A Nanaimo‑area finish marked a rare endurance feat on Tuesday when 33‑year‑old Melanie Buggey swam across the Strait of Georgia, landing at the Schooner Cove Yacht Club in Nanoose after a 28.6‑kilometre crossing from Reception Point in Sechelt.
Record time for a long‑distance crossing
Buggey completed the unassisted crossing in 8 hours and 42 minutes. If the time is ratified by the Marathon Swimmers Federation, it will surpass the federation’s recorded best of 9 hours and 23 minutes, a mark that dates to 1967.
The swim capped a childhood ambition. As a youngster riding B.C. Ferries between Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay, Buggey often watched the water and imagined making the crossing by swimming. That long‑held desire became reality this week.
Preparation, challenges and the open water reality
Buggey is primarily a pool swimmer, and this Strait crossing was only her second marathon swim outdoors; she completed a 16‑kilometre open‑water swim across Kalamalka Lake on July 2. She said numerous online commenters doubted her readiness, and one posted that a crossing of this length was “impossible” for someone accustomed to pool swimming.
“The second I ignored everyone’s advice, I felt great,”
She reported physical discomfort during the swim: an elbow began aching about four hours in. Keeping energy levels up proved another major challenge. Buggey’s team delivered food to her from a support boat every half hour; trying to eat while swimming led to bouts of vomiting, which she described with wry humour.
Despite the hardships, she said her body felt “weirdly fine” after the crossing, and treated the record‑setting time with a degree of modesty: “not too bad for a pool swimmer.”
What the crossing says about open‑water sport and local waters
Long crossings like the Strait of Georgia demand careful planning and a dedicated support crew, and they underscore the variability of coastal conditions around Vancouver Island. While the swimmer’s remarks reflect personal resilience and training, the accomplishment also highlights local waterways as both recreational assets and challenging environments for endurance sport.
- Swimmer: Melanie Buggey, 33
- Route: Reception Point, Sechelt to Schooner Cove Yacht Club, Nanoose
- Distance: 28.6 kilometres
- Time: 8 hours 42 minutes (pending ratification)
- Previous long open‑water swim: 16 kilometres, Kalamalka Lake (July 2)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recorded best (Marathon Swimmers Federation) | 9 hours 23 minutes (1967) |
| Buggey’s crossing | 28.6 km in 8 hours 42 minutes (pending ratification) |
This swim will enter the record‑keeping process with the Marathon Swimmers Federation; ratification procedures typically verify route, support protocols and that the attempt was unassisted. Once confirmed, the crossing would stand as the fastest recorded time for an unassisted swim along this route under the federation’s records.
For Nanaimo residents, the landing in Nanoose connects the city and surrounding communities to a long tradition of open‑water challenges anchored in our coastal geography. The Strait’s currents and temperatures are a testing ground for endurance athletes and a reminder of the skills and safety planning required to take on the Salish Sea.
Buggey’s crossing also illustrates the porous boundary between pool training and open‑water endurance events: with proper preparation and a committed support team, athletes can translate pool conditioning into long‑haul swims that cross channels and connect communities around Vancouver Island.
Local reaction to the achievement is likely to combine pride in a regional athletic milestone with renewed attention to safety, training and support systems for long‑distance swimmers using the Strait.
