site.btaTsanko Tsankov Ready to Swim North Channel for Oceans Seven Challenge

Open water swimmer Tsanko Tsankov said at a press conference Monday he is prepared to take on the most challenging course in the Oceans Seven marathon - the famous North Channel crossing from Northern Ireland to Scotland.

The swim will take place between July 18 and 23, with Tsankov’s training completed in his hometown Burgas, mostly in open water conditions. This time of year, the North Channel’s water temperature reaches just 12°C, and strong currents may stretch the planned 34 km swim to over 45 km.

"I feel great and I believe I can deliver a very good swim. For me, the North Channel is the most difficult of the seven major open water marathons in the world," Tsankov said.

The crossing will be filmed, and a new documentary will be produced about Tsankov’s potential achievement. The film will aim to inspire children and young people and will be screened for free in schools and universities across Bulgaria.

Tsankov will have only one week to choose the best day for the swim.

"Swimmers with larger budgets can afford to wait two weeks or even a month. We have a fixed stay from July 18 to 24. Our team from Northern Ireland is very experienced, and we are confident they will select the best possible day for the swim," Tsankov explained.

The crossing will take place during daylight hours, as the water gets even colder at night.