Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata)
Kalna (West Bengal)-based Sayani Das (26) is the first Asian woman to swim the 34.5-km North Channel, a strait between Northern Ireland and Scotland. Notwithstanding freezing cold conditions, strong currents and gusty winds, on August 30 Sayani swam the channel braving box jellyfish and assorted marine species, in 13 hours 22 minutes 38 seconds.
This is the latest of this Bengal mermaid’s astounding mind over body feats. In April 2022, Sayani successfully swam the Molokai Channel between the islands of O’ahu and Molokai in Hawaii, USA. Previous records include traversing the Catalina Channel (2019), Cook Strait (2018) and the English Channel (2017). With her latest triumph, Sayani has crossed the milestone of being the first woman in Asia to swim across five of the Ocean Seven — a global 7-channel challenge devised in 2008 — with Tsugaru Channel (Japan) and the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain) next on her to-swim list.
Well aware of the North Channel’s average icy temperature of 13oC, Sayani started her acclimatisation and fitness routines for this swimathon two years ago, quitting her Bandhan Bank, Kolkata job to prepare for the challenge.
The younger of two daughters of Radheshyam Das, a retired government school headmaster and swimming coach, and homemaker Rupali Das, Sayani accredits her successes to her encouraging parents and a rigorous training regimen. “Swim marathons are expensive. I am very grateful to my parents, friends, schoolteachers, and well-wishers in Kalna and Kolkata who raised Rs.6.5 lakh towards my training and other expenses,” says Sayani, a history graduate of Netaji Subhas Open University with a Masters in anthropology awarded by Indira Gandhi National Open University.
Although somewhat dismayed by the indifference of corporate sponsors and state/Central governments to her record breaking swimathons, Sayani has nevertheless chalked up ambitious plans. “By 2026, I intend to complete the Ocean Seven global challenge and fulfill my dream of being inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Florida (USA). Following that, I plan to sign up for a doctorate programme in anthropology and also start coaching promising open-water swimmers from rural Bengal,” she says.
An inspiring mermaid, indeed!