South African ultra-endurance athlete, Cameron Bellamy owns an exceptional sporting resume.  He has completed the Oceans Seven swims, rowed across the Indian Ocean and swam around the island of Barbados.  Now, after months of arduous training where he logged innumerable hours swimming every week, he is in the final days of preparation for an extreme endurance test: a 100-mile Swim across the open ocean from Barbados to St Lucia.  Bellamy's inspiration for these epic adventures is derived from his desire to raise funds for the Ubunye Challenge, a charity that provides access to education for children living in poor rural areas of South Africa and Zimbabwe. Local charities in Barbados and St. Lucia are expected to benefit from the upcoming channel swim. 
 
The initial plan for 2019 was to attempt a swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida.  Cameron put in the rigorous training, spent considerable time researching the past attempts, secured a support boat and assembled a global support crew to join him on the swim.  However, in late August, the permission required for the support boat to enter Cuban waters was denied by the US Government, based on the more stringent regulations enacted in June 2019. 
 
Despite this extremely disappointing setback, Cameron, who hasn’t given up on his Cuba swim dream, continued his “crazy” swim schedule including two recent 24-hour training swims and devised an incredible alternate plan.  Plan B: pioneering a new swim route between Barbados and St. Lucia – this will be the longest channel swim ever. The distance is about 100 miles or 160K, a comparable distance to the Cuba Swim but in Bellamy’s words: “Its trickier than the Florida Straits in myriad ways.” 

​Cameron Bellamy had a phenomenal year in 2018. First, he completed his six-year journey to swimming seven of the toughest channels in the world, earning himself the title of Oceans Seven swimmer.  Then, he created history by completing a highly complex circumnavigation of Barbados, swimming a gruelling 96K around the jagged coastline. In November 2019 the endurance athlete extraordinaire will return to Barbados for the 8th annual Festival following his planned Cuba-Florida swim attempt.    
This will be his most daunting challenge to date, an attempt to swim 103 miles from Havana, Cuba to Key West in September 2019. The incredible and almost unimaginable undertaking will require immense dedication, highly intensive training and detailed planning.
 
​If one acknowledges that open water swimming is a non-mainstream sport but one that has enjoyed exponential growth in the last decade then solo marathon swimming - a sub set of open water swimming could be described as a very small world. There are several super stars in ultra marathon swimming but they are largely unrecognized beyond the boundaries of the tight-knit, highly passionate followers of open water swimming.
 
A few have managed to break through and claim the world’s attention. Ross Edgely’s 2018 staged swim around Great Britain, which has been named the longest staged swim ever is one.  The 33-year-old adventurer covered a distance of 1780 miles, swimming up to twelve hours a day and then sleeping on his support boat.  He attracted major sponsorship from Red Bull, which perhaps is a positive sign for the sport as several solo marathon swimmers receive product sponsorship but find financial sponsorship hard to come by.

Frenchman Ben Lecomte attracted attention as well in 2018 with his plan to swim 9,100 km in a staged swim across the Pacific to bring attention to the issue of plastic in the ocean. The awesome effort had to be abandoned after a storm severely damaged his support boat.  On the other hand there are massive efforts by others in recent years such as Sarah Thomas (168 K swim), Chloe McCardel (124K swim) and Cameron’s Barbados swim that didn’t enjoy the level of recognition that they deserved.

On September 7, 2018, Bellamy set out on his first attempt to swim around Barbados.  He spent 27 hours in the water and swam 66K, from Pebbles Beach on the south west coast to Animal Flower Cave on the north coast via the Atlantic facing East coast. After 24 hours in the water, a shift in the winds and adverse currents off River Bay caused conditions that were exceedingly difficult. He dug deep for another three hours and made it past River Bay to the Cave where he aborted the swim, realising that he still had the "distance of the English Channel" to complete the circumnavigation. Exhausted and with sore shoulders and suffering with a highly painful "salt mouth" he returned to his hotel, admitting that the swim - around the jagged coastline, battling tough conditions on the south east and north coasts including back wash from the cliffs - was more difficult than he expected.  

​He had put up a great fight and surpassed previous attempts by about 40K. Local swimmers and the community in general were in awe of his attempt even though he hadn't reached the finish line he had set for himself.  However, his tenacious nature was apparent when about 24 hours after the first attempt he announced he would try again. "I am the fittest I have ever been and now I know what I have to do to make it all the way around".  He travelled to Australia, intensified his training and applied a more specific and scientific approach to his training regimen in the waters off the Gold Coast. He swam up to nine hours a day and focused on maintaining a target heart rate among other goals.

Just over 8 weeks after his first attempt Bellamy returned to the island in early November to await a "weather window": a period of at least two days when the wind and sea conditions would be favourable.  Many in the local community were doubtful that November would provide the needed conditions given that the wind speeds are generally higher in this month and sea conditions unpredictable with a much greater probability of "north swells" causing difficult conditions. Swimmers, boaters and surfers all expressed concern that it would be nearly impossible to "get around North point" and the "south-east coast will be too choppy" and the "sea conditions bad".  But Cameron Bellamy pressed on with his plan and with the assistance of various online wind models identified Nov 11-13 as the window to swim.

The support crew consisting of about 30 core volunteers acting as kayakers, feeders, observers and boat captains, along with  paramedics were assembled. An entourage of eight boats was utilised at different times over "four legs" of the swim. The conditions were not as favourable as the September 2018 attempt and even as he started the swim, on Sunday November 11, a squall passed over the south of the island bringing heavy rainfall, wind and choppy seas. 
​
Well, needless to say, Cameron Bellamy, a man who exemplifies the very definition of perseverance, fought through wind and bumpy water on the south, literally ploughed through huge waves in the Kittridge Point/Ragged Point areas of the south-east and continued up the Atlantic facing East coast.  When he reached his "nemesis" from the first attempt - the North Coast - conditions were extremely challenging - large swells caused him to detour out to sea to avoid being washed up on the rocky cliffs of the North. Totally focused and maintaining a similar stroke rate throughout he defeated the unforgiving North coast and entered calmer waters on the north west coast of the island.  Flagging a bit at this point he had to draw on his steely resolve and the positive energy of his highly supportive crew to keep moving along the west coast. ​In forty plus hours this was the only point where he said, "I had a few negative thoughts".  Throughout the duration of the swim, he never faltered, taking the time to give a thumbs up and thank-you to volunteers as shifts changed and new support crew took over (pictured below).

News of his success in rounding the North Point spread like wildfire on the island and across the globe where thousands were following his progress by live tracking.  Social media exploded with enormous numbers of shares, likes and comments on the posts updating his progress and excitement grew that this time he would make the finish line. Twelve hours later Bellamy swam past the wall of the Deep Water Harbour in the island's capital city of Bridgetown and swam across Carlisle Bay to his starting point in front of the Copacabana Beach Bar.  A large and jubilant crowd, many of whom had tracked him continuously over the two days of his swim, welcomed him as he erupted from the water and walked up the beach. He had done it. He never let up, he maintained his focus all the way and history has been created. Cameron Bellamy swam around Barbados!

​This highly talented, totally dedicated, endurance athlete uses his incredible abilities to raise funds for a children's charity - The Ubunye Challenge. Cameron Bellamy's next endurance adventure?  Swimming from Cuba to Florida in September 2019. Follow his story here: CLICK
​
Copyright © 2018 by Barbados Open Water Festival
#SwimAroundBarbados #BarbadosOpenWaterFestival

 Swimmers from all over the world will converge on the island of Barbados in early November for the 7th Barbados Open Water Festival in Carlisle Bay. Since inception the Festival has hosted Olympians, World Champions, Masters Swim Champions, World Record Holders, Junior Champions, Pan Am Medallists and scores of recreational swimmers from all over the world. Festival organizers, together with title sponsor, ANSA Rentals, are delighted to announce that their specially invited guest for 2018 will be Cameron Bellamy, the first Oceans Seven Swimmer to attend the Festival.  Only eleven people in the world can claim to be part of the elite group of swimmers who have completed swims across seven of the toughest channels in the world. 
 
Cameron Bellamy is practically a household name in Barbados, after his unprecedented attempt to swim 91K around the island in September 2018. He swam for 27 hours, covering an incredible 66K, just about two thirds of the distance.  Although he didn’t reach the finish line his swim was an amazing feat given that there are only a handful of people in the world that can swim continuously for more than 24 hours.

The swim created such intrigue globally that the ​capacity of the tracking software was frequently exceeded during the swim. In addition, thousands watched video clips, shared photos, commented and liked on social media.  Its incredible to note that Bellamy didn't travel to Barbados with an entourage - no physios, trainers or nutritionists - just a few enthusiastic family members. His support staff during the attempt was comprised of local volunteers. Since the first attempt (aka #SwimAroundBarbados), the South African has increased the intensity of his already gruelling training, often spending in excess of nine hours swimming daily. He intends to make a second attempt in the near future. 
 
Bellamy will be joined at the Barbados Festival by swimmers from at least 15 other countries. Previous multiple time winner, American Eney Jones, as well as last year’s 3.3K winner Nikoli Blackman of Trinidad will be on the start lines. Nikoli, who recently won the Maracas Bay 3K Open Water in Trinidad, has been attending the Festival since 2013 when he was only eight years old.  Well-known open water swimmer, Bill Ireland of California, who has competed in open water swimming events for the past 48 years, logging participation in over 400 events across the world will return again after debuting here in 2017.  Rick Peters, the three-time winner of the Jonathan Morgan Memorial Trophy for highest placed Barbadian Masters Swimmer in the 5K and a participant in every Festival since the inaugural event in 2013 will defend his title. Several competitive junior swimmers from US, Canada and Barbados are expected to challenge the many experienced Masters swimmers.  

Kristina Evelyn, a Director of the growing Festival, said she was very pleased that ANSA Rentals had partnered with the locally owned yet globally recognized event in 2018. "We commend ANSA Rentals for joining with us and supporting this healthy lifestyle event that is playing a role not only in community building on the island but helping to enhance Barbados’ sports tourism offering. Their support has enabled us to introduce professional timing for the first time.” Sportstats, a leading international timing company, will be on the finish line. The company is contracted to time over one thousand races in 24 countries in 2018.
Also new this year is the finisher "bling" that swimmers will be able to collect at the end of the race and numerous random prizes donated by local companies that will be awarded during the weekend. 
​

The Festival, a significant sports tourism project on the Barbados calendar, has grown every year since 2013. In 2017,   80% of the 625 entries across four races was visiting swimmers and the upcoming event is on track to record even higher entry numbers from visitors. A large percentage of the visitors hail from all across the USA, Canada and the UK but in 2018 for the first time swimmers will be welcomed from from Wales, Switzerland, Argentina, Singapore, South Africa and Nicaragua.  Swimmers are also returning from England, Ireland, Brazil, Trinidad, Antigua and Germany. A marked increase has been noted in participation in the highly social guided practice swims (Nov 7-9) and a presentation by Cameron Bellamy on November 7 is sure to attract many local and visiting swimmers.

 Photo: Kristina Evelyn                                                                                           Photo: Track RS
Courtesy of Daily News of Open Water Swimming   

After achieving the Oceans Seven in June 2018, Cameron Bellamy found himself in the midst of another challenge against Mother Nature: a Swim Around Barbados, a 96 km circumnavigation attempt that three people have attempted but none have finished.

Kristina Evelyn of the Barbados Open Water Festival says, "Cameron is generating huge interest among open water swimmers and the community in general here in Barbados." 

Bellamy expected the swim to take him 36 hours or more. After over 27 hours and 66 km, he had covered the rougher east and north coasts that face the Atlantic Ocean where strong and unpredictable currents are well-known along that side of Barbados. The locals actually consider that area of the island unswimmable. But Bellamy got through the rough part. The aquatic Renaissance Man said upon calling it a day and night, "After 27 hours and 66 km of swimming, I realized I didn’t have enough left in me for another 35 km, basically the English Channel length. What an amazing swim and adventure though." 

Kristina Evelyn said about Bellamy, "He knew it was a highly complex swim, but he wasn't deterred. He put in the gruelling training. His planning was meticulous. He inspired every member of his support team.  He swam for 27 hours. As he approached the north, increasing wind and adverse currents made for extremely difficult conditions off River Bay. He continued the fight for a few hours and made it to the Animal Flower Cave on the northern tip of the island. He gave it his all, but called it a day just about 10 pm on Saturday night. An incredible and outstanding effort."

Despite his DNF this time, Bellamy vowed to return, "I will definitely be back to try again." Bellamy will also return to the island
in November for the7th annual Barbados Open Water Festival. 

His swim benefitted the Ubunye Challenge, a charity he founded in 2011, that makes contributions to early childhood education in poverty stricken regions of South Africa and Zimbabwe. For more information on Ubunye Challenge, visit here.

Enter the 2018 Barbados Open Water Festival  Enter Online 

​Cameron Bellamy’s attempt at swimming around Barbados is just a few weeks away and the highly anticipated event is causing a huge stir among the passionate swimmers and the wider community on the island. It’s estimated that about 70% of the population in Barbados are not proficient swimmers so the notion of someone swimming 96K around the island is mind-boggling to most of the residents.  Many people on the island will clearly remember older relatives warning them in their childhood: “the sea has no back-door” and this folklore possibly contributed to the general apprehension of swimming in the sea that still exists today.
 
The growing interest is further fuelled by the disbelief that anyone would try to swim along the east and north coasts that face the Atlantic Ocean, due to the strong and unpredictable currents along that side of the island. Countless Barbadians consider these coasts to be “non-swimmable”. Local open water swimmers generally swim along the south or west coasts where there are ideal open water swimming conditions. 
 
The Oceans Seven Swimmer who hails from South Africa is well aware of the mammoth undertaking that lies ahead of him. It could be the longest swim of his life and it’s a feat that has never been accomplished by a solo, unassisted swimmer. In fact it seems the high level of difficulty, including 36+ hours in warm water, the expected ocean currents and the distance, are what has motivated him to undertake this complex challenge. The thirty-six year old Bellamy has been training for the Barbados swim for over a year and recently drew much attention along the island’s coasts with his arduous program of training swims ranging from 8 hours to 16 hours almost daily with a twenty-four hour swim before he departed.  He has thoroughly enjoyed his swimming in Barbados commenting that many of his swims are in dark, cold water and likening the warmer clear Barbados waters to that of an aquarium, where he has sighted many turtles, a sting ray, tropical fish and beautiful corals during his swims.
 
In addition to the endurance challenge of this and previous swims, Bellamy’s adventures serve a greater purpose and this is raising funds for children’s education.  Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, it was evident to Cameron, on a daily basis, that he was privileged.  Throughout his childhood, he saw children his own age on the street, not attending school and this memory stayed with him. He attended Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape, which is the most underdeveloped area of South Africa and during this time he grew to love the region and its people.  After completing a Masters Degree in Queensland, Australia and working in investment banking in Bejing, Cameron set off on his first endurance expedition - a solo cycling trip over four months and a distance of 6,500 km through Western China, Central Asia and India. The innumerable hours on the bike led him on a journey of self-reflection and laid the foundation for the Ubunye Challenge, the charity he founded in 2011.  The organization has made a significant contribution to early childhood education in poverty stricken regions of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
 
Over the past several months Bellamy has endeared himself to many on the island of Barbados with his modest and friendly personality.  Despite his relentless training schedules when visiting he has met with and inspired many young competitive and recreational swimmers, swam with numerous local masters swimmers and visited with representatives of children’s charities (Variety Club and Bright Water Kids) which he intends to support.  Behind the unassuming façade is a guy with two Guinness World Records, who can converse in Mandarin, has rowed the Indian Ocean, founded a highly successful charity before age thirty, swam the Oceans Seven and who is the CEO of a cyber security firm in San Francisco. 
 
When he returns to Barbados in late August to attempt his swim around Barbados its expected that a plethora of Barbadians, swimmers and non-swimmers, will give him a rousing send-off, view his progress online and from numerous vantage points around the island while earnestly hoping for an epic outcome. Whether he makes it or not he has already made a lasting impression on the community and given open water swimming on the island a massive boost. He has already made plans to return to the island in November to swim in the Barbados Open Water Festival, much to the delight of Festival regulars! Follow  #SwimAroundBarbados for updates and live tracking of the swim attempt. Learn more about the charities that will benefit: SwimAroundBarbados for Charity.

South African Cameron Bellamy has completed the Oceans Seven!  The final chapter was closed when Bellamy made it across the Tsuagru Strait of Japan in 11 hours and 7 minutes and 28 seconds on June 21, 2018.  Next up for this world-class endurance athlete who already has enviable accomplishments in cycling and ocean rowing under his belt?  A 90K swim around the island of Barbados. A feat that, to date, has never been accomplished.
 
Bellamy’s success of swimming the Tsugaru Strait on his second attempt means he has become only the 11th person and the first African to complete this challenge of seven open water channel swims around the world. The Tsugaru Strait is a channel between Honshu, the main island of Japan, and Hokkaido in northern Japan connecting the Sea of Japan with the Indian Ocean.  According to Tsugaruchannelswimming.com winds, turbulence and waves can be very high in this area along with marine life and a variety of sharks including Great Whites. Bellamy’s first attempt at Tsugaru was October 2017, but this was foiled by strong currents and very cold water.  This time, earlier in the year, water temperatures were a bit warmer (14-17 degrees Celsius).

​Cameron Bellamy now joins a small and elite group of only ten others who have conquered Oceans Seven. They are: Stephen Redmond (Ireland), Anna-Carin Nordin (Sweden), Michelle Macy (United States), Darren Miller (United States), Adam Walker (United Kingdom), Kimberley Chambers (New Zealand), Antonio Argüelles (Mexico), Ion Lazarenco-Tiron (Republic of Moldova), Rohan More (India) Abhejali Bernardová (Czech Republic).
 
Steven Munatones, a coach and marathon swimming guru, devised the Ocean's Seven  for marathon swimmers back in 2008. Munatones chose them for their geographic and climatic diversity, extreme hardships and the intricate planning needed to succeed. He considers it Open water swimming’s version of the Seven Summits. The Oceans Seven include (1) the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland, (2) the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, (3) the Moloka’i Channel between O’ahu and Moloka’i Islands in Hawaii, (4) the English Channel between England and France, (5) the Catalina Channel in Southern California, (6) the Tsugaru Channel between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan, and (7) the Strait of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa.

With the Oceans Seven adventure over, Bellamy will turn his attention to the longest swim of his life, around the island of Barbados (#SwimAroundBarbados).  His early estimate is for a 36 to 40 hour timeline to complete the swim. While the south-west and west coasts of Barbados offer ideal swimming conditions the south east, east and north coasts face the Atlantic and the rugged coastline is often pummelled by waves and strong unpredictable undercurrents are known to exist. The swim is planned for August 2018. 
 
Cameron Bellamy, goes to the extreme to support early childhood education efforts in the most underdeveloped rural areas of South Africa and Zimbabwe. He is the founder of the charity known as the Ubunye Challenge. Read more about his charity and the incredible work already completed at ubunyechallenge.com.
 
Cameron Bellamy's first six Ocean 7 crossings:
The Cook Strait
Description: A swim between the South and North Islands of New Zealand, known for its cold water and volatile weather. 15% of attempts encounter sharks.  Date: 11 March 2018.  Distance: 32km  Duration:12 hours 43 minutes
 
The Molokai Channel
Description: A swim between the islands of Molokai and Oahu in Hawaii. Known for its big seas, long distance, and myriad species of poisonous jelly fish.  Date: 15 February 2017.  Distance: 46 km Duration:17 hours 6 minutes
 
The North Channel
Description: A swim between Northern Ireland and Scotland. Known for being the hardest of the Oceans 7 swims.  
​It is frigidly cold, with temperatures of 10 –12 degrees C. Most attempts encounter swarms of deadly jellyfish.
Date: 14 July 2016.  Distance:  35km  Duration: 12 hours 13 minutes
 
The Catalina Channel
Description: A swim between Catalina Island and Los Angeles, known for its strong currents and marine life.
Date: 7 November 2015.  Distance: 35km Duration: 11 hours 52 minutes
 
The Strait of Gibraltar
Description: An iconic swim between Europe (Tarifa, Spain) and Africa (somewhere on the Moroccan coast)
Date: 8 April 2015  Distance: 20km  Duration: 4 hours 1minute
 
The English Channel
Description: Between England and France. The swim is known for its cold water and variable conditions. 
Date: 5 July 2012   Distance: 35km   Duration: 16 hours 29 minutes

Congrats to Cameron & his team from the Barbados Open Water Festival!  We look forward to welcoming you back to Barbados! #SwimAroundBarbados

​It’s impossible not to be awe-struck by the unique and incredible accomplishments of South African, Cameron Bellamy!   Breaking two world records for ocean rowing, cycling thousands of kilometres, conquering six of the seven channels (so far) of open water swimming’s Oceans 7, establishing a charity supporting childrens’ education as well as building a successful career and he is only thirty-six years old. In a few weeks Cameron will attempt his final swim in the Oceans 7: the Tsugaru Strait in Japan. 

Amazingly, Cameron Bellamy is already eyeing his next challenge: a 90k swim around Barbados, the most easterly island of the Caribbean, during the month of August 2018.  This feat has previously been attempted by only a handful of swimmers but none have been successful.  Recently Cameron spent a couple weeks in Barbados training in the sea, meeting with local swimmers and taking stock of what will be required to complete the longest swim of his life.  His early estimate is for a 36 to 40 hour timeline to complete the swim. Pictured after a 14 hour training swim in Barbados. 

While the south-west and west coasts of Barbados offer ideal swimming conditions the south east, east and north coasts face the Atlantic and the rugged coastline is often pummelled by waves and strong unpredictable undercurrents are known to exist. Additionally, many of Cameron's swims have been in cold water but Cameron is confident that  he will adjust easily to the warmer waters as he says "its much easier to move from cold to warm!".  During his last few days on the island Cameron completed two 14 hour training swims with less than 12 hours between the end of one and the start of the second.  After each one he emerged from the water smiling and looking remarkably well! He enjoyed his swimming in Barbados commenting that many of his swims are in dark, cold water but he felt as if he were in an aquarium in the warmer Barbados waters, sighting many turtles, tropical fish and beautiful corals during his swims.
​
What must be perplexing to many in the swim world is that Cameron was never a swimmer growing up. In 2011, after founding a charity known as the Ubunye Challenge, which raises money through endurance adventures, he decided he would learn to swim and make an attempt to swim the English Channel. He completed the 35K Channel Swim on July 5, 2012. Earlier in 2012 he had completed a 1500 km cycle in 7 days, a second cycling adventure for him as he already had a 6500 km solo bicycle journey (2009) under his belt: from Beijing to the southernmost tip of India. 
 
Another truly outstanding feat was accomplished in 2014, when he completed his epic Indian Ocean rowing expedition, as part of a team of seven who rowed from Geraldton, Australia to the Seychelles. Cameron had been a passionate flat-water rower at high school and university and represented South Africa at the World U23 Rowing Championships (2003) and World Student Games (2004). During the Indian Ocean crossing the team survived 50-foot waves during the tail end of a hurricane, almost being run over by an oil tanker, a collision with a blue whale and interaction with West African pirates, amongst other adventures during their 57 day, 6270 km journey. 
 
His endeavours continued through 2015-2018 with the ongoing pursuit of the Oceans 7 which consists of seven long-distance open-water swims, and is considered the marathon swimming equivalent of the Seven Summits mountaineering challenge. It includes the North Channel, the Cook Strait, the Molokai Channel, the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar.  Creator, Steve Munatones: considers the Ocean 7 the “highest and most difficult echelon of marathon swimming”.  Only ten swimmers have completed this challenge since it was first proposed in 2008.  
 
Friends describe Cameron Bellamy as a "genuinely nice guy" and work colleague Steve Walker says "Cam's swimming and business accomplishments pale in comparison to what he has been doing in South Africa" through his charity work. Says Kevin Jennings, Board Chair of the Ubunye Challenge: “Cam is the "real deal": a person genuinely committed to trying to help those less fortunate than himself. Thanks to his vision and determination, Ubunye has grown to a point where hundreds of children in the Eastern Cape are getting early childhood education they would have stood no chance of getting if not for Ubunye. It is highly unusual for a young person to have already had such an impact on so many lives.”  

Those who recently met this "real life super hero" in Barbados can attest to his friendly and modest nature and the small but passionate open water swimming community is already buzzing with excitement about Cameron's visit and plans to swim around the island. #SwimAroundBarbados
                                                                                        ***************

                                                             Cameron Bellamy's first six Ocean 7 crossings:
The Cook Strait
Description: A swim between the South andNorth Islands of New Zealand, known for its cold water and volatile weather. 15% of attempts encounter sharks.  Date: 11 March 2018  Distance: 32km  Duration:12 hours 43 minutes
 
The Molokai Channel
Description: A swim between the islands of Molokai and Oahu in Hawaii. Known for its big seas, long distance, and myriad species of poisonous jelly fish.  Date: 15 February 2017  Length: 46 km Duration:17 hours 6 minutes
 
The North Channel
Description: A swim between Northern Ireland and Scotland. Known for being the hardest of the Oceans 7 swims.  
​It is frigidly cold, with temperatures of 10 –12 degrees C. Most attempts encounter swarms of deadly jellyfish.
Date: 14 July 2016  Length:  35km  Duration: 12 hours 13 minutes
 
The Catalina Channel
Description: A swim between Catalina Island and Los Angeles, known for its strong currents and marine life.
Date: 7 November 2015  Length: 35km Duration: 11  hours 52 minutes
 
The Strait of Gibraltar
Description: An iconic swim between Europe (Tarifa, Spain) and Africa (somewhere on the Moroccan coast)
Date: 8 April 2015  Length: 20km  Duration: 4 hours 1minute
 
The English Channel
Description: Between England and France. The swim is known for its cold water and variable conditions. 
Date: 5 July 2012   Length: 35km   Duration: 16 hours 29 minutes

Much of the information contained in this article including times and distances swam on channel crossings was received from Cameron Bellamy, his team and work colleagues.  For more information about the The Ubunye Challenge visit their Website: www.ubunyechallenge.com .   Read more about Cameron's epic Indian ocean crossing here: https://www.nightjartravel.com/magazine/cameron-bellamy-and-his-magnificent-indian-ocean-crossing