Craig Clarke - Coals to Newcastle
Catherine Hill Bay to Nobbys Beach
30.5 km (19.0 miles)
11 hours, 53 minutes on 26 August 2020
Observed and documented by Michelle Brewer
First
Contents
Swimmer
- Name: Craig Clarke
- Gender: male
- Age on swim date: 55
- Nationality: Australia
- Resides: Merewether, New South Wales
Support Personnel
- Paul Clarke - skipper
- Paul Hunter - feeder
- Michelle Brewer - observer
Escort Vessel
Name | Type | Port |
---|---|---|
Haines | 6.8m | Newcastle |
Swim Parameters
- Category: Solo, nonstop, unassisted.
- Rules: MSF Rules of Marathon Swimming, without exception or modification.
- Equipment used: textile briefs, swim cap, goggles
Route Definition
- Body of Water: Tasman Sea
- Route Type: one-way
- Start Location: -33.159794, 151.631115 (Catherine Hill Bay Jetty)
- Finish Location: Nobbys Beach (-32.923402, 151.793461)
- Minimum Route Distance: 30.5 km (19.0 miles) (map)
History
No known previous swims of this route.
Swim Data
- Start: 26 August 2020, 06:00 (Australia/Sydney, UTC10).
- Finish: 26 August 2020, 17:53
- Elapsed: 11 hours, 53 minutes.
Summary of Conditions
Feature | Min | Max |
---|---|---|
Water Temp (C) | 15.5 | 16 |
Air Temp (C) | 6.5 | 17.1 |
Wind (kph) | 9 | 22 |
GPS Track
Trackpoint frequency: 30 minutes. Download raw data (CSV).
Speed Plot
Nutrition: Mix of powders with 300ml of water at 45 minutes frequency.
Observer Log
Narrative
In the first week of July 2020, I had a flight booked to London to fulfill my long held dream of swimming the English Channel. But every COVID cloud has a silver lining.
Using over 100 years of history in my home town of Newcastle combined with my coal mining, surf club and ocean swimming background, I have come up with my own local version of the English Channel. In planning this swim I have combined as many of the challenges faced in the English Channel as possible including the complete one way distance, sea temperature, air temperature and guidance using a support boat.
This 36km swim from the coal loading jetty at Catherine Hill Bay to Nobbys lighthouse passing 9 local surf life savings clubs follows the path taken by the MV Wallarah shipping coal to Newcastle and has consequently been christened my “Coals to Newcastle” swim.
My authority approved swim will take place in the last week of August when the ocean temperature is expected to be around 16 degrees. In line with the strict rules governing the English Channel I will be wearing just a normal pair of swimmers covering between the waist and crotch, a single swimming cap and goggles. From a reliable local historian, this swim has not been done or attempted previously.
I will also be raising money for charity doing the swim and proudly supporting the much needed mental health support charity Beyond Blue.
Photos
Click to enlarge.
Video
Media
Newcastle Herald: Marathon swimmer Craig Clarke reaches Nobbys after almost 12 hours in the water
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