Also recorded as Marcy MacDonald, Marcella A. MacDonald.
Selected Channel swim records
First England-to-France solo
Ratifying body's record checked
Recorded swim date · Thursday, 30 June 1994 · Start or finish date not specified by this field
Elapsed swim time · 10h 33m
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 · England → France
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Aegean Blue
Official observers · G. Pique
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
The CSA's individual record 2923 identifies Marcella MacDonald, United States, solo England to France, 1994 and 10:33. CS&PF entry 443568 credits CSA, identifies the same woman as Marcella [Marcy] MacDonald and supplies the generic date and crew. No phase clocks appear. The archive lists age 30, consistent with her own birth date. ISHOF's retrospective gives 28.
CSA: Marcella MacDonald, 1994
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Individual successful result 2923 shows United States, solo England to France, completed 1994, 10:33.
Limitations · Year and minute elapsed precision.
CS&PF archive: Marcella [Marcy] MacDonald, 30 June 1994
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Named record connects the two names, lists the United States swimmer aged 30 and credits CSA, Michael Oram, Aegean Blue and G. Pique.
Limitations · Generic record date and no phase clocks.
Cutting Water: Marcella A. MacDonald's own biography
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · About Me section gives her full name, birth date 24 November 1963, birthplace Manchester, Connecticut, coaching and podiatry practice. The site introduction identifies her 1994 Channel swim.
International Swimming Hall of Fame: Marcella MacDonald
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Named biography covers sport and medical career, first US woman to complete a Channel two-way, Catalina and Triple Crown in 2013 and IMSHOF induction in 2005.
Limitations · Its age 28 for the 1994 crossing differs from the individual archive and swimmer's self-published birth date.
First American woman's Channel double
Ratification reported by source
Recorded swim date · Friday, 27 July 2001 · Start or finish date not specified by this field
Elapsed swim time · 21h 19m 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 · CS&PF gives departure 04:22:00, turnaround 14:15:00 and arrival 01:41:00. The combined record has one generic date. No phase date or time zone is assigned from the overnight clock readings.
Format · Solo · 2-way
Direction · England → France → England
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Aegean Blue
Official observers · Frank Richards / Jacqueline Carter
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
Individual crossing times
These legs form one continuous 2-way swim.
Leg 1 · England → France · 9h 53m 0s
Leg 2 · France → England · 11h 26m 0s
How this record was checked
Combined CS&PF archive record 443775 identifies MacDonald, 27 July, 21:19:00 E–F–E and CSPF as ratifying organisation. Entries 443776 and 443777 give the two legs, which sum to the combined result. The IMSHOF biography independently identifies the double and elapsed time, while ISHOF identifies its significance for American women.
CS&PF archive: combined two-way, July 2001
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Combined entry 443775 gives 27 July, 21:19:00, E–F–E, clocks 04:22:00/01:41:00, pilot and observers. The ratifier field identifies CSPF.
Limitations · The date field does not separately date departure or return.
CS&PF archive: 2001 outward leg
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Leg 1: England to France in 09:53:00, with French turnaround at 14:15:00.
CS&PF archive: 2001 return leg
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Leg 2: France to England in 11:26:00.
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame: Dr. Marcy MacDonald, DPM
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Page 1 identifies United States, 2005 induction, three England–France doubles in 2001, 2004 and 2013, 2019 ISHOF honour and 2022 England–Belgium completion.
Limitations · The 2013 two-way is summarised at minute precision. England–Belgium has a different route.
International Swimming Hall of Fame: Marcella MacDonald
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Named biography covers sport and medical career, first US woman to complete a Channel two-way, Catalina and Triple Crown in 2013 and IMSHOF induction in 2005.
Limitations · Its age 28 for the 1994 crossing differs from the individual archive and swimmer's self-published birth date.
Alison Streeter MBE award-winning double
Ratifying body's record checked
Recorded swim date · Friday, 3 September 2004 · Start or finish date not specified by this field
Elapsed swim time · 23h 0m 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 archive labels 01:12:00 departure, 12:26:00 at the turn and 00:12:00 arrival. The generic 3 September date is retained without calculating a second calendar date.
Format · Solo · 2-way
Direction · England → France → England
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram / Lance Oram
Escort vessel · Sea Satin
Official observers · Derek Carter / Codge Cobbett
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
Individual crossing times
These legs form one continuous 2-way swim.
Leg 1 · England → France · 11h 14m 0s
Leg 2 · France → England · 11h 46m 0s
How this record was checked
The CS&PF's 2004 awards page names Marcella MacDonald as that season's fastest two-way swimmer, with 23 hours and both leg times. Archive combined record 443937 matches the published federation recognition. Leg records 443938 and 443939 sum exactly to 23:00:00. Published award/decision inspected, without an underlying observer log.
CS&PF awards: 2004 Alison Streeter MBE award
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Marcella MacDonald's named award for the season's fastest CS&PF two-way gives 23 hours and both leg times.
Limitations · Published federation award, separate from a committee minute or observer log.
CS&PF archive: combined two-way, September 2004
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Combined entry 443937 gives 3 September, E–F–E in 23:00:00, departure 01:12:00, arrival 00:12:00, and names the crew.
Limitations · A single date field accompanies the two phase clocks.
CS&PF archive: 2004 outward leg
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · First leg 11:14:00, England to France, turnaround 12:26:00.
CS&PF archive: 2004 return leg
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Second leg 11:46:00, France to England.
Third solo Channel double
Sources disagree
Qualification · The CS&PF award records 24:15:15. Its individual archive gives 24:16:15, the sum of its two detailed leg times.
Recorded swim date · Wednesday, 28 August 2013 · Start or finish date not specified by this field
Elapsed swim time · 24h 15m 15s
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 combined archive labels departure 13:15:45 and arrival 13:32:00. The outward entry is dated 28 August and the return entry 29 August. The annual table uses 29 August, while Dover lists 28/29 August. The archive clock readings belong to its longer total.
Format · Solo · 2-way
Direction · England → France → England
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram / James Willi
Escort vessel · Gallivant
Official observers · Mike Ball and Laura Austin
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
How this record was checked
CS&PF's 2013 award names MacDonald and prints 24:15:15. The annual row also prints 24:15:15, although its minute-only splits do not add to that time. Archive record 444710 prints 24:16:15, matched by 444711 (11:55:15) and 444712 (12:21:00). The award total is shown with the alternative visible. Structured legs are omitted to avoid pairing the award with splits supporting a different total. One two-way event.
CS&PF awards: 2013 Alison Streeter MBE award
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Published fastest two-way award for MacDonald gives 24 hours 15 minutes 15 seconds. Its two legs are summarised to minutes.
Limitations · The displayed legs total 24:16 and the separate archive's second-precision legs total 24:16:15.
CS&PF successful swims: 2013
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Two-way row lists 29 August, Marcella MacDonald, Mike Oram / Gallivant and 24:15:15.
Limitations · Displayed leg sum does not match the printed total. Annual page carries a generic ratification disclaimer.
CS&PF archive: combined two-way, August 2013
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Record 444710 shows 28 August and 24:16:15. Departure 13:15:45 and arrival 13:32:00. Gallivant, pilots Michael Oram and James Willi, observers Mike Ball and Laura Austin.
Limitations · Total differs by a minute from the CS&PF's published award and annual list.
CS&PF archive: 2013 outward leg
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · First leg entry dated 28 August, 11:55:15, from 13:15:45 to 01:11:00.
CS&PF archive: 2013 return leg
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Second leg entry dated 29 August, 12:21:00, from 01:11:00 to 13:32:00.
Dover.UK.com: Marcella MacDonald's August 2013 two-way
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Dates the swim 28/29 August and reports both legs.
Limitations · Its combined time follows the award, while its two leg times also add to 24:16.
USA