Skip to content

Swimmers take on island's sea race

Bob Cooper Swimmers in the water with various different coloured caps visible just above the water and support boats can be seen in the distanceBob Cooper
The swimmers were supervised during the race by kayakers

More than 150 swimmers have taken part in a sea race off the Isle of Wight.

The 1.8 mile (2.9km) Pier2Pier race saw the swimmers set off next to Sandown Pier shorty after midday on Saturday.

Organised by Isle of Wight Marlins Swim Club, the event, celebrating its 70th year, finished at Shanklin Rowing Club.

The swimmers were supervised during the race by kayakers along with the crews onboard inshore independent lifeboats from Sandown, Shanklin and Ryde, as well as boats from the Shanklin Deep Sea Fishing Club.

The race used to be between Sandown and Shanklin Piers but has finished at the rowing club since Shanklin Pier was destroyed in the Great Storm of 1987.

Bob Cooper Swimmers stood on the beach wearing pink swimming capsBob Cooper
The swim celebrated its 70th anniversary

The first swimmer to cross the finish line was islander Benjamin Van der Helstraete from Seaclose swimming club who completed the race in 32 minutes and 50 seconds.

Kitty Craig picked up the trophy as the fastest lady to finish after completing it in 36 minutes and eight seconds.

The oldest finisher was the Isle of Wight's 86-year-old Jenny Ball who reached Shanklin in one hour, three minutes and 27 seconds.

The course takes most swimmers between 30 minutes and an hour to complete.

Organisers said half of the swimmers who took part this year were island residents who had been training for the event in pools and off beaches.

For the first time, younger swimmers aged 15-17 were able to take part along the stretch of coastline on the south-east of the island.

Bob Cooper Zac can be seen handing a trophy to a Isobel Muncaster Bob Cooper
Down's syndrome European 200m Butterfly Champion, Zac Lacey, presented the trophies

Harry Shepherd was the fastest of the young swimmers, finishing in 33 minutes and 55 seconds.

The junior ladies' winner was Isobel Muncaster who completed the race in 34 minutes and 15 seconds.

The trophies were presented by the Island's Down's syndrome European 200m Butterfly Champion, Zac Lacey.

Until 2002 - when it was banned for safety reasons - the swim began with the competitors all jumping into the sea from Sandown Pier.

Many of the swimmers took on the race on Saturday to raise money for their chosen charity.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.

More from the BBC