Bulgarian Petar Stoychev Sets English Channel Record

DOVER, England, August 25. BULGARIAN Petar Stoychev set a record on Friday for the swiftest crossing of the English Channel. Stoychev crossed the Dover Strait in fewer than seven hours, successfully accomplishing the feat in six hours, 57 minutes and 50 seconds. The former record, set in 2005, was held by Germany's Christof Wandratsch in 7:03:52.

Stoychev is well established in the open-water swimming world, as he is a seven-time world champ. His English Channel record needs to be ratified by the Channel Swimming Association or the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation.

Captain Mathew Webb started his successful swim of the English Channel on the same day (24th August) but 132 years ago in 1875. Captain Webb took 21 hours 45 mins to reach French soil.

To the right is a photo of Petar Stoychev's course.

IF the record becomes official, rhe new solo world record holder for the English Channel will be: Petar Stoychev from Bulgaria with a time of 6 hours 57 minutes 50 seconds.

Start — Shakespeare Beach 10:11
Finish — Point @ Cap Gris Nez 18:08:50

Pilot Boat: — Gallivant
Pilot: — Michael Oram
Crew: — Derek Carter
Observers: Jennie Hanson & Alison Streeter MBE

On the same day 18.5 mins later than Petar the Russian swimmer Yuriy Kudinov left Shakespeare Beach for his attempt at the World record. It was a tense day and a race to the end.

Yuriy's track was identical to Petars with the hourly track compilations showing the swimmers running neck and neck with only small 50 to 100 metre fluctuations in the speeds over each hour.

Petar came out on top 8 minutes 46 seconds in front of Yiriy
Yuriy landed just a bit further down from the point at Cap Gris Nez – under the lighthouse – with a time of 7 hours 6 mins and 04 sec (to be confirmed).

The sea was not flat – it was not rough either, just the usual "Channel chop" expected after a Northerly blow. The Northerly/North North West wind helped hold up a very weak flood tide then turned to the west to help at the end. The Neap tide was at it's lowest. One of those days when you hope it all goes right — and it did on this occasion.

Thanks to Michael Oram for contributing to this article

English Channel Course

Petar Stoychev

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