Duo from Assam & Bengal to attempt crossing North Irish Channel

The duo of Elvis Ali Hazarika of Assam and Rimo Saha of West Bengal who successfully crossed the Catalina Channel in August this year is attempting to cross the Irish North Channel next year.

Hazarika said that they are extremely upbeat to take up this expedition which connects Ireland and Scotland covering around 40-kilometre. They will also spread the awareness on rhino conservation through the expedition.

Hazarika told The Bridge:

It was my dream to complete all the seven major channels in the world which is known as 'Ocean's Seven'. Now, we two (him and Rimo) are trying to cross the channel in July next year.

The North Channel swim is approximately the same distance as the English Channel. But the differences here are that the sea temperature — which can be three to five degrees lower and the second is the hundreds of Lions Mane jellyfish which plague the channel during the summer months.

The North Channel is part of the 'Ocean's Seven', a set of seven long-distance open-water swims considered the marathon swimming equivalent of the Seven Summits mountaineering challenge.

"The water temperature will be around 12 degree Celsius…sometimes even lesser especially when it rains. So, the weather is going to be hostile," Hazarika added.

The duo will start their preparation from November at Bhimtal Late in Nainital. He added:

We also need to put on some weight for the acclimatisation in the water temperature. We are also focusing on the fitness area as well under the guidance of fitness expert Nishanta Bordoloi.

Hazarika, one of the brightest swimmers during his hay days in the national and international arena, scripted 22 national records in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Hazarika who has won at least 134 gold medals in the national level, however, said that without sufficient sponsors their expedition will be highly difficult. He said:

We will need around Rs 12 lakh for both of us and to collect that amount of fund is a herculean task without the support of the government. So far, I have been arranging my own funds and which has become very difficult now.

Rimo from West Bengal who has crossed the English Channel in 2018 is also hopeful of the expedition and said that sponsorship will help them to achieve this feat.

"We are going with a mission to spread awareness on rhino conservation. So, we are hopeful of getting some kind of help," said Rimo.