Isle of Man

AROUND THE ISLE OF MAN (IN STAGES)
(13-22 June 1930)

Pilot: T. Lee (Coxswain of Douglas lifeboat)
Assistant Pilot: W. Lee (son of above)
Boat owner (on board during swim): William Cunningham of Carrick, Lewaigne (yacht :Talofa Too)
Official observers: T.A. Quayle, W.T. Quayle, T.W. Drennan, E. Corlett, W. Grice, G. Kelly, W. Thompson and J.O. Smith
Official time-keeper and log- keeper: Representative from the Isle of Man Examiner
Female attendants during different stages of swim: Miss Purcell (from Ramsay); Mrs M. Black A.R.A.M (from Ramsay); Miss Ida Cleator (from Ballakeil).

Story of the first stages of the swim published in the Isle of Man Examiner on 20 June 1930 and in a later edition after completion of the swim, combined with a report in The Courier on 16 June 1930.

Friday, 13th June: A large crowd had assembled on Victoria Pier for the start of the swim, and Councillor William Quirk, the Mayor of Douglas, spoke the last word of good cheer and encouragement. At two minutes to eight Mercedes plunged from the steps at the extreme end of the north side of the Pier into the waters of Douglas Bay. Conditions were as near to perfect as could be hoped for at this time of the year. The sea was calm, with not a breath of wind, and it was bathed in glorious sunshine. Superstition gave her no mental anxiety for she simply pooh-poohed the idea that she was flirting with ill luck by starting off on such an important task on the 13th day of the month, and on a Friday at that! She struck out towards Clay Head and steadily increased the gap between herself and the Pier with smooth, rhythmic breaststrokes, averaging 28 to 30 per minute. When abreast of the Tower of Refuge the pilot set his course due north.

Mercedes kept up a running conversation with her escort in the small boat and was hungry for knowledge about Douglas, the Island generally, and the history and customs of the Manx people. At 9 o’clock she was well clear of the Bay, and was given a drink of Bovril. She continued to forge ahead to the accompaniment of several waltz tunes on the gramophone, and whilst swimming below the Howstrake Holiday Camp a group of young campers lined the cliff tops to give the swimmer a series of rousing cheers – to which she happily responded with a wave of her arm. Broken water was encountered off Groudle Beach, and the temperature of the water was taken at that point and found to be exactly 50 degrees. The waters in this, her second sea swim of 1930, were still very cold. When approaching Laxey, the speedboat I’m Alone brought extra stores, and Mercedes was given hot milk, sugar and a small amount of brandy to try and dispel the effects of the very cold water. After crossing Laxey Bay the water again became calm, and although progress was a little slower it was fairly steady. Port Cornaa was reached about 1.15 p.m.

The prospect of an early arrival at Ramsey looked good, but suddenly the conditions deteriorated, causing the swimmer to be badly buffeted about, with the small boat beginning to ship water. However, she expressed her determination to get round Maughold Head to discover what lay the other side. The representative from The IoM Examiner said that for the first time on this venture Mercedes revealed some of her indomitable courage and amazing stamina, for she had to fight her way slowly onward in the face of extreme difficulty before passing under Maughold Lighthouse just before three o’clock. Her gallant effort was witnessed by a number of onlookers who clambered along the headlands and spurred her on with shouts of encouragement, and the lighthouse keepers showed their appreciation by greeting her with loud blasts of the foghorn. Mercedes later revealed that she was completely exhausted in spirit and body just before reaching Maughold, and the sound of the fog signal and the cheers of the spectators were the factors which enabled her to keep going and safely negotiate Maughold Head.

A course was taken due north and it was deemed advisable to end the first stage immediately Ramsey Bay came into full view, which they did. Mr Cunningham was dispatched in his speed boat to Ramsay Harbour to bring back a lady attendant (Miss Purcell) as well as a plentiful supply of hot water bottles and blankets. In the meantime the Yacht Irene stood by in case help was needed at short notice. At 4.15 p.m. the navigator took bearings to fix his exact position near Stack Mooar, and Mercedes was assisted into the pilot boat. Taking her out of the water proved a difficult task because she was paralysed with the cold. Two of the observers had to dive in and help get her on to the deck. Miss Purcell and others spent an hour restoring her circulation. A big crowd was waiting at Queen’s Pier when she eventually stepped ashore to a warm welcome from the people of Ramsay. Hospitality was extended to her by the Mitre Hotel and a car was placed at her disposal by the proprietors of the Dawson Bros. Garage.

On this first stage of the journey around the Isle of Man Mercedes was in the water for eight hours and seventeen minutes, and she covered a distance of approximately seventeen miles.

Saturday, 14th June: There was not a vestige of fatigue about Mercedes when she left the Mitre Hotel shortly after one o’clock and walked to the quayside to board the pilot boat, but the buffeting of the waves at Maughold the previous afternoon had caused injury to her eye, and it was swathed in bandages until she was ready to resume her swim. Also the sun’s rays had sorely troubled her on the previous day, and so she wore a veil for her swim today. Mrs M. Black, A.R.A.M. joined the crew to render assistance if necessary. After diving into the water at the spot where she was taken out the previous day Mercedes came up gasping at the intense cold. However, she struck out hard in the direction of Douglas until she gradually grew accustomed to the low temperature, and she was then set on her course for Shellag Point. Progress was satisfactory and, excepting for the cold, she had good conditions and a fairly comfortable swim. Mr Cleary’s yacht Caribon acted as an extra escort, and Mr Lee’s navigation again proved sound and reliable, for in three hours Mercedes had reached the Point of Ayre. The rounding of the Point was considered too risky an undertaking because of the state of the tide, and a decision was made to take her out of the water at a point about two hundred yards on the east side of the Point. This task was safely accomplished and a return was made to Ramsey. This second leg of the round trip lasted from 2.30 p.m. to 5.45 p.m. and she covered a distance of about eight miles.

Sunday, 15th June: A little anxiety was mingled with the excitement, which marked the preparations for this next stage of the journey. Conflicting opinions prevailed as to the wisdom of trying to swim around the Point of Ayre at the selected hour (half an hour before high water), and a not inconsiderable body of opinion definitely held that it was a mad venture to try and swim around the Point at any time! But the lightkeeper’s reports were favourable, and the navigator quietly confident and not anticipating failure, while Mercedes herself showed little or no concerns.

Owing to a heavy swell and a strong tide it was considered wiser to row the swimmer to the shore and let her wade out into the breakers, rather than run the risk of injury while leaving the tossing ship’s side covered in grease. The greasing and other operations excited the interest of the crowd, and cameras were clicking very rapidly as she carefully waded out into the breakers and commenced swimming at 2.19 p.m. Hugging the shore as closely as possible she experienced little difficulty in making progress, and relief was expressed on all sides when the lighthouse keepers, who had kept up a flag signal to keep the pilot boat informed as to conditions, indicated that the actual Point had been passed after little more than half an hour’s swimming. As time went on, however, it become clear that the Point was not the danger zone at all. The real trouble started as Mercedes tried to battle ahead after passing the Point, for it was painfully obvious that she was practically stationary and the tideway was running her gradually seawards.

An augmented crew had been shipped for this particular day, and everything was done to entertain Mercedes and urge her to put forth her very best efforts, but the various eddies and currents seemed to be superior to human strength and endurance, and hour after hour slipped by with no progress to show. After about four hours desperately struggling against these odds Mercedes was piloted nearer the shoreline with barely four or five feet of water below her. It was found that this was the weak spot in the tide and some little progress was made.

It cheered Mercedes to be able to hear the conversation of those on shore, and she asked if everybody would join in singing Ellan Vannin, the Manx National Anthem. This was done again and again, and the effect was splendid, for she proceeded to draw steadily nearer Rue Point and was swimming strongly for the actual Point at about nine o’clock. When everything promised to end very happily after all, another stiff obstacle arose. This time it was decided not to try and surmount it on this leg. The tide suddenly came rushing around Rue Point like a mill stream, and quick plans to get Mercedes out of the water had to be devised. A young lady, Miss Ida Cleator of Ballakeil, was summoned from the shore and she readily volunteered to go out to the pilot boat and give assistance. While she was being taken aboard two of the observers dived in and seized Mercedes and helped her into the boat at 9.32 p.m. The procedure was carried out with all possible haste, but so fierce was the run of the tide that from the point where she actually ceased swimming (and where bearings were taken for the next day) to the point where she was taken on board, the distance was half a mile – the current having swept the boats and swimmer back off their course for that expanse.

Altogether this was a perilous day for Mercedes, but it was yet to prove an adventurous one for everybody, for when darkness closed in and the pilot boat set off for Peel, a sudden gale was encountered and heavy seas were shipped. Some anxiety was felt in Peel at the non-arrival of Mercedes, and the motor yacht Quest put out in search of the pilot boat. Peel was eventually reached shortly after midnight, and the breakwater – even at that hour – was black with people, who gave Mercedes a great cheer as she was assisted ashore by Mr W. Jenkinson, C.T.C., and Mr A. Brown, Chairman of the Peel Advertising Board. At the Peel Castle Hotel, Mr and Mrs Cowin – who acted as hosts to Mercedes whilst in Peel – had a warm meal ready, and this most eventful day ended quite happily for all concerned.

Monday, 16th June: The adventures of yesterday were followed by uneventful but steady progress. Mercedes started swimming from Rue Point at 1.20 p.m. in water less cold than on the former days. At 4 p.m. she enjoyed a meal of beans, bread and butter and coffee, and at 6.15 she drew closer to the pilot ship in order to hear the results of the Lightweight T.T. on the wireless. A trouble-free swim continued up to 9.20 p.m. and she was taken from the water at Kirk Michael. Peel was again the headquarters for the night. On arrival at the Peel Castle Hotel hundreds of people assembled outside and refused to disperse until Mercedes had spoken to them from the window. After thanking the people of Peel for their kind reception, she asked them to sing Ellan Vannin.

Tuesday, 17th June: The best day so far. Mercedes walked into water at 2.00 p.m. The temperature was 62 degrees and the sea was perfectly calm. She was able to swim close to the shore, and passed many bathing parties on the way down the coast. A treat in the form of a basket of crayfish was sent on board the pilot boat by the Manx Princes, and these were cooked and served to Mercedes with bread and butter and coffee. Progress was steady, and when Peel was reached she was escorted across the bay by a large fleet of rowing boats and yachts. At the breakwater a huge crowd broke into cheers as she passed in the direction of Contrary Head, and hundreds of people scrambled along the rocks under Peel Castle to follow her progress. Her interest in all disciplines of sport being keen, when she heard the portable wireless announcement that England had won the Test match, it seemed to energise her further. Contrary Head was reached at 8.30 p.m. and she was taken from the water. The population of Peel again turned out to greet her, and Mr Christopher Shimmin M.H.K. gave a brief speech of welcome. The same scenes of enthusiasm were enacted outside the hotel and, once again, the crowd sang Ellan Vannin.

Wednesday, 18th June: Mercedes swam from 10.50 a.m. to 8.20 p.m. and covered the first stage from Contrary Head to Port Erin Bay. The water was icy cold and she confessed later that she was strongly tempted to give up during the first two hours because of the pain caused by the low temperature. However, she persevered, but had a particularly hard struggle rounding Bradda Head against the tide. Port Erin gave her a grand reception when she landed and she was driven to the Eagle Hotel as the guest of Mr & Mrs Orton. Several Port Erin Commissioners officially welcomed her, and Mr J. S. Kermode made a speech of greeting. The crowd sang Ellan Vannin twice while she sat at the window showing them her appreciation.

Thursday, 19th June: Mercedes had a day of enforced idleness owing to the pilot boat being required in Douglas in connection with the outboard racing. As always, she was well looked after by the Manx people during her sojourn, and in the evening she was the guest of honour at a dinner party arranged by Mr & Mrs Orton at which a number of Commissioners from Port Erin and Port St. Mary attended to wish her success in her venture.

Friday, 20th June: The day of rest was followed by a gruelling four hours in turbulent seas. After setting off from Bradda Head about mid-day, Mercedes made slow progress across Port Erin Bay. As she drew near to the Calf of Man the weather became worse and a strong south-westerly wind, a choppy sea, and pouring rain subjected her to the most severe experience in the whole swim. At the entrance to the Sound, the sea was frothing and huge waves were rolling through at a fierce speed. It would have been suicidal to attempt to go through the Sound, and, with great difficulty, Mercedes was taken out of the water at Kitterland. The pilot boat had quite a perilous journey through the rough seas to Port St. Mary, but Mercedes quickly recovered despite the boat being tossed about like a cork. She put up for the night at the Golf Links Hotel.

Saturday, 21st June: This was the penultimate stage of the swim, and, after setting out at noon, Mercedes successfully got round the Sound after a terrific battle with wind and wave, and safely reached Langness.

Sunday, 22nd June: In the afternoon she set out on the final stage of the sea journey, swimming from Langness to Douglas. During the last hours of the swim it was thought she was not going to make it, as the wind had risen and the sea was very choppy. From a point at Santon she could not be fed, and from Port Soderick she could not be seen at times. The waves were dashing over the yacht and fears were felt for her safety, as it would have been impossible for the pilot boat to pick her up. Mercedes, however, swam on through it all and reached Douglas exactly five hours after leaving Langness. Mercedes received a great ovation at Douglas from a large crowd, and was congratulated by the Mayor, Mr William Quirk JP, for her fine achievement.

The most difficult stages of the swim were at the Point of Ayre, the Sound, and Langness to Douglas.
Share by: