Provisional 2026 swim results
Any errors or omissions, please email galwaybayswim@gmail.com, and they will be corrected.
149 swimmers crossed Galway Bay – (35 solo swimmers, 34 relay teams – 114 relay team swimmers). Swimmers and relay teams that finished with the same time are sorted alphabetically.
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Weather
The blue skies, sunshine, and calm water around the finish at Blackrock Tower, which is sheltered from a northerly wind, stood in stark contrast to the very challenging conditions experienced by swimmers and support crews throughout the crossing. One would have to look back to the 2024 swim and, as far as 2012, to find conditions of comparable difficulty on Galway Bay.
The northerly wind, combined with an outgoing spring tide, created very demanding conditions. Swimmers were swimming almost directly into the wind and waves for virtually the entire crossing, making progress difficult and requiring sustained physical and mental effort. Although the wave height eased somewhat during the final section into Salthill, where the coastline provided partial shelter from the northerly wind, conditions farther out in the Bay remained challenging.
Huge congratulations to every swimmer who took part and completed the crossing in some of the most difficult conditions experienced during the swim. The longer-than-usual finish times demonstrated how taxing the conditions were crossing the bay. Sincere thanks also go to the boat captains, crews and event safety team for their skill, commitment and dedication in working to keep everyone safe throughout the event.
- Swim Date: Saturday, July 18th, 2026
- Swim Start Time: 8.00 AM (Wave 1), 8.30 AM (Wave 2), 09.00 AM (Wave 3), 09.30 AM (Wave 4)
- Wind Direction: Northerly
- Wind Speed: Force 4 – 5 throughout the swim
- Wave Height: 0.5 – 1.5 Metres
- Air Temperature: 13℃ – 22℃ (cooler on Galway Bay for crew and relay team swimmers on the boats).
- Sea Temperature: 15℃
- High Tide: 8:54 am(4.9m)
- Low Tide: 2:28 pm (0.9m)
- Tidal Range: 4.0 metres
- Wind and Wave Height, Air and Sea Water Temperature from Irish Lights Spiddal wave buoy (https://www.digitalocean.ie/Dashboard/Galway)
