but also most inspirationally, about the friendships that he has made and key decisions that he made along the way. He writes not only about his solo crossings, but also about the camaraderie of being on relay teams and the untold pressures of supporting others as a crew member.

His memoirs are touching and telling, inspirational and informative.

For those who have become channel swimmers, and especially even more so for those who aspire to become a channel swimmer, this is an excellent read.

For more information, visit alifewellswum.com.

© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“

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