Three adventurers hoping to to be the first to successfully complete a swim across the Big Minch.
Colin Macleod and Norman Todd are being joined by Colleen Blair in ploughing their way over the 24 mile stretch of open water.
Each are undertaking a solo swim of the route and are accompanied by kayakers and support boats.
The route is a longer and far tougher challenge than the English Channel given its stronger currents and choppier seas.
The Minch has never been conquered by solo swimmers.
Swimming through jellyfish cut short university lecturer Phia Steyn’s attempt early on Tuesday morning. She attended hospital for treatment for a mass of stings.
In 2012, a team of swimmers completed a relay crossing with each taking 45 minute shots in the water.
Eilidh Macdonald from Bilbrough, York, set a record in 2010 when she was the first person to swim across the Minch channel. Eilidh, whose parents are from Lewis, completed the shorter Little Minch crossing from Skye to Harris in nine and a half hours.
Last month, Paul Finnegan from Scalpay and Colin Macleod completed a similar distance in a sea temperature of 10°C.
The bid to take on the Big Minch is due to set off from Lemreway in Pairc, Lewis, on the ebbing tide around 4.30am on Saturday morning with the hope of touching shore at Rubha Reidh in Gairloch within 18 hours.
Swarms of stinging jellyfish will be a constant threat and the water will be chilly.
Over most of the challenge the weather forecast is favourable, but stiff winds and a choppy sea may affect the swimmers during the latter part.
The tidal stream -
Norman Todd, 46, from Ullapool is raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care while forty six year old Colin Macleod of Lewis is carrying out the challenge for Cancer Research UK.
Colleen Blair, 39, is one of Scotland's most accomplished marathon swimmer. She swam the English Channel at the age of 20 and was the first person to cross the Pentland Firth.
She has also swum the Northern Channel, Loch Ness and the Catalina Channel.
While the two men will don wetsuits, Colleen swimwear will be compliant with 'channel
rules' -
Trio taking on epic challenge to swim the Minch
6 July 2018
