Swimming across to Orkney?

[Rheghead]

Has anybody tried to swim across the Pentland Firth to Orkney for a charity thing or is it too difficult?

[Kenn]

You've just been volunteered, now which charity are you raising funds for?

[thebigman]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2676490/Frank-braves-Pentland-Firth-and-Hells-Mouth.html

[arat]

i think you should go for it

[mushroom]

Hi, there was a programme on the tv last year? about a man that attemped to swim from Orkney to John O' Groats. Can't remember his name but it was very interesting as he took into account the various currents, tide and weather forecast.
On the mans first attempt he got so far and the lack of daylight went against him so he had to stop, I think he made it on his second try, he had a boat going along beside him.

[Rheghead]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2676490/Frank-braves-Pentland-Firth-and-Hells-Mouth.html

Thanks very much, interesting article.

[David Banks]

The Herald (presumably the Glasgow one) reported on 12 July 2011 that:

quote

A WOMAN has completed the first ever recorded swim across the Pentland Firth.Colleen Blair, 32, of Aberfeldy, completed the ninemile challenge across the notoriously treacherous stretch of water in four hours and 41 minutes.
Ms Blair was chaperoned across the water, that separates Caithness and the Orkney island of Hoy, by a safety boat.

unquote

If this report is accurate, I would have thought it would be in the memory of at least one local Caithnessian.

Please speak up!

[golach]

Yup Coleen Blair did it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-14112724
She also did this, some woman.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/09/18/exclusive-swimmer-s-rare-feat-of-swimming-from-ireland-to-scotland-86908-20741544/

[David Banks]

Yup Coleen Blair did it
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7614558.stm

She also did this, some woman.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/09/18/exclusive-swimmer-s-rare-feat-of-swimming-from-ireland-to-scotland-86908-20741544/


Just an observation - these are both reports of her crossing of the Irish Sea.

[bothyman]

This is the Man

>>http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2676490/Frank-braves-Pentland-Firth-and-Hells-Mouth.html

[candy]

I think the programme mushroom was on about was "Crossing Hell's Mouth" ............ http://www.meerkatfilms.co.uk/portfolio/crossinghellsmouth/

[mey999]

Oh yes I do it every morning EXEPT SUNDAYS

[secrets in symmetry]

I think the programme mushroom was on about was "Crossing Hell's Mouth" ............ http://www.meerkatfilms.co.uk/portfolio/crossinghellsmouth/I watched that programme when it was first shown on TV. I really enjoyed it, and I was disappointed when he didn't quite make it to dry land at the end.

[David Banks]

This is the Man

>>http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2676490/Frank-braves-Pentland-Firth-and-Hells-Mouth.html

Colleen Blair swam all the way across the Pentland Firth - the first and ONLY person to achieve this.

Frank Chalmers (the Man) DID NOT swim all the way across - so why does his attempt get so much friggin' attention ? ! ! ?

[oldmarine]

Yup Coleen Blair did it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-14112724
She also did this, some woman.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/09/18/exclusive-swimmer-s-rare-feat-of-swimming-from-ireland-to-scotland-86908-20741544/

Interesting reading. Quite a woman. Thank you golach for posting.

[orkneycadian]

Seems a popular activity these days....

http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2011/08/swimmer-is-second-to-conquer-the-pentland-firth-in-weeks/

[Aaldtimer]

All these reports are very laudible, but the OP asked about swimming FROM Caithness to Orkney, not from Orkney to Caithness!:roll: