Carol conquers epic swim to iconic Irish landmark
Carol Commons after her 21 kilometre swim to the Fastnet Rock off Co Cork.
A North Mayo swimmer has set an Irish record for long-distance swimming after completing a mammoth trip early this month.
On Monday, June 10 last, Carol Commons, from Killala and a swimmer with Kilcummin Swimming Club, swam from Baltimore in West Cork to the Iconic Fastnet Rock – a 21 kilometre swim which has now been ratified by the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association. Skipper of the boat for the day was Kieran Collins, with the name of the boat Radiance. The observer was Garry Minihane and Fastnet swim organiser was Noel Browne.
Carol is the first Mayo person to complete this swim, which is part of the Irish Triple Crown swims.
She set off from Baltimore Pier at 7.34am and completed the swim in a fantastic time of six hours, 55 minutes and 50 seconds. The morning was overcast with a north-westerly breeze, and the water was calm in inner harbour to the Beacon.
The route took her from Baltimore out of the harbour past the Beacon and swam on the south side of Sherkin Island and Cape Clear Island. Once Carol went into open water, temperatures dropped and became choppier. Water temperatures ranged from a cool 10 degrees to 14 degrees and air temperatures ranged from 10 to 16 degrees throughout the swim but she remained calm, averaging 62 to 64 strokes per minute and having feeds every 40 minutes.
These feeds must be done without touching the boat and are thrown out on a string and a bucket attached to a stick. The feeder on the day was Carol’s husband Noel.
As the day progressed, air temperatures rose, the clouds peeled back and the magnificent Fastnet Rock shone brightly. The winds eased a bit and the waters calmed two kilometres from the rock. As the tide was coming to an end the waters became a little choppier but as Carol had the Fastnet in sight, she powered on to a magnificent swim.
