Channel Chancers ponder Oceans Seven bid

A team from Ireland is considering their next steps in a quest to join a very select group

Since Steven Munatones devised the Oceans Seven challenge in 2008, it has captured the imagination of marathon swimmers. Just over 40 individual swimmers have now completed it.

But, as far as we can determine, only one relay team is known to have completed all seven channels. According to openwaterswimming.com, a trio consisting of Rick Gaenzle, Chris Kraus and Brian Ross completed the challenge in 2015.

Meanwhile, a team from Ireland is contemplating its next steps after recently completing a North Channel crossing between Ireland and Scotland.

The Channel Chancers, as they call themselves, consists of Paul Clinton, Blake Boland, Peter Farrelly, and Martin Gaynor. On 24 June 2026, they took 13 hours and 27 minutes to cross the Irish Sea.

According to their coach, Ray Donagh, conditions for their swim were tough, with the water temperature at times dipping below 12 degrees. On the other hand, the notorious lion’s mane jellyfish, which have ended many North Channel attempts, thankfully stayed deep.

Two years previously, the same team crossed the English Channel, which means they have completed two of the seven Oceans Seven swims.

Ray went on to say that the Oceans Seven wasn’t initially the plan, but with the infamous North Channel completed, the team started discussing it as a possibility.

However, they have competition from another Irish team from Wexford Masters Swimming Club. According to their website, James O’Connor, Peter Bolger, Colin Wilson, Enda Sinnott, Sandra Goldsmith and Denise Underwood have completed six out of seven and only have the Molokai Channel to go.

The Oceans Seven – and any channel swim – is primarily about completion and personal achievement rather than competition. But if the Channel Chancers want to be the first Irish team to get there, they have some catching up to do.

Main image: Channel Chancers with coach Ray Donagh (Centre)