First English Channel solo
Ratifying body's record checked
Recorded swim date · Sunday, 18 August 1985 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 10h 44m
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
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · France → England
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
CSA successful individual record 2393 matches Cyril Baldock, Australia, solo one-way F-E, 1985 and 10:44, and lists the season's oldest-successful-swimmer award. CS&PF's 1985 table, row '18th August | Baldock, Cyril', supplies the precise generic swim date. This checks the published CSA result, not the original observer log.
Channel Swimming Association: Cyril Baldock, 1985
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Successful individual record 2393: Australia, solo France-to-England, 10:44 and 1985 oldest-successful-swimmer award.
Limitations · CSA page supplies year only; precise swim date comes from the separately inspected CS&PF historical row.
CS&PF: 1985 solo swims
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Row '18th August | Baldock, Cyril | 10:44:00 | F-E | 1-way, 1st | CSA'.
Limitations · A historical listing attributed to CSA; no phase dates or clocks.
2014 age-record Channel crossing
Sources disagree
Escort boat unresolved: CS&PF's annual list names Seafarer II; its individual record names Gallivant. Both agree on 12:45:00.
Recorded swim date · Wednesday, 20 August 2014 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 12h 45m 0s
Duration of the complete swim
Started · Wednesday, 20 August 2014 · Clock time not confirmed
Finished · Exact finish date not confirmed · Clock time not confirmed
Timing note · Individual record 444820 reports departure 03:06:00 and arrival 15:51:00 without separately dated phases or a clock standard. Clocks remain unstructured. Its Gallivant entry conflicts with Seafarer II in the annual solo row.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England → France
Departure · Shakespeare Beach, Dover, England
Arrival · Cap Gris Nez, France
Pilot / piloting team · Mike Oram
Official observers · Loretta Cox
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
How this record was checked
CS&PF's 2014 Solo Swims row '20th August | Cyril Baldock' and individual record 444820 agree on the named swimmer, date, E-F route and 12:45:00. The secretary's season review supplies departure location/date, French landing and observer Loretta Cox. The boat conflict is retained; the annual page also retains its general pending-ratification disclaimer.
CS&PF: Cyril Baldock, 20 August 2014
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Individual record 444820: Australia, date, E-F, 12:45:00, reported clocks and Michael Oram.
Limitations · Lists Gallivant; the 2014 annual list names Seafarer II. The discrepancy remains unresolved.
CS&PF: 2014 successful swims
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Solo rows for Cyril Baldock on 20 August and Otto Thaning on 6 September.
Limitations · Page retains a general pending-committee-ratification disclaimer. Baldock's boat differs from his individual record.
CS&PF: review of the 2014 season
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Secretary Kevin Murphy's review dated 27 January 2015: Baldock's route and observer, Thaning's observer, times and age-record context.
Limitations · Narrative season report, not an inspected committee ratification decision.
AUS