Daring Waters: The Thrills and Chills of Wild Swimming Across the Globe

How do you get ready for such a difficult swim?

You can’t undertake this type of expedition without being adequately prepared. I dedicated numerous hours to acclimatizing myself to chilly water and increasing my swimming distance to get ready. My spouse has significant knowledge about water currents—having been in the Coast Guard and serving as a harbormaster—so instead of catching up on “The Real Housewives” on a Friday night, we’d analyze surface currents and review tide charts to gain a comprehensive understanding of what I was facing.

I’m also somewhat obsessively wary about sharks, so I wanted to ensure I picked a less “sharky” period for this swim. This meant accepting that the water temperature would need to be lower (it dipped to 43 degrees Fahrenheit, which was even chillier than I anticipated). Fortunately, I possess a nice healthy layer of bioprene—a layer of fat that keeps me insulated in the water. For such a swim, you need to strike a balance between being very fit and maintaining enough body weight to ensure adequate insulation.

When it came to selecting a team to accompany me, I carefully chose a group of swimmers with impressive credentials who have faced challenges in the water. Individuals who could adapt and manage an emergency. I inquired of each crew member, “How would you react if I got injured or bitten by a shark?” It was a real possibility, and I required them to genuinely contemplate that before replying.

You were literally swimming in shark-infested waters for over 17 hours. How did you maintain your mental focus?

Once in the water, I pushed the thought of sharks to the back of my mind. In order to succeed in the swim, I had to enter a specific mental state. Some time went by where I wasn’t focused on anything, then I found myself brainstorming solutions to global issues and composing songs in my head. I was also immensely grateful to my crew, who refrained from informing me when I swam past two partially eaten sea lions.

It wasn’t until I reached the final buoy and the entire crew erupted in cheers that I suddenly felt frightened. I swam to my accompanying fishing trawler like a cartoon character and hoisted myself up that ladder like Santa Claus.

How did you obtain your food and sustenance?

The crew would toss me a rope-attached bottle containing my nutrition: a carbohydrate-based mixture transformed into a liquid and combined with bone broth. It resembled chicken soup. I also had warm mashed potatoes in a plastic bag that I could rip open and down quickly, along with canned peaches, which helped alleviate the sting of salt water on my tongue.

You opted not to inform many individuals about your attempt to swim. What was the reason for the secrecy?

Involving the media in a swim adds another layer of pressure. For instance, I have observed several friends feeling forced to proceed in adverse weather due to media presence, and I wasn’t about to compromise my success by making choices for others. Until we felt more confident that this swim was going to take form solidly, I wanted to keep it low profile.

What are some of your preferred locations for open water swims around the globe?

The Strait of Gibraltar was fantastic—such azure waters, and the cuisine in both Spain and Morocco is outstanding. Ireland and Scotland stand out because the swimming communities in those regions are so welcoming and remarkable. Lake Memphremagog, which stretches across the border between Vermont and Quebec. We had to actually bring our passports along and keep them in the accompanying kayak for the swim.

Where do you travel when you are not swimming?

Well, my husband and I are ocean enthusiasts, so our travels always involve water. Portugal is ideal for us because he enjoys excellent surfing, and I have wonderful places for casual swimming.

What does swimming signify for you?

Being in open water reminds me that in life, you need to embrace discomfort. I believe it’s a very healthy reminder.