YOU’RE allowed a whole month to complete Jersey’s renowned 30 Bays in 30 Days swimming challenge, but some people prefer to tackle these things in more direct fashion.
After coming up with the idea over a glass of wine, there was no backing out for Paul Livesey and Emily Porritt the next morning as they took their opening plunge at L’Etacq at 7am.
Using Miss Porritt’s Land Rover as their tour ‘bus’, the duo made quick progress down the west coast of the Island, with several dips along St Ouen’s Bay and at Petit Port before turning left at Corbière.
The stunt took place last Thursday, during the last official week of this year’s 30 Bays event, which was first held in 2016 and has subsequently raised more than £100,000 for Jersey Hospice Care and the National Trust for Jersey.
Miss Porritt, a nurse at the General Hospital, said the swim had served as a send-off for her friend, with teacher Mr Livesey shortly moving away from the Island.
She said: ‘The rules were that you had to fully submerge at each bay and swim 30 strokes.
‘There was a low point at Belcroute during the morning when it was cold and grey, our towels were soaking wet and we wondered what we were doing, but by the time we got to Havre des Pas the weather was much better and we had cheered up.’
Staying fuelled through stops at several beachside cafés, supplemented with plenty of water, the challenge continued in an anti-clockwise direction until the final swim took place at Green Island at 6pm, completing 30 bays in just 11 hours.
Having now recovered – with Miss Porritt admitting ‘it took a couple of days to warm up’ – both swimmers are seeking to raise money for the two causes from friends, as well as recruits for another challenge next summer.
The last swim of this year’s 30 Bays challenge took place at St Brelade’s Bay on Sunday.
The final proceeds from 2022 have yet to be calculated, but had already reached almost £10,000 prior to the end of July.
