Loch Lomond Solo 2018 Martyn Webster

Loch Lomond Solo 2018: Martyn Webster

By Karen Smith

September 17, 2018

All the way from Switzerland, seasoned swimmer Martyn Webster joined us for a Loch Lomond Solo. Martyn has had an amazing year, completing an English Channel solo and a Loch Awe solo to name a couple, so he was in tip-top shape and wanting to finish the season off with 21.6 miles of Scottish Loch.

After the usual wait for better wind conditions, on Monday 17th September, Martyn started his swim at Balloch Slipway wearing nothing but his "budgie smugglers," cap, and goggles, supported by Dave and myself on Gemini Warrior. The Loch was a chilly 13.3 degrees and the air temperature was similar, but the conditions were great. The wind was minimal and southerly, allowing Martyn to make a fantastic start.

Martyn kept the pressure on his stroke, feeding hourly as per his regime. Just over three hours in and passing Wallaby Island, Martyn started to feel the cold and relayed that he was not in a good place. He had begun to cramp in his hips and thighs and was generally feeling "crappy." After some encouraging words from the crew and a returned look of "yeah, whatever," Martyn just kept chipping away at the kilometers.

Martyn's feeding pattern changed as the swim progressed, allowing for more communication. Although kept brief, this enabled us to assess his state of mind. The water temperature never rose above 14 degrees; while Martyn had completed long swims before, this was the coolest water he had ever endured for this length of time. As a crew, we had no concerns about his mental state, especially when we told him he had 11km to go and his response was "lying bas*****"—proving his humor was still intact!

The wind remained minimal and the Loch was smooth. Rain started during the last couple of miles, and as we moved closer to the finish at Ardlui, we heard shouts of encouragement from the banks where friends had gathered to welcome him. After a supersonic 12 hours and 4 minutes, Martyn completed his Loch Lomond Solo.

This swim was a true test of psychological strength and the capability of the human body to endure hardship. Martyn made a tremendous recovery, aided by Team Ralph meeting us with warm towels and a toasty lodge just seconds away from the finish line. Well done, Martyn!