There are two main opportunities for Open Water swimming at Cambridge: the biennial Channel Relay and the annual Varsity Match against Oxford. Both are open to all students regardless of prior open water experience — trials for both take place in early Michaelmas term.
Channel Relay
Every two years, a team of six swimmers plus two reserves relay-swims the Channel from Dover to France. The next crossing takes place 10–19 July 2027, piloted by Peter Reed on the Rowena.
Varsity Match
The annual Varsity Match is a 3km open water race against Oxford, with a team of four men and four women per university competing on lowest aggregate time. The 2027 match date is still TBC.
Fundraising for the 2027 Channel Relay
We’re fundraising on two fronts for the 2027 Channel Relay: raising money for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust towards Cambridge’s new children’s hospital, and covering the swim’s own costs such as hire of the pilot boat.
Donations to swim costs are essential: without them, some swimmers may not be able to take part at all. If you’d like to support the swim costs, please donate via the club’s donations site and note that it’s for the Channel Relay — otherwise it may be counted towards the club’s general costs.
Thank you so much for all of your support for our swim and for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. It means a great deal to the whole team.
Alumni Channel Relay
James Ganendra, our Alumni Captain, is organising the club’s first-ever Alumni Channel Relay this year, also in aid of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. He works closely with the current Open Water Captain, and the student and alumni teams are planning joint training sessions.
The Poseidon Club
The Oxford and Cambridge Open Water Swimming (and Extreme Sport) Club. The Poseidon Club is an active society that meets for an annual dinner and supports current students in both CUSWPC and OUSC, providing funding and mentoring — particularly to the Channel swim teams.
For more information about open water opportunities, contact:
Benedict Whitt (cambridgeuniversityopenwater@gmail.com)
Open Water Captain 2026/2027