photo posted by the crew of her guide boat, Anastasia.
Ridgewood teen becomes youngest to complete Triple Crown swimming attempt
September 7, 2014, 1:19 PM Last updated: Monday, September 8, 2014, 1:14 PM
By CHRISTOPHER MAAG
staff writer
The Record
Charlotte Samuels, a 16-year-old from Ridgewood, made history today by becoming the youngest person ever to achieve the Triple Crown of open-water swimming. After circumnavigating Manhattan in July and swimming the 20-mile Catalina Channel off the coast of California in August, she swam across the English Channel in 20 hours, 44 minutes and 27 seconds.
Landing on the shore of France at about 5 p.m. (11 a.m. New Jersey time), she became the youngest person to complete the Triple Crown, smashing the previous record set just last month by an 18-year-old Australian.
Dixie Martin/special to the record
Charlotte Samuels aboard an inflatable boat Monday after completing her swim.
Charlotte faced challenges throughout the journey. Temperatures fell through the night — by 1:30 off the coast of Calais the water temperature dropped to 64 degrees and the air to 60. For long stretches she faced headwinds of 10 to 15 miles an hour.
Several ships crossed close to her path, including a large passenger ferry and two tankers. A French fishing trawler that passed within 600 yards of her position.
Charlotte was protected throughout by the tracking boat Anastasia. The boat’s crew guided her route in accordance with the tides alongside her parents, Suzanne and Steven Samuels, who were also onboard.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-teen-becomes-youngest-to-complete-triple-crown-swimming-attempt-1.1082700#sthash.YJ1bzVnN.dpuf
