Sayani Das (@swimmersayani) from Baruipara in Kalna, India completed a tough – as usual – 35 km crossing of the North Channel from Donaghadee in North Ireland to Portpatrick in Scotland on August 30th in 13 hours 22 minutes with North Channel Swimming Association observer Pam Ella and escort pilot Quinton Nelson.
With the English Channel, Cook Strait, Molokai Channel, Catalina Channel, and now the North Channel, completed, the 26-year-old pioneer is nearing to her dream: completing the Oceans Seven.
Similar to her achievement across the 45 km Molokai Channel in Hawaii, Das became the first Indian female swimmer to attempt and complete this grueling channel crossing, coached by her father Radhyashyam Das.
She explains her drive and preparations, “I train in the Ganges River which is near our house and a swimming pool in Calcutta. For experience, I have swum in the Bay of Bengal several times. I practice daily between 2 and 3 hours. For channel preparation, I sometimes swim continuously between 5 and 6 to between 10 and 15 hours. The current in the Ganges River helps me train for battling currents during my channel crossings.
I also go to the gym and practice meditation to control my mind.“
But the difference between the 10-14°C waters of the North Channel which Das faced for her North Channel crossing and what she experiences daily in the Ganges River and Bay of Bengal is an almost unfathomable water temperature difference.
She admits, “The most challenging aspect of crossing these channels has been adjusting to the temperature. India is hot and humid, and cold water swimming is rare and expensive here. For the English Channel, I did night swims in winter to acclimate to the cold water. For the North Channel, I took ice baths, with the water temperature around 7-8°C, while the outside temperature was above 40°C.
It was really tough for me to take the ice baths. After the ice bath, I went to a room where the air conditioner was set to 22°C.“
That kind of dedication and determination has been a hallmark of Das since she was a child.
“I started swimming at the age of 7. Soon thereafter, I completed a 10 km swimming competition in the Ganges River – still 7 years old. Then, I participated in short-distance swimming events, with my main event being the 50m breaststroke. I competed in the National Championship six times.
In 2016, I started open water swimming and completed the 81 km swim in the Ganges, organized by the Murshidabad Swimming Association. In 2017, I crossed the English Channel.“
With that 14 hour 8 minute crossing of the English Channel at the age of 19, her life then took a globally adventurous turn.
“After the English Channel, I learned about the Oceans Seven Challenge. In 2018, I crossed the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel in Western Australia in 2019 (in 6 hours 42 minutes), the 32.3 km Catalina Channel in 12 hours 46 minutes in 2022, the 45 km Molokai Channel in 18 hours 50 minutes, and in April 2024, I crossed the 23 km Cook Strait 11 hours 47 minutes.“
While the open swimming community knows of many accomplished swimmers from India, from Mihir Sen, Taranath Narayan Shenoy, and Prabhat Koli to Bula Chowdhury Chakraborty, Bhakti Sharma, and Rohan Dattatrey More, Das admits her passion still remains an uphill battle. “Open water swimming is not popular in India, so I sometimes faced negativity, especially as these swims are very expensive. Without proper sponsorship, it is tough to continue, but I have received help from many people. During my English Channel preparation, we didn’t have enough funds, but my parents mortgaged our house to the bank to arrange the money for my English Channel swim.“
But Das dreams of an ideal future. “Through my journey and experiences in open water swimming, I hope to inspire the young generation in India to explore the world of adventure sports. I want to show them that with dedication, perseverance, and the right mindset, they can achieve their dreams, even in the face of adversity.
Adventure sports not only challenge us physically, but also build resilience, mental strength, and a deep connection with nature. I believe that India has great potential in this field, and I aspire to encourage more young people to step out of their comfort zones and embark on their own adventurous pursuits.”
Anshuman Jhingran from Navi Mumbai, India became the youngest swimmer to cross the North Channel at the age of 18 years in July 2023 when he swam the channel in 11 hours 28 minutes.
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