So you want to swim The Solent, but not sure about what training to do!
Firstly you need to be a confident sea swimmer. By this we mean you regularly swim in open water and feel confident about swell, waves, fish and seaweed! On occasions there have been jelly fish and also it has become home to the odd seal or two. You will be swimming amongst ferries, cruise liners, container ships and recreational craft. But the swim itself is one of the most exciting!
The average crossing from Gilkicker to Ryde is 2 hours, however some can be faster and some slower all depending on the conditions on the day. The distance is just over 5km, however again this can alter if you are not on a straight course. You will need to train for a 5km swim; the current, the adrenalin and the waiting shore will help you in those final metres if it turns out your crossing was not straight.
The preferred stroke in the sea is front crawl. This enables you to drive through the waves without losing momentum. Breaststroke means you will be bobbing up and down and the stroke is not as powerful. This is by no means deterring breaststroke swimmers however breathing to the side is better if you are confronted by waves. Who wants a mouthful of sea water instead of air? Bilateral breathing is also a must, again waves and conditions depend on which side you breathe.
We have designed a 10 week training plan to help you get ready to cross The Solent confidently and timely. This is by no means a mandatory training, but it helps you to get used to swimming for a period of up to two hours and covers distances up to 5km.
©Solent Swim School 2022
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