By Isle of Wight Observer
The manager of the West Wight Sports & Community Centre has raised over £10,000 after completing a gruelling 33.3km (20 3/4 mile) swim off the coast of Montenegro.
Clare Griffin took part in the Ultra Swim 33.3 event in the Adriatic Sea, marking 150 years since Captain Matthew Webb first swam the English Channel. Clare aimed to match the Channel distance over three days, hoping to raise £3,333 – but far exceeded her target.
“It was always going to be an epic physical and mental challenge,” she said. “But the conditions were tougher than expected.”
On day one, unseasonal weather and strong crosswinds limited her to 6.6km in 2h 22m. Leaking goggles and saltwater irritation made for a difficult start.
Day two brought sunshine and clearer waters, and Clare swam 7.9km – in 3h 5m. But a later 2.7km swim in heavy swell proved brutal: “It was like swimming in a washing machine,” she said.
Day three’s “marathon” stage was extended to 11km to make up lost distance. The route passed Cold War submarine pens and wrecks, and Clare finished in 4h 5m.
With 5km left to complete the full 33.3km, she swam through wind and looming storms on Monday morning, finally crossing the finish line after 12h 25m of swimming across all stages.
At 61, Clare was the 10th oldest participant and placed 28th among women. “Swimming was the easy bit,” she explained. “Managing nerves, nutrition, tedium and the cold was the real challenge — but the hardest part was the training, fitting it around a full-time job and family life.”
Her achievement has brought in vital funds for the community centre she leads — and earned her the title of Ultra Swimmer.
Isle of Wight Observer