Swimmer Carole Laporte notched up another unique open water challenge last Saturday (27th June) when she completed a full circuit of the Calf of Man.

The start and finish point for the swim was Cow Harbour, which Carole accessed in a sea kayak.

Swimming anti-clockwise around the island, accompanied by a kayak support team, Carole completed the circuit in 1 hour, 52 minues and 2 seconds.

Her success closely followed another triumph: on the previous Saturday, 20th June, Carole was part of a 4-man team which completed an historic sea relay from the Point of Ayre to the Sound.

Carole, a teacher at St Ninian’s High School, maintains her fitness by training in the pool several days a week and her cold water endurance through regular, year-round swims.

Although undaunted by the notorious reputation of the Calf’s tidal currents, Carole says “Mentally, it was tough: you go into an unknown zone and hope for the best.

“Nearly two hours in 13 degrees is not something I do every day and I didn't know until Saturday that I could do it!

“I found it cold two-thirds of the way but I kept going. At one stage, I felt that the tides were going in every possible direction; it scared me a bit but I knew I had the support kayaks very close to me.

“The great part was the seals: towards the end, there was one underneath me, looking straight at me; it was just really special.”

Pictured: Carole Laporte (centre) with her kayak support team