Pat's Channel Swim

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

It’s a Go!

Due to a recent change in weather, my swim will start tonight, Wednesday, July 31 at 11pm (Eastern Time Zone) from Newport, Vermont. My boat pilot is the legendary Phil White. He is highly respected and admired in the open water swim community. His passion for promoting open water swimming is off the charts. It’s a great honor to have him as my pilot.
My Spot Tracker will post updates every 10 minutes during my swim, click on the link below at 11pm tonight. It is not activated until that time. My sister-in-law Jean Murdoch-Gallant has been a fabulous crew member. She is very well prepared to spend several hours observing my swim. She will be monitoring my stroke count, feeds, etc. Due to recent high air temperatures near 90 degrees and warm water of Lake Memphremagog, we are prepared for possible hyperthermia. Jean will be supplementing my liquids with electrolytes to prevent dehydration. We have two coolers filled with ice (if needed). Also, I will be drinking plain water hourly. I continue to plan to consume low carbohydrates during my feeds. However, we have a backup plan of higher carbohydrates if needed.
My swim will probably take 18+ hours to reach Magog, Canada. If anticipated headwinds increase, my swim could add a few extra hours.
Looking forward to this swim adventure. Thank you to my family and friends for their ongoing love and support.

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Monday, July 29, 2019

Swim update

This evening Jean (crew) and I met with Kingdom Swim boat pilot Phil White to discuss my upcoming 25 mile swim of Lake Memphrémagog. His experience and knowledge about this lake is phenomenal. I am very fortunate to have him as my pilot. He reviewed all weather forecast for the next few days. Because thunderstorms are predicted for the next two days, he has recommended a 5am (EST) start on Thursday morning from Newport, Vermont. Due to the increase air temperature of high eighties and warm water temperature of 72 degrees. I will be drinking plenty of water with electrolytes added to prevent dehydration from the heat.
I will activate my tracker 10 minutes before the start of my swim. The tracker will be on the boat and I will swim parallel to it. The tracker will update every 10 minutes in live time. Tracking link is in last post.
Many thanks to my family and friends for their ongoing love and support.

Friday, July 26, 2019

Lake Memphremagog Swim 2019

My next swim adventure will be a 25 mile swim of Lake Memphremagog starting in Newport, Vermont and finishing in Magog, Canada. This swim is part of the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims. The other two swims are Loch Ness in Scotland and Lake Tahoe in California. Each swim has a legendary monster lurking below......I did not see Nessie in Scotland or Tessie in California. My swim will be in search of Memphre. The legend of Memphre continues in folklore of the area. There is a history of sightings since the 18th century. Will I see this legendary lake monster? Perhaps, I will be lucky enough to get a glimpse of Memphre.
My boat pilot is Phil White and I will be following the rules of the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association. The rules are like many other marathon swims associations: start on dry land and finish on dry land. No wetsuit or neoprene allowed. Swimmer must wear a regulation swimsuit, cap, and goggles. Swimmer cannot be touched. Swimmer cannot touch boat during swim. If my swim is successful, I will be the oldest person in history to complete the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims. My crew will consist of my sister-in-law Jean.......she has crewed many of my marathon swims. I am looking forward to my 3 day slot date starting on Tuesday, July 30.
My Spot Tracker will be activated ten minutes prior to the start of my swim. The tracker will give updates every ten minutes in live time. See the attached link below.
Once I meet with my boat pilot, I will update my blog with start time of my swim. I believe that it will take me about 18 hours to swim the length of Lake Memphremagog if conditions are good. If the conditions are choppy, my swim will take much longer.
Also, many of my friends know that I have been on a weight loss journey by following a healthy low carbohydrate food plan. I plan to follow this approach during my swim by keeping my carbohydrates low. This will be my very first marathon swim on this food plan. I believe this approach will be successful because I have been training for nearly five months on low carbohydrates.
My swim will be dedicated to my brothers' Robbie and Johnny. Many thanks to all of my family and friends for their ongoing love and support.
Contact info: patgallant.charette@gmail.com

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Friday, March 1, 2019

Results of Cook Strait swim

My swim started from the North Island of New Zealand on a very calm and sunny day. I felt strong during my 12+ hours of swimming. I had no doubt that I would finish. Then Mother Nature provided very powerful currents and wind. My boat pilot Philip Rush rightfully stopped my swim a few miles from the finish line for safety of swimmer and crew. As the zodiac boat got closer to the main boat, a large wave caused the zodiac boat to crash into the main boat. The zodiac was damaged and started to sink with Phil, Tom, and myself still in it with all our gear. We scrambled to the safety of the main boat. The Zodiac boat was hoisted to the back of the main boat.
Swimming Cook Strait was quite the adventure even though my swim was a “DNF”. I will not be returning to attempt again. I am satisfied with completing six swims of the Oceans Seven.
I would like to thank my family and friends for words of encouragement and support. My son Tom was an incredible crew....I greatly appreciate everything he did. And, thank you to my daughter Sarah for posting updates on Facebook. My husband Jim is forever encouraging me to reach for my dreams...I can’t thank him enough.
Also, a special thank you to Suzi Boccanfuso for helping me improve my stroke....it worked. And, finally many thanks to Yoko Aoshima, my best swim buddy ever....she helped to reinforce Suzi’s advice.

Thursday, February 28, 2019

It's a go!

It's a go! My boat pilot Philip Rush called me moments ago to confirm that the weather pattern has improved. I will start my swim within the next 12 hours. If you are living in the Eastern Time Zone, my swim will start around 1pm on Thursday. In New Zealand (18 hours ahead of EST) my swim will start around 7am on Friday morning. The tracking link below will be activated 10 minutes prior to the start of my swim. The link that I posted two weeks ago was deleted. This SpotTracker will give live updates every 10 minutes. Also, cookstraitswim.org will have another tracking device activated. Please visit their website if there is a problem with my tracker. Philip Rush is not only the boat pilot but he is the official of this swim. My son Tom will be my crew member.
This swim will be an adventure of a lifetime......especially at the age of 68 years and 27 days old.
Many thanks to my family and friends for their encouragement and support. A special thank you to Suzi Boccanfuso for helping me to improve my stroke technique. And, a huge thanks to my great friend and swim buddy Yoko Aoshima.
My daughter Sarah will post on Facebook. She will not be updating my blog because the live tracker will be viewed instead. Within 24 hours of completion of my Cook Strait, I will post an update regardless of the outcome. Thank you everyone.

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Go Grandma! You can do it, if you try!

Meet Pat Gallant-Charette, a native of Maine, Westbrook resident, University of Southern Maine graduate, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and retired nurse. In her spare time, 74 year old Pat is a marathon swimmer. In her first attempt of the English Channel at the age of 58, success was snatched from her grasp in July 2008. After swimming 16 hours in the Channel, with the lights in French homes encouraging her and still feeling strong, Pat fought impenetrable currents for four hours just 1.7 miles from the finish line. While Pat had made it across....and that was a dream come true...the ultimate challenge had eluded her. In 2009, prevaling winds prevented Pat from starting her second attempt of the English Channel. Pat returned to Maine determined to return to Dover for another attempt. She came late to the Gallant-Charette swimming club. Her son Tom was on the Westbrook High School swim team and her youngest brother, Robbie Gallant twice won the 2.4 mile Peaks to Portland swim. Robbie, just 34 years old, was a loving husband, and devoted father to three year old Christopher when he suffered a fatal heart attack twenty years ago. Soon after Robbie's untimely death, Pat's son Tom said, "Ma, I'd like to swim the Peaks to Portland as a tribute to Uncle Robbie." Pat replied, "Tom, that's so sweet, I wish I could do the same." Looking at her encouragingly, Tom said, "You can, if you try." Those words inspired Pat to swim Peaks. At the age of 46 her fitness regime had consisted mainly of walking, but with a regular workout schedule at the local pool, Pat gradually built up her endurance. She met the qualifying requirement for the Peaks to Portland swim the following year. You can only imagine her emotion on finding her young nephew Christopher waiting for her at the end of that swim....that success encouraged her to seek other goals, including a double crossing of Maine's Big Sebago Lake (12 miles), and the Great Chesapeake Bay swim (4.4 miles) where stroke by stroke Pat repeated her mantra, "You can, if you try". She started her marathon swim career at the age of 58. Then on June 16, 2010 at the age of 59 years and 134 days Pat swam across the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain to Africa) in a time of 3 hours and 28 minutes. And much to her surprise, placed 3rd fastest woman's time since 1928, set the U.S.Woman's record for fastest time, and the new record for the fastest time for any woman or man over the age of 50 worldwide. Pat nurtured the belief that she was capable of swimming the English Channel, considered by many to be the greatest test of a long distance swimmer. While nominally 20.7 miles, strong tides and currents in the Channel make the real distance covered by swimmers 30 miles or more. On August 22, 2011 Pat entered the English Channel determined to reach France. The English Channel Swimming Association awarded her with the "Rosemary George Award for the 'Most Meritorious Swim of the Year' for 2011." Then, on October 18, 2011 Pat at the age of 60 years and 258 days set a new World Record for the Oldest Woman to swim from Catalina Island to the mainland of California ( 21 mile swim). Her swim was dedicated to her brother Johnny who died at the age of seventeen in a tragic accident. Pat founded "Valentine's Day...Swim for your Heart" a global swim event to bring an awareness of heart disease and prevention. http://swimforyourheartfeb14.com She encourages swimmers worldwide to participate in thought and action by swimming on February 14. Swimmers donate to their favorite heart charity or program. In 2011 the "Daily News of Open Water Swimming" announced the nominees for the "World Open Water Swimmer, Woman of the Year" award. Pat at the age of 60 was nominated for this award. Then in 2012 at the age of 61, she was nominated for World Open Water Swimmer, Woman of the Year" award. Also, in 2012 and 2013 she was selected as one of 101 women worldwide as "101 Movers and Shakers" in the world of open water swimming.....known as "open water ambassadors, spreading their enthusiasm and passion for the sport. ". In 2016 at the age of 65, she was nominated for World Open Water Swimmer, Woman of the Year and nominated for Global Marathon Swimmers Federation Solo Swim of the Year for her record setting North Channel swim. Pat was inducted into the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame on April 12, 2014.

In 2012 Pat announced that she will attempt to swim the Oceans Seven Challenge. On September 13, 2012 she completed Japan's Tsugaru Strait (her fourth swim of the challenge) in a time of 19 hours and 36 minutes (33 miles) and set a world record for the oldest woman to swim Tsugaru Strait at the age of 61 years and 224 days. In August 2013 Pat attempted to swim the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland. After swimming for 16 hours and 43 minutes and less than one mile from the finish line, the tidal flow changed directions and prevented Pat from completing her swim. On January 24, 2014 Pat attempted to swim Cook Strait in New Zealand. Mother Nature provided very strong tidal flows preventing her from reaching the finish line after several hours of swimming. In July of 2015, Pat returned home from Ireland after waiting two weeks for an opportunity to swim the North Channel. Mother Nature provided unsettled weather and a swim was not permitted. On August 24, 2016 Pat attempted a solo crossing of the North Channel with boat pilot Quinton Nelson, crew members Tom Charette and Fergal Somerville. The North Channel is regarded as one of the most challenging swims in the world with its prolific blooms of jellyfish, cold water temperatures, and unforgiving strong currents. She was successful in a time of 14 hours and 22 minutes. At the age of 65 years and 204 days, she set a Guinness World Record for the oldest woman to swim the most challenging channel swim in the world. She became the 41st person in history to complete this grueling channel. On May 20, 2017 at the age of 66 years and 107 days old, she had successful solo crossing of the Molakai Channel between the islands of Oahu and Molokai in a time of 23 hours and 54 minutes....setting a record for oldest woman to swim Molokai Channel. Twenty-eight days after her successful swim of Molokai channel, Pat attempted to swim the English Channel. On June 17, 2017 at the age of 66 years and 135 days she had a successful crossing of the English Channel and setting a Guinness World Record for oldest woman to swim the channel. Her son Tom who encouraged her many years ago to try open water swimming was her crew. On November 4, 2017 the English Channel Swimming Association awarded her the O'Clee Trophy for Oldest Successful Swimmer and the Mercedes Glietze Trophy for Female Pioneer Swim. Mercedes' daughter presented Pat with the prestigious award.

On August 30, 2017 Pat completed a solo crossing of Lake Ontario, Canada. Also, known as the Marilyn Bell route, 32 miles. In a time of 24 hours and 28 minutes. She set a new world record for the oldest woman at the age of 66 years and 209 days old. Pat is now a member of the 24 hour club. On November 1, 2017 the World Open Water Swimming Association announced their nominees for WOWSA, Woman of the Year. Pat was nominated with eleven amazing women. This is Pat's fourth nomination for World Open Water Swimmer, Woman of the Year since the age of 60.

In 2018 Pat was chosen by Swimsuits for All for a photoshoot in California. Fabulous product!

On September 20, 2017 Pat announced that she will attempt the "Still Water Eight". The eight lakes include: Lake Ontario (Canada), Loch Ness (Scotland), Sea of Galilee (Israel), Lake Taupo (New Zealand), Lake Tahoe (USA), Lake Zurich (Switzerland), Lake Malawi (Africa) and Lake Titicaca (Bolivia-Peru). She completed Lake Ontario in 2017. On June 30, 2018 at the age of 67 and 148 days Pat completed a solo swim around the 28 mile Manhattan Island (20 Bridges Marathon Swim) in a time of 10 hours and 53 minutes. She set a Guinness World Record for Oldest Person to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. The Triple Crown consist of Catalina Channel at age 60, English Channel at age 66, and Manhattan at age 67. And, a record for the Oldest Woman to successfully swim around Manhattan Island.

On August 7, 2018 Pat completed a solo crossing of the 22 mile length of Lake Tahoe in a time of 20 hours and 32 seconds at the age of 67 years and 186 days. Setting a new record for the oldest person. On August 19, 2018 Pat completed the 23 mile solo swim of Loch Ness, Scotland in a time of 13 hours and 45 minutes becoming the Oldest Person at the age of 67 years and 198 days to swim the length of Loch Ness. On August 22, 2018 She had a successful 10.5 mile solo crossing of Lake Windermere in England in a time of 7 hours and 38 minutes. On November 2, 2018 the World Open Water Swimming Association announced that Pat was nominated for World Open Water Swimming, Woman of the Year. This is Pat’s fifth nomination since the age of 60. On November 10, 2018 Ned Denison, Chairperson for the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame announced the induction of Pat to the IMSHOF. She was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in March 2019 in Australia. Her son Tom accompanied her.

In January 2019, Pat was named among the World’s 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women. The Maine Sports Hall of Fame announced that Pat will be inducted in May 2019. On March 2, 2019 at the age of 68 Pat attempted her final challenge of the Oceans Seven’s....Cook Strait in New Zealand. After swimming for 12 hours and the finish line within a few miles, adverse tidal flow changed and winds increased. Her swim was stopped.

On August 1, 2019 Pat had a successful solo crossing of Lake Memphremagog in Vermont to complete the Triple Crown of Monster Swims ( Loch Ness, Lake Tahoe, and Lake Memphremagog) and become the Oldest Person to complete the Triple Crown. She set the record for Oldest Person to swim the 25 miles under the Marathon Swimmers Federation rules. On September 18, 2021 Pat swam from Anacapa Island to the California mainland (12.2 miles) in 9 hours and 22 minutes. She set a record for the oldest person to complete the California Triple Crown and the oldest person to swim a solo crossing of the Santa Barbara Channel at the age of 70 years and 228 days. On April 25, 2022 Pat had a successful swim crossing of the Sea of Galilee (North to South) in Israel (13 miles) in 8 hours and 22 minutes at the age of 71 years and 82 days….setting the record for oldest woman. On September 19, 2022 Pat had a successful swim across Bristol Channel from Porthcawl Wales to Glenthorne England (16 miles) at the age of 71 years and 228 days. She set the record for Oldest to complete the Original Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming (English Channel, North Channel, and Bristol Channel), as well as the first American and oldest to swim Bristol Channel route Porthcawl to Glenthorne. Pat has received eight Guinness World Records in marathon swimming. She was nominated for WOWSA, Woman of the Year in January 2023. On May 22, 2023 Pat at the age of 72 years and 109 days successfully completed the 24km swim across Lake Malawi in a time of 13hours and 5 minutes (ratified by MSF). She followed the rules of the Marathon Swimmers Federation. She set the record for oldest woman to swim that route. On September 2, 2023 Pat successfully completed the 26.4 km swim from Rapperswil to the City of Zurich, Switzerland in a time of 13 hours and 10 minutes (pending ratification by MSF) at the age of 72 years and 212 days. She followed the rules of the Marathon Swimmers Federation. She set the record for oldest women to swim that route. Pat has successfully completed six swims of the Stillwater Eight Challenge. In January 2024 the World Open Water Swimming Association announced the ten finalist for Woman of the Year for 2023. Pat placed fourth in the final round of voting. Contact information: patgallant.charette@gmail.com

2017 English Channel swim