Super Sharon swims around Manhattan

A local woman from Malborough has once again completed a major swimming challenge, one year on from her solo swim of the English Channel.

Sharon Bellamy, 56, has now added the famous New York 20 Bridges Open Water swim to her growing list of achievements. 

The challenge is a 28.5 mile swim around Manhattan Island. The route is tidal assisted, but still requires enormous stamina and strong swimming speed to navigate the waterways and ever-changing conditions.

Sharon Bellamy swimming the New York 20 Bridges Challenge 

After a long application process, Sharon was selected to swim by the challenge’s organisers, New York Open Water, based on her past experience of open water swimming and her pool swimming pace.

Sharon said: “I was excited to fly to New York, and I enjoyed a boat trip along the same rivers I would swim, to view the landmarks."

As expected, the swim turned out to be much more challenging than the boat ride. At 9:10am, she was dropped into the East River off a rib at Pier A, but not before her swimming hat ripped.

“It had never happened to me before!” added Sharon. “Though it actually helped the nerves disappear. The first bridge I passed under was Brooklyn Bridge. I felt comfortable, stunning weather, blue skies.

“Tidal strategies were key. I needed to reach the entrance to the Harlem River before the tide turned, or else the flow would’ve pushed me backwards.”

This part of the swim is known as Hell’s Gate, but thankfully Sharon’s persistence and early speed paid off and she arrived here ahead of time.

The majority of bridges are passed along the Harlem River, where the passage is narrow and the waters calmer. Here Sharon felt somewhat at home, passing alongside the neighbourhood of Kingsbridge in The Bronx.

Sharon remained ahead of schedule along the Harlem, reaching the Spuyten Duyvil Swing Bridge 20 minutes ahead of schedule. “I felt really good. I thought I was fine and that I was on the home straight. What a doddle!”

However conditions in the third and final river, the Hudson, were less than favourable. A Union Flag - being flown from the end of Sharon’s support kayak - was suddenly blown away, as the toughest section of the course had a sting in its tail.

“What the hell is this?” thought Sharon as she was guided into the centre of the wide Hudson River, with ferries moving left and right from numerous piers. Moreover, the wind was blowing in the opposite direction to the tidal current, causing choppy water and steeper waves coming from different angles.

“I couldn’t find my stroke. It was like swimming in a washing machine, much worse than anything I’d faced in the Channel. Feeling nauseous, I shouted to my team that I’d had enough. My husband Lee reminded me that I knew it was going to be like this, and I just had to get on with it.”

“So I just got my head down. I was more annoyed, but I just pulled one arm over the other and moved through the water.”

Sharon was travelling along the Hudson River at an average of 6.2km/h, but despite her speed, Sharon said it was “horrible”, though the sight of them famous Lower Manhattan skyline coming into view gave her confidence.

“I knew that I was never going to give up.”

The course remained choppy until the very end. Aided by a regular diet of chocolate whilst treading water, Sharon returned to Pier A at 5:38pm, completing her loop of Manhattan Island in 8 hours and 28 minutes.

“A whistle signalled the finish. Soon I was back on the boat and a medal was hung around my neck. The organisation was fantastic. They were so supportive, fun and knowledgeable. The last three hours in the Hudson River had exhausted Sharon, who went straight back to her hotel to eat and sleep.

“I thought about how lucky I was to be one of only 15 British people to be invited to attempt this iconic swim this year. I am so pleased that my swimming is inspiring others, including close friends to take on their own open water challenges.”

“We went out the next day to celebrate, wandering around and seeing the sights on foot. We finished the day with cocktails at a bar called Bar Revival, which seemed fitting!”

Sharon’s second major swimming accomplishment has opened up the door to an achievement that only roughly 50 women globally have ever completed - the open water triple crown. 

“I would be silly not to give it a go!” said Sharon, but she intends to gain a good amount of rest first. “The third marathon swim to complete is the Catalina Channel in California.”

You wouldn’t bet against Sharon managing it, but for now, it’s back to her simple life of dog walking, hairdressing and sea swimming in the South Hams.