GGYUK [Guernsey]

Adrian Sarchet

English Channel in 14:02 · Oceans Seven completed in 2020

Also recorded as Ady, Sea Donkey.

Source-reported nationality: UK [Guernsey]
Known as: Sea Donkey; Ady
Professional background: Lawyer
First selected Channel solo: 10 August 2012 · 14:02:00
Oceans Seven: Completed in 2020; ITV reported twenty-first finisher
Documentary: Sea Donkey, directed by James Harrison

Biography

Adrian Sarchet is a Guernsey marathon swimmer known as Sea Donkey. His film biography describes a former junior pool swimmer and rugby player who became a lawyer before returning to sustained exercise through open water. In his own account, the turning point was an invitation from his brother at Christmas 2009 to join a charity sea swim. He began swimming in Guernsey waters the following January.

Channel swimmer Roger Allsopp helped turn that local challenge into a larger ambition. Sarchet joined part of Allsopp’s qualifying swim at Dover, earned a qualifying certificate himself and committed to a Channel attempt. On 10 August 2012, he completed the England-to-France route in 14:02:00 with Neil Streeter aboard Suva and observer Mike Ball. Family, friends and an ITV filmmaker accompanied the swim.

The English Channel began an Oceans Seven journey that concluded with Cook Strait in 2020; ITV reported him as its twenty-first finisher. James Harrison’s documentary Sea Donkey follows his North Channel challenge, giving the nickname a wider audience. Sarchet also used swimming to support access to the water at home: in August 2022 he completed a 24-hour swim at Guernsey’s La Vallette pools to help fund improved accessibility.

Selected Channel swim records

English Channel solo

Published account checked

Sarchet describes support from his father, brother Ian, friends Giles Newark and Tellervo Maukonen, and ITV filmmaker Michael Ogden.

Recorded swim date · Friday, 10 August 2012 · Start or finish date not specified by the source

Elapsed swim time · 14h 2m 0s

Duration of the complete swim

Started · Exact start date not confirmed · Clock time not confirmed

Finished · Exact finish date not confirmed · Clock time not confirmed

Timing note · Detail 444574 publishes departure 03:54:00 and arrival 17:56:00 alongside the generic swim date. No phase date or time-zone assumption has been added.

Format · Solo · 1-way

Direction · England → France

Pilot / piloting team · Neil Streeter

Escort vessel · Suva

Official observers · Mike Ball

Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation

How this record was checked

Matched CS&PF detail 444574 and the 2012 annual Solo Swims row dated 10th August: Adrian Sarchet, Neil Streeter / Suva, 14:02:00. The detail supplies the England-to-France route and Mike Ball as observer, corroborated by Sarchet’s first-person account. The annual list retains its ratification disclaimer; no committee decision or observer log was inspected.

CS&PF: Adrian Sarchet, record 444574

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · UK [Guernsey] nationality, solo date and route, 14:02:00, crew and reported clocks.

Limitations · The date is a generic swim date; clock phase dates and time zone are not separately stated.

CS&PF: 2012 successful swims

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · 10th August Solo Swims row: Adrian Sarchet, Neil Streeter / Suva, 14:02:00.

Limitations · The annual list says results remain unofficial until committee ratification; no committee decision or observer log was inspected.

Adrian Sarchet: first-person Oceans Seven account, published by WOWSA

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Athlete’s account of his 2009 invitation, early Guernsey swims, Roger Allsopp’s influence, 2012 Channel crew and later Oceans Seven progression.

Career milestones

Invitation to a charity sea swim

2009

Sarchet dates the invitation that redirected his sporting life to Christmas dinner 2009.

Open-water swimming in Guernsey

2010

His first-person account dates his initial local sea swim to January 2010.

English Channel completed

Friday, 10 August 2012

CS&PF lists his one-way solo at 14:02:00.

Oceans Seven completed

2020

Cook Strait concluded the seven-channel project; ITV reported the achievement on 1 March.

Twenty-four hours for accessible swimming

August 2022

Completed a La Vallette pool swim supporting improved access to the water.

Recordings & media

Sea Donkey

Open media page

Trailer and media

Official documentary site with an Adrian Sarchet biography, trailer and film purchase links. The film concerns his North Channel swim; full playback was not reviewed.

Link checked 2026-10-31

English Channel questions

Which English Channel swims are included for Adrian Sarchet?: This profile includes 1 selected solo performance for Adrian Sarchet. It is a selected history, not a complete career total. A continuous multi-way swim counts as one performance.
When was Adrian Sarchet’s featured English Channel swim?: The featured swim is recorded on Friday, 10 August 2012. The source does not establish whether that date means departure or arrival.
How long did Adrian Sarchet’s featured Channel swim take?: The featured solo crossing has a published elapsed time of 14 hours, 2 minutes and 0 seconds.

Limitations · The article calls 41 miles a target; no achieved distance is adopted.

Latest source review 2026-10-31.