Selected Channel swim records
First three-way Channel swim by a woman
Ratifying body's record checked
A continuous triple crossing: three Channel lengths in alternating directions, completed over Thursday and Friday.
Elapsed swim time · 34h 40m
Duration of the complete swim
Started · Thursday, 2 August 1990 · Clock time not confirmed
Finished · Friday, 3 August 1990 · Clock time not confirmed
Timing note · Exact dates follow Guinness’s 2–3 August entry. Start and finish clocks have not been established. The leg times follow the CS&PF statistics; a secondary Dover listing differs by one minute on legs two and three.
Format · Solo · 3-way
Direction · England → France → England → France
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association — historical result record
Individual crossing times
These legs form one continuous 3-way swim.
Leg 1 · England → France · 10h 36m
Leg 2 · France → England · 10h 35m
Leg 3 · England → France · 13h 29m
How this record was checked
CSA record 2432 confirms the solo three-way format and 34:40 total. Guinness explicitly dates the swim to 2–3 August 1990. CS&PF’s triple-crossing table supplies the displayed leg times. Secondary date/split discrepancies are retained in the research notes; no observer log has been inspected.
Channel Swimming Association: Alison Streeter, 1990
Checked 2026-10-30
Guinness World Records: first female triple crossing
Checked 2026-10-30
CS&PF: multiple-crossing statistics, Alison Streeter row
Checked 2026-10-30
First British woman’s Channel double
Ratifying body's record checked
The federation’s historical note identifies this as the first English woman’s double; the completed return is included in the single performance.
Recorded swim date · Wednesday, 3 August 1983 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 21h 16m
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 · Dover prints 3/4 August. The historical entry reports departure 06:12:00 and arrival 03:28:00 but does not explicitly date those phases; they remain reported clocks only, with no time zone inferred.
Format · Solo · 2-way
Direction · England–France–England
Pilot / piloting team · Ray Dixon
Escort vessel · Channel Express
Official observers · I. Muir
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
Individual crossing times
These legs form one continuous 2-way swim.
Leg 1 · England–France · 9h 22m 0s
Leg 2 · France–England · 11h 54m 0s
How this record was checked
CSA entry 2444 confirms the completed two-way. CS&PF historical entry 443284 supplies crew and generic date; its Doubles table row 12 provides the splits. Dover prints 3/4 August. None of these documents is the original observer report.
CSA: Alison Streeter, 1983 double
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Completed two-way solo, 21:16, in 1983.
Limitations · Published CSA successful-result entry checked; original observer documentation was not inspected.
CS&PF historical entry: Streeter 1983 double
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 3 August 1983; combined route, crew, reported departure 06:12 and arrival 03:28.
Limitations · Federation-hosted historical compilation; its Ratifying Organisation field reports CSA. A generic Date field does not establish departure or arrival dates.
Dover: Alison Streeter, August 1983 double
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Dates the 21:16 continuous double to 3/4 August 1983.
Limitations · Secondary historical compilation; its Date field does not establish the departure or arrival phase.
CS&PF: selected historical multiple-crossing rows
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Selected double-crossing rows: Streeter 1983 and 1995, Murphy 1970 and 1987, McCardel 2010; published leg splits.
Limitations · A compiled historical table, not observer paperwork. Other rows contain apparent column errors; only the specified coherent rows are used.
France-to-England solo
Ratifying body's record checked
This reverse-direction performance received the CSA’s Fastest Lady 1 Way F-E award.
Recorded swim date · Tuesday, 20 September 1988 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 8h 48m
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 · The historical entry reports departure 14:30:00 and arrival 23:18:00 alongside a generic swim date. Their phase dates and time zone are not expressly identified, so no structured clocks are assigned.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · France–England
Pilot / piloting team · Ray Dixon
Escort vessel · Channel Express
Official observers · I. Muir
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
CSA entry 2404 confirms the successful 8:48 France-to-England solo and its award. CS&PF historical entry 443446 supplies 20 September 1988, the support team and reported clocks.
CSA: Alison Streeter, 1988 reverse solo
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Successful France–England solo, 8:48; Fastest Lady 1 Way F-E award.
Limitations · Published CSA successful-result entry checked; original observer documentation was not inspected.
CS&PF historical entry: Streeter, 20 September 1988
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Date, reverse route, 8:48:00, Ray Dixon/Channel Express, I. Muir, clocks 14:30/23:18.
Limitations · Federation-hosted historical compilation; its Ratifying Organisation field reports CSA. A generic Date field does not establish departure or arrival dates.
Shakespeare Bay–France–Folkestone double
Ratifying body's record checked
The historical entry describes an outward leg to Cap Gris Nez and a return finishing at Folkestone.
Recorded swim date · Friday, 21 July 1995 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 20h 55m
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 · Dover prints 21/22 July. Departure 06:50:00 and arrival 03:45:00 appear in the historical database without explicit phase dates or a time zone; no calendar allocation is inferred.
Format · Solo · 2-way
Direction · England–France–England
Departure · Shakespeare Bay, England
Arrival · Folkestone, England
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Aegean Blue
Official observers · E. Ruston
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
Individual crossing times
These legs form one continuous 2-way swim.
Leg 1 · England–France · 8h 50m 0s
Leg 2 · France–England · 12h 5m 0s
How this record was checked
CSA entry 2453 confirms a successful 20:55 two-way. CS&PF historical entry 443615 gives 21 July, route landmarks and crew; Doubles row 21 supplies the split times. Dover dates the swim to 21/22 July.
CSA: Alison Streeter, 1995 double
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Completed two-way solo, 20:55 in 1995.
Limitations · Published CSA successful-result entry checked; original observer documentation was not inspected.
CS&PF historical entry: Streeter 1995 double
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 21 July 1995; Shakespeare Bay–Cap Gris Nez–Folkestone; Michael Oram, Aegean Blue, E. Ruston and clocks.
Limitations · Federation-hosted historical compilation; its Ratifying Organisation field reports CSA. A generic Date field does not establish departure or arrival dates.
Dover: Alison Streeter, July 1995 double
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Dates the completed 20:55 double to 21/22 July 1995.
Limitations · Secondary historical compilation; its Date field does not establish the departure or arrival phase.
CS&PF: selected historical multiple-crossing rows
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Selected double-crossing rows: Streeter 1983 and 1995, Murphy 1970 and 1987, McCardel 2010; published leg splits.
Limitations · A compiled historical table, not observer paperwork. Other rows contain apparent column errors; only the specified coherent rows are used.
First Channel crossing, finishing at Wissant
Ratification reported by source
Recorded swim date · Tuesday, 31 August 1982 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 11h 21m 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 · The source gives departure 23:15:00 and arrival 10:36:00 with a generic 31 August Date field. No calendar allocation of those clocks is inferred. Trailing seconds are preserved as displayed, without implying original stopwatch precision.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England → France
Arrival · Wissant, France
Pilot / piloting team · Ray Dixon
Escort vessel · Channel Express
Official observers · J. Winyard
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
CS&PF historical individual entry 443269 explicitly lists a completed one-way England-to-France performance and names CSA as the ratifying organisation. This is the federation-hosted historical account, not an inspected CSA decision or observer log.
CS&PF historical entry: Alison Streeter, 31 August 1982
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 11:21:00 England-to-France solo, Ray Dixon/Channel Express, J. Winyard, Wissant landing; Ratifying Organisation CSA.
Limitations · Federation-hosted historical compilation; not the original observer report. Its generic Date field does not identify departure or arrival dates.
Shakespeare Beach–France–Folkestone double
Ratifying body's record checked
Recorded swim date · Wednesday, 5 August 1992 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 22h 20m
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 · The historical record reports departure 05:32:00 and arrival 03:52:00 with a generic swim date. These clocks have no explicit phase dates or time zone. CSA prints the total to minutes.
Format · Solo · 2-way
Direction · England → France → England
Departure · Shakespeare Beach, England
Arrival · The Warren, Folkestone, England
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Aegean Blue
Official observers · J. Floyd
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
Individual crossing times
These legs form one continuous 2-way swim.
Leg 1 · England → France · 10h 29m 0s
Leg 2 · France → England · 11h 51m 0s
How this record was checked
CSA successful individual entry 2450 confirms the two-way 22:20 total. Historical entry 443522 is explicitly the combined performance; statistics Doubles row 18 supplies 10:29:00 and 11:51:00 legs, whose sum matches 22:20.
CSA: Alison Streeter, 1992 double
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Successful two-way England–France–England swim in 22:20.
Limitations · Published CSA successful individual result inspected; original observer documents were not inspected.
CS&PF historical entry: Alison Streeter, 5 August 1992
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Combined two-way, 22:20:00, Michael Oram/Aegean Blue, J. Floyd; Shakespeare Beach–Cap Gris Nez–Folkestone route and clocks.
Limitations · Federation-hosted historical compilation; not the original observer report. Its generic Date field does not identify departure or arrival dates.
CS&PF: selected multiple-crossing and record statistics
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Streeter 1992 double, row 18; McCardel 2012 double, row 36; Cox 20 July 1972 record row.
Limitations · Historical compilation. McCardel’s displayed 2012 splits sum to 19:20 although the total column says 19:21; that disagreement remains unresolved.
English Channel solo to Cap Gris Nez
Published account checked
Recorded swim date · Saturday, 24 July 2004 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 12h 35m 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 · Historical departure 03:25:00 and arrival 16:00:00 are not tied to separately stated phase dates; no structured clocks or time zone are inferred.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England → France
Arrival · La Sirene slipway, Cap Gris Nez, France
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Aegean Blue
Official observers · Pamela Masden
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
How this record was checked
CS&PF 2004 successful-swims table, solo row 24 July, names Alison Streeter with 12:35:00 and Mike Oram/Aegean Blue. Historical entry 443904 agrees and provides observer and landing. The annual page’s ratification disclaimer remains applicable.
CS&PF: 2004 successful swims
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Solo row: 24 July, Alison Streeter, Mike Oram/Aegean Blue, 12:35:00.
Limitations · Select the year identified in the source title. The annual page states that results remain unofficial until ratified by the committee; no separate ratification decision was inspected.
CS&PF historical entry: Alison Streeter, 24 July 2004
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · England-to-France solo, 12:35:00, Michael Oram/Aegean Blue, Pamela Masden, La Sirene slipway landing and clocks.
Limitations · Federation-hosted historical compilation; not the original observer report. Its generic Date field does not identify departure or arrival dates.
July 1984 England-to-France solo
Ratification reported by source
Recorded swim date · Thursday, 26 July 1984 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 10h 6m 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 · The historical entry reports departure 23:28:00 and arrival 09:34:00 beside a generic swim date. It does not expressly date those phases; no structured clocks or inferred overnight finish date are assigned. Its seconds formatting is retained.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England–France
Arrival · Cap Gris Nez sandy dunes
Pilot / piloting team · Ray Dixon
Escort vessel · Channel Express
Official observers · L. Dunsbee
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
CS&PF historical entry 443313 records the named successful one-way, date, time and crew, with CSA in the Ratifying Organisation field. A corresponding CSA individual result was not inspected.
CS&PF historical entry: Alison Streeter, 26 July 1984
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · England-to-France one-way, 10:06:00, Ray Dixon/Channel Express, L. Dunsbee, Cap Gris Nez sandy-dunes landing; reported clocks 23:28:00/09:34:00.
Limitations · Federation-hosted historical compilation; its Ratifying Organisation field reports CSA. The original observer report was not inspected, and its generic Date field does not establish departure or arrival dates.
September 1986 England-to-France solo
Ratifying body's record checked
Recorded swim date · Sunday, 28 September 1986 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 11h 3m
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 · The historical entry reports departure 08:15:00 and arrival 19:18:00 alongside a generic swim date, without expressly dated phases or a time zone. The displayed elapsed time retains CSA minute precision.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England–France
Arrival · Cap Blanc Nez
Pilot / piloting team · Ray Dixon
Escort vessel · Channel Express
Official observers · N. Smith
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
CSA entry 2763 confirms the successful one-way and 11:03 elapsed time. CS&PF historical entry 443366 supplies 28 September, the support team, landing and reported clocks.
CSA: Alison Streeter, 1986
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Successful England-to-France one-way solo in 11:03.
Limitations · Published CSA successful individual result inspected; original observer documentation was not inspected.
CS&PF historical entry: Alison Streeter, 28 September 1986
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · England-to-France one-way, 11:03:00, Ray Dixon/Channel Express, N. Smith, Cap Blanc Nez landing; reported clocks 08:15:00/19:18:00.
Limitations · Federation-hosted historical compilation; its Ratifying Organisation field reports CSA. The original observer report was not inspected, and its generic Date field does not establish departure or arrival dates.
England to Cap Gris Nez
Ratification reported by source
Recorded swim date · Friday, 26 July 1996 · Start or finish date not specified by this field
Elapsed swim time · 9h 30m 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 · Departure 08:10:00 and arrival 17:40:00 appear beside the swim date. The entry gives no explicit phase dates or time zone.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England–France
Arrival · Cap Gris Nez
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Sea Satin
Official observers · G. Pique
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
CS&PF historical entry 443646 records the successful one-way crossing and reports CSA as ratifier. A corresponding CSA individual result was not inspected.
CS&PF historical record • Alison Streeter, 26 July 1996 (443646)
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · England–France one-way in 09:30:00, landing at Cap Gris Nez. Michael Oram piloted Sea Satin and G. Pique observed. Reported clocks are 08:10:00 and 17:40:00.
Limitations · The compiled individual entry names CSA as ratifying organisation. Its date field gives a swim date without separately dated departure and arrival.
Cap Gris Nez to St Margaret’s Bay
Ratifying body's record checked
Recorded swim date · Tuesday, 20 August 1996 · Start or finish date not specified by this field
Elapsed swim time · 9h 31m
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 · The historical entry gives departure at 02:14:00 and arrival at 11:45:00 alongside its generic date. The individual phases have no stated dates or time zone.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · France–England
Departure · Cap Gris Nez
Arrival · St Margaret’s Bay
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Aegean Blue
Official observers · F. Richards
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
CSA individual result 2428 confirms the successful reverse solo. CS&PF entry 443659 supplies the swim date, endpoints and crew for this separately dated swim.
Channel Swimming Association • Alison Streeter, 1996 (2428)
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Published completed one-way solo, France to England, 09:31.
Limitations · The individual result gives the year and minute-precision time. The original observer report was not inspected.
CS&PF historical record • Alison Streeter, 20 August 1996 (443659)
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 09:31:00 reverse solo from Cap Gris Nez to St Margaret’s Bay. Michael Oram piloted Aegean Blue, F. Richards observed, and the reported clocks are 02:14:00 and 11:45:00.
Limitations · The compiled individual entry names CSA as ratifying organisation. Its date field gives a swim date without separately dated departure and arrival.
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