Epic Swim co.

20/10/2026

Just when you thought the Channel Swim season was pretty much over, you get a call from a local legend who didn’t get the memo 🤣

Siân Clements is Channel Swimming royalty. She holds a couple of records, has swam almost every channel route going, and her motto “I like it rough” tells you everything you need to know about whether she can handle the conditions or not.

Siân was sat in reserve just in case I had an opening present itself earlier in the season. Mid October was our last resort, so even though the weather forecast was iffy at best, we made the decision to go for it Saturday morning.

The route was Penarth to Weston, a route that has more DNF’s on it than any other route in the channel. Not to be taken lightly.

We had a 0745 swim start from the slipway, and eased our way up channel for a couple hours with the wind steadily building.

Despite the 8° air temperature, Siân seemed absolutely fine in the water, which unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for us on the boat! Peter and I were absolutely freezing with the NE wind in our faces. 🤣

A few hours in and it got particularly lumpy. Luckily, it wasn’t the violent sort of face-slapping chop, and more a decent sized rolling swell that was more predictable. Siân cruised through it all, making great ground through the shipping lane as we headed down towards Weston.

The result was never in doubt. We picked our spot as we headed towards Brean down, and Siân landed in an awesome time of 5hrs 59 minutes. 💪🏻

Big thanks to Peter on observing duties, and to Siân for absolutely smashing it. What a great swim to Pilot!

Hopefully we will get the Clevedon route ticked off next year. 😎

05/10/2026

Penarth to Weston attempt - October 2026

After a successful swim from Penarth to Clevedon last year, Michael returned to attempt the Weston route, which although being shorter, is actually a tougher swim due to the strong local currents towards the end of the swim.

We had great conditions, and Michael set off from Penarth setting a good pace for the first three hours. As the currents turned around high tide, we made our way across the shipping line and started heading down towards Weston. The wind picked up, and combined with the turn of the tide, it created a much choppier experience.

Unfortunately, as we approached the six hour Mark, with the end in sight, Michael retired due to an increasingly persistent pain which wouldn’t go away.

It was a tough decision to make, but ultimately Michael made the right decision, as safety and physical health are paramount.

This sport of ours is so incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally, and sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we are a tiny percentage of people who are crazy enough to attempt these swims.

We have huge respect for anyone who steps up and challenges themselves in the open-water and who is brave enough to face Mother Nature in her own backyard!

Although today wasn’t meant to be, sometimes we need to listen to our inner voice and pay attention to our bodies, especially when those niggles cross the acceptable line. It’s not worth a potential long-term injury.

Well done, Michael for a great swim, hope you recover soon and we hope to see you again.

Thanks to Steve for observing once again. 👊🏻

26/09/2026

Hildi Mitchell – Penarth to Clevedon - July 2026

Hildi has been ticking off some Big swims in the Bristol channel for a while now. Last year she swam the Glenthorne to Porthcawl route in just over 12 hours, and this year she’s moved down to the shallow end to take on the technical Penarth to Clevedon, before attempting Swansea to Ilfracombe later this season.

Another early start, we set off from Penarth slipway at 0445 into another beautiful sunrise, with a steady north-easterly wind creating some healthy chop.

It’s a good idea to get strong start on this route, as this can put you in a great position for the second half of the swim and make things easier. Hildi understood the task, and powered through consistently for the first three hours with a fairly high stroke rate, taking us quickly past Flat Holm Island Official and through the shipping lanes in fine style.

We were in a great spot near Weston as we turned with the current and followed the Coast with the full force of the incoming tide behind us. Hildi could relax at this point, but still swam strong and consistently, showing her experience with quick feeds before getting her head back down again.

Hildi seemed to be enjoying every minute, stopping for a quick bit of paint doing feeds, and making my job as Skipper very easy. We cruised into Clevedon in a time of 6hrs 47 minutes, where she was met by Friends on the slipway with a glass of bubbly!

Thanks to John and Benji, her Crew and observer on the boat. Great company and a fun day out! Big congratulations to Hildi for absolutely smashing it.

Hildi has also just completed an awesome swim from Swansea to Ilfracombe with Monster Swims , only one more to go... See you next year to tackle the mighty Weston route!

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24/09/2026

Penarth to Clevedon - September 2026 with Epic Swim co.

Chris originally contacted me with an idea for a Penarth to Weston relay. This soon turned into a Penarth to Clevedon Solo… A very different challenge! 🤣

We had a couple of Zoom meetings leading up to the swim, mostly discussing training plans, nutrition, and all things Channel-Swimming.

As the window approached, we were blessed with an incredibly calm few days, and the sea was like a pancake on the morning of the swim.

We had a very reasonable start at 8:30, and with his good friend Guy on board as support Crew, we headed out into the channel.

The weather couldn’t have been kinder, Chris made steady progress over to flatholmisland , and then put a good shift in for a hour or two to get across the shipping lane and make the best use of the slack tide towards England.

Chris’s stroke rate was consistent the whole way, and a steady flow of Battenberg cake and other snacks every half hour kept him motoring along steadily.

Before long we were rounding the corner into Clevedon for a textbook Channel Swim. Chris took a great line and didn’t miss a beat, landing on the slip in a time of 7hrs 21mins.

Congratulations mate, everything came together beautifully on the day, great planning, Weather and ex*****on all round.

Thanks to Guy for a great job as support Crew, and Osian for observing, Hope to see you again soon! 👊🏻

23/09/2026

Rhys McNabb – Escape from Flat Holm. September 2026.

Rhys contacted me mid-season, wanting to take on the iconic escape from Flat holm route. Luckily I had space, and with a round a month to prepare, Rhys doubled down his training and preparation.

We waited for the weather window to clear, and the gods were kind to us! A great high pressure came in, and the swim was on.

We had a very respectful afternoon start, with Rhys leaving Flat Holm Island just after 2pm.

We made great progress across the shipping lane in near perfect conditions, making our way towards Lavernock point, where the current turned and created some healthy chop in the water around the point.

From then on it was all-aboard the Bristol Channel express, flying past Sully Island (in some more choppy water), before heading across the Bendricks towards Barry Harbour.

At this point, we changed plan and decided to head to Whitmore Bay instead of Jackson’s, as it looked like there was a chance that Rhys might break the record for the fastest time for this route. Rhys trains in Whitmore Bay, and was more than happy to finish the swim there.

Head back down, up a gear, and Rhys came around the point and headed into the bay where his family and friends were waiting.

An awesome swim, Rhys landed in a time of 3hrs 46 minutes, just missing out on the record by 10 minutes, but becoming only the second person to complete the swim in under 4hrs.

Rhys absolutely smashed it, didn’t miss a beat, and held great style the whole way. The big question is, where does he go from here? 🤣 😉.

Congratulations mate, a great day out and hope to see you soon. 👊🏻



Swim Wild Wales Epic Swim co

01/09/2026

Q - What to do on your day off?
A - Go on a mini EPIC swim with your 12-year-old. 🌊

Jackson’s Bay to Watchtower Bay, against a pretty fierce headwind with wind-over-tide chop the whole way.

Was gonna head to the pool today, but Ember, (who trains about 6 days a week in her various sports), had a day off and decided she fancied an adventure around the points in Barry instead of chilling at home! 🤣

For anyone who knows this stretch of water, it’s a very lively spot, which is pretty much always lumpy! It’s a bit of a right of passage for most local Open Water Swimmers, and one of the first routes I take people on in our local guided swims who are looking to Break-out of the safety of the bays, build confidence and experience, and go on an adventure.

It was a cruise-y 2.5k in 45 minutes… with a healthy dose of face-slapping chop.

Fair play to the girl… she loved it, staying on my toes the whole way, with the occasional excited “Whoop” through the bounciest sections 😂

Get in touch if you’d like to swim this route… or any other South Wales point to points. This is what we do.

Everyone has their own EPIC. 😎

01/09/2026

28/08/2026

Susannah and Isobel - Penarth to Clevedon, August 2026.

BIG News… Another record broken (actually 2) aboard King Twbi of Epic Swim co (subject to ratification).

Last year we were contacted by Hamish who is running a fantastic open Water and channel Swimming program for Young swimmers from a school in Taunton. Hamish is coaching and enabling young people to take part in Channel Swim relays, and also Channel Swim solos! What a legend!

This week we had the pleasure of guiding Susannah and Isobel, both 14 years old, on a tandem solo swim attempt from Penarth to Clevedon, with both of them breaking the record consecutively for the youngest ever Channel Swim in the Bristol Channel (subject to ratification).

We had a very civilised swim start at 11am from Penarth. The girls set off side-by-side, following Channel Swim rules which involve no touching the Boat, assisting each other, and in regulation swimwear.

Hamish was on board supporting the girls, with Ken on observer duties.

The girls were in sync from start to finish, matching each others speed perfectly, with neither girl ever creeping in front of the other.

We made great progress over to flatholmisland , across the shipping lane, turned with the currents and followed the Coast up towards Clevedon.

The girls took a fantastic line, showing strength through emotions, and resilience through sickness, with Hamish offering support every step of the way.

The conditions were fantastic, and the girls cruised in towards Clevedon slipway in a time of 6hrs 28 mins. Isobel, being the oldest, exited the Water first, becoming the youngest ever Bristol Channel Swimmer. Her record lasted around five seconds, when Susannah exited the Water to become the new youngest Bristol Channel Swimmer.

The girls are best friends, and the support they showed each other was incredible before, during and after the swim.

What an absolute pleasure to be a part of their journey, so inspiring to other young swimmers who I hope will follow their path.

Big thanks to Hamish and Ken, it was a great day on the boat and hopefully look forward to working with you again.

26/08/2026

Check it out! A great day in the office! More pics to follow… 😎

12/08/2026

Jo Hardill – Penarth to Clevedon. August 2026

Jo was the second Swimmer in line for this neap tide, and made the trip over from Guernsey to take on her longest swim yet.

Jo was joined by her friend Sharon as feed and support crew, and Ken for official observing duties.

Another early morning with a 0515 swim start from Penarth slipway. The sunrise didn’t disappoint once again, and cast some beautiful reflections over the calm water, making the first couple of hours a joy to be on the Water.

Jo made great progress over to the island, skirting around the south side of Flat Holm, through the shipping lane with ease, and over towards Weston.

Jo swam consistently, feeding every 45 minutes, with little fluctuation in her stroke rate.

The easy weather made being on the boat very relaxing, and time passed quickly with great conversation with the Crew on board.

With the tide behind us, we sailed smoothly along the coast towards Clevedon, and before long we were guiding Jo towards the slip, where she landed in a time of 6hrs 30mins.

It was absolutely clockwork, one of the smoothest swims this season. Congratulations to Jo for absolutely smashing it. Some healthy nerves at the start of the swim, but consistency paid off and you swam beautifully throughout.

Hope to see you again soon 😊