Biennial Channel Relay
The first ever race saw both teams starting in Dover and reaching France within two minutes of each other. According to the rules of the competition, the race was declared a draw. Since then, Oxford and Cambridge have met several more times in the Channel.
The next Varsity Channel Relay Swim will take place from 10–19 July 2027. If you’re interested in being part of the team, sign up for trials using the button below!
The Swim
This biennial event is a relay race between teams from Cambridge and Oxford University, swimming from Dover to France. The race is swum by a team of six swimmers plus two reserves from each university. Swimmers complete hour-long shifts until the Channel has been crossed. Due to variation in the coastline and sea currents, any difference in time under two minutes is counted as a draw.
As in all official Channel swims, no wetsuits are allowed. Each team crosses the Channel with a piloted boat — the 2027 crossing will be piloted by Peter Reed on the Rowena — and after each hour-long shift the next swimmer enters the water, with team members swimming one or more legs until the French coast is reached.
Training for this event involves physical training for fitness and cold-water resistance, alongside mental training for willpower and team support. It’s exciting and a lot of fun, both for the team and for friends and family, who can follow the boat via GPS tracker online.
Team Selection
Trials for the Channel Relay squad take place on the 16th and 18th of October, open to all students regardless of prior open water experience. From these, a team of six swimmers plus two reserves is selected to take on the Channel.
Selected swimmers train together throughout the year, building towards a qualifying swim in April/May, which confirms swimmers are ready to take on the Channel relay in July. Training in the run-up to the swim involves weekly sessions at Milton Country Park and Jesus Green Lido — a beautiful outdoor 91m pool in the heart of Cambridge.
Interested in taking place? Sign up to trials below!
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 raising money for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. He works closely with the current Open Water Captain on it, and the student and alumni teams are planning some joint training sessions together.
Background
The Cross Channel Relay Competition was founded in 1998 by Nick Thomas and Martin Davies, and has been running biennially ever since. The inaugural Varsity Channel Relay Race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities generated publicity worldwide as well as within both universities — the only university swimming race across the Channel. Coverage included features in The Times, The Daily Telegraph, local television, and Australian National Radio, along with extensive coverage in both universities’ student media and in Swimming Times, a national swimming publication.
Results
Cambridge 3
Oxford 9
Draw 2
|
Year |
Winner |
Cambridge Time |
Oxford time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2025 |
Oxford |
9 hrs 25 mins |
9 hrs 14 mins |
|
2023 |
Oxford |
9 hrs 47 mins |
9 hrs 3 mins |
|
2021 |
Oxford |
9 hrs 58 mins |
9 hrs 13 mins |
|
2018 |
Oxford |
DNS |
9 hrs 56 mins |
|
2016 |
Oxford |
9 hrs 28 mins |
8 hrs 56 mins |
|
2014 |
Draw |
9 hrs |
9 hrs 2 mins |
|
2012 |
Oxford |
DNF |
8 hrs 45 mins |
|
2010 |
Cambridge |
8 hrs 51 mins |
9 hrs 3 mins |
|
2008 |
Oxford |
10 hrs 20 mins |
10 hrs |
|
2006 |
Cambridge |
10 hrs 22 mins |
10 hrs 48 mins |
|
2004 |
Cambridge |
8 hrs 49 mins |
9 hrs 13 mins |
|
2002 |
Oxford |
9 hrs 19 mins |
9 hrs 7 mins |
|
2000 |
Oxford |
8 hrs 25 mins |
8 hrs 18 mins |
|
1998 |
Draw |
9 hrs 24 mins |
9 hrs 24 |