Marcella A. MacDonald, D.P.M. MacEChan@comcast.net
Date of Birth: November 24, 1963 Birth Place: Manchester, CT
Swimming in the purest form: one bathing suit, cap and goggles (NO Wet-suits or performance enhancements)
Dream, Prepare, Succeed
On dry land, I care for my patients in my Manchester, CT podiatric medical practice (1992-present) and I coach swimming, teaching the fundamentals to young, novice 6-8-year-old swimmers on the Laurel East Hartford YMCA Swim Team.
I train for my open water swims in the early morning, before patient hours and on the weekends at the CT State Park/Shore. I enjoy speaking to schools and interested groups about my open water swimming adventures in the English Channel, Manhattan, Jersey England and other destinations.
My latest Aqua-adventure/challenge:
Tampa Bay Marathon Swim: Tampa Bay Florida
Success: December 31,2017: 9 hours, 13 minutes
PERFECT Conditions
Ka’iwi Channel Hawaiian Channel: Molokai’ to O’ahu
Success: April 9-10, 2016 17 hours, 27 minutes, 20 seconds (but who’s counting seconds) Tandem/partner swim with Elizabeth A. Fry
This is one of the most un-predictable swims I have ever done; the shortest distance between the 2 Hawaiian Islands is 26 miles but because of the open water of the Pacific Ocean, creating such intense surf, the beaches are mostly
un-sheltered on both sides; the starting and finishing points are not predictable until the day of the swim (safe entry and exit is a key component).
Our swim, started at Kapuhi Beach, Molokai’ (9 pm) and we finished at Sandy Beach O’ahu, approximately a 34-mile course. This explains why, there is such a variety of crossing times, and really time matters naught, the goal is to get across.
My true description of the swim "FUN, HORRIBLE, BEAUTIFUL, SCARY, LONG- so glad it's over "
Swim the length of Loch Ness.
Success: August 2, 2015 11 hours, 59 minutes 1st American/ oldest individual to complete
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Inverness. Its surface is 52 ft (15.8 m) above sea level.
Loch Ness is best known for alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie".
It is connected at the southern end by the River Oich and a section of the Caledonian Canal to Loch Oich. At the northern end there is the Bona Narrows which opens out into Loch Dochfour, which feeds the River Ness and a further section of canal to Inverness. It is one of a series of interconnected, murky bodies of water in Scotland; its water visibility is exceptionally low due to a high peat content in the surrounding soil.
Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 56.4 km2 (21.8 sq mi) after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume.
Its deepest point is 755 ft (230 m), making it the second deepest loch in Scotland after Loch Morar.
It contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, and is the largest body of water on the Great Glen Fault, which runs from Inverness in the north to Fort William in the south.
English Channel: The Mount Everest of Open Water Swims
This is the 18.2 nautical miles which is approximately 21 land miles stretch of water that connects the shores of England to France.
The shortest distance across the Channel is from Shakespeare Beach, Dover, to Cap Gris Nez (the headland halfway between Calais and Boulogne).
Most of the England/France swims start from Shakespeare Beach or from Abbotts Cliff between one hour before high water and one hour after high water.
The swimmer must endure the cool seas, ranging between 54°F and 64.5°F (15°C to 18°C), for between 10 to 20 hours, making hypothermia a major consideration.
The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with approximately 600 vessels moving up and down them every day, plus the ferries, seacats and jetfoils crossing between England and France at very regular intervals.
Channel swims differ from other swims of this distance by their complexity and the local environment. The Channel has quite a lot of hazards such as seaweed and flotsam and jetsam (rubbish and timbers, etc.). It usually has a swell and when the wind is in the opposite direction to the tide it can turn quite choppy. The weather can be uncertain, with unexpected changes in local conditions in as short as 30 minutes. The swim is every bit a mental swim, especially while swimming in the darkness of night or fog. There is an element of luck involved in getting everything to fall right on the day.
The swimmer can only wear a swim suit, swim cap and goggles, NO wetsuits are permitted.
A solo crossing starts the moment the swimmer enters the water off the English shores. During the swim, nourishment must be taken in without touching or holding onto the boat.
The crossing is complete and successful when the swimmer walks or climbs onto the French land without assistance. This is why it is one of the ultimate challenges.
Swims are sanctioned by the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (CS&PF), www.channelswimming.net, or the Channel Swimming Association (CSA). My Team has consisted primarily of my Pilot/Captain: Michael Oram and my crew chief and life-partner: Janet Galya.
Solo crossings: England to France
June 30, 1994 England-France: 10 hrs. 33 mins. (CSA)
July 28, 1997 E-F: 12 hrs. 57 mins (CSA)
August 7, 2000 E-F: 9 hrs. 42 mins (CSA)
July 27-28, 2001 E-F: 9 hrs. 53 minutes
F-E: 11 hrs. 26 min
Total Time: 21 hours 19 minutes (CS&PF)
First American Woman to complete Double
July 6, 2003 E-F: 10 hrs. 27 mins (CS&PF)
6th: Most Solo Crossings for an American Woman
Sept 3-4, 2004 E-F 11 hrs. 14 min
F-E 11 hours 46 minutes
Total time 23 hours (CS&PF)
July 31, 2007 E-F: 13 hrs. 25 mins (CS&PF)
August 2, 2009 E-F: 11 hrs. 31 mins (CS&PF)
June 26, 2011 E-F: 10 hrs. 34 min. 34 sec (CS&PF)
October 2, 2011 E-F: 11 hrs. 51 min (CS&PF)
August 22, 2013 E-F: 11 hrs. 55 min. 15 sec
F-E: 12 hrs. 21 min. (CS&PF)
Total Time: 24 hrs. 16 min 15 sec
June 30, 2014 E-F: 11 hrs. 50 min (CS&PF)
#15: Over-all American Record
July 20-21, 2003 double Crossing Relay 20 hours 18 minutes (CS&PF)
Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (www.swimnyc.org)
28.5 mile swim around the island of Manhattan, NY.
This is our longest and premier event of the summer swim season, a full counter-clockwise circumnavigation of the island of Manhattan.
Seasonal Temperatures from 64/67°F (17/19°C) in June, and into the mid 70's for a July swim. There can be a substantial amount of chop in the water from wind, tide action, and boat traffic. The waterways are salt water and there is shipping traffic. There may be random jetsam and flotsam in the waterways.
This is a very interesting swim with many sites to pass by and bridges to swim under.
The swim begins at Battery Park, the most southern local of the island.
The race moves east and turns north into the east river. The Brooklyn Bridge is the 1st pass under as the swimmer catches the fast currents of the East River.
Following the East Highway, the swimmer will move into the Harlem river after going through Hell's Gate, the junction of water from the Long Island Sound and the Harlem River.
This area can be very turbulent for the swimmer and escort boats.
The Harlem River moves slower than the East River. The swimmer now travels under the lower bridges connecting Manhattan to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium is a welcome site to see as the swim progresses toward the northern tip of the island and landmark, Spyten Divil. The swimmer now encounters the lower railroad bridge, navigation can be stressful because they must separate from their escort boat and meet them on the other side of the bridge in the Hudson River.
The final leg of the race, is long especially traveling from the rail bridge to the George Washington Bridge. The GWB towers over the river, connecting Manhattan to the state of New Jersey. The swimmer can have very choppy seas here in the Hudson and may have to wait for the cruise ships to depart from the mid-Manhattan docks before continuing toward the finish. The Twin Towers (prior to 2001) was always a welcome sight to swimmers, signaling the final mile to the finish, but the Sept. 11th tragedy changed that welcomed landmark.
The development of Battery Park City has given a better vantage point for spectators to cheer on the swimmers to the finish line. This is a challenging, fun swim for any open water swimmer.
August 21, 1993 7 hrs. 38.05 mins Race highlighted in the Discovery Film, "The Big Swim"
August 20, 1994 7 hrs. 34.52 mins
June 12, 1999 7 hrs. 13.04 mins
June 17, 2000 8 hrs. 20.54 mins
June 06, 2009 7 hrs. 48.59 mins
Swim Across the Sound (www.swimacrossthesound.org):
A 17 mile swim across Long Island Sound.
The swim begins off Port Jefferson, NY and finishes across the sound at Captain's Cove in Bridgeport CT. Not only is this a physical accomplishment, the swim is a wonderful way to help people suffering with cancer.
The swim is a major fundraiser for the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation of Bridgeport, CT.
Crossings
August 10, 2002 7 hours 18 minutes Only Amateur Swimmer in a field of 17 professionals (15th place)
August 9, 2003 5.5 hour swim time: Race called due to Electrical Storm
August 2011 2 person relay
August 3, 2013 9 hrs. 40 min Solo
August 2014 6 person/ “you are not alone”
Relay: Pulled due to poor conditions
July 2016: 2-person relay with my twin sister, Elizabeth Collins (8 hours 2 minutes) i was so very proud of my sister, coming back to the water.
Round Jersey (UK) Swim:
Round Jersey swims traditionally start from Elizabeth Castle breakwater where you set off in an anti-clockwise direction around the island until you arrive back at the breakwater about 10-12 hours later.
The Round Jersey swim takes in some beautiful scenery including long sandy beaches and rolling cliffs on the north coast. The scenery and location make this swim very unique and the friendly atmosphere of the club is very welcoming. The swim is 41 miles in total, which may sound like a long way, but it is tidally assisted. On a strong tidal run the swimmer will be moving at almost 6 knots.
June 2010: 9 hrs. 59mins
Maui Channel: Hawaii:
The race course officially starts at the pier at Club Lanai on the island of Lanai and ends on the beach in front of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel on the island of Maui. The distance between start and finish as "the bird flies" is approximately 9.9 miles.
Sept. 2010: 6 hrs. 45 min
Catalina Channel Crossing: 20.1 miles from Catalina Island to the shores of San Pedro, Calif.
June 25, 2013: 12 hrs. 09 mins
Other Swims and milestones, training and development swims for future English Channel swims
May 2006 Induction: International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Lake Sunapee, NH September 1993
10 hour qualifying swim, 60 degree water highlighted in the book "Dover Solo" (www.doversolo.com)
1991 and earlier
Boston Harbor Swim: Boston, MA: 10 miles: 3 times
Egg Rock Scramble: Lynn, MA: 5 miles: 3 times
Candlewood Lake: Danbury, CT: 10 miles: 3 times
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Swim: Maryland: 4.5 miles: 1 time
May 1989
New York College of Podiatric Medicine: New York, NY Graduated with the degree: Doctoral of Podiatric Medicine
May 1985
American International College: Springfield, MA
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts
Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry and Mathematics
All-Conference: Softball: 1985
All-American Honorable Mention; Softball: 1985
June 1981
Manchester High School: Manchester, CT
Graduated with honors
All-Conference: Girls Swimming: 1978,'79,'80
All-Conference: Softball: 1980,'81
All-State: Softball: Catcher: 1980
