Matthew Clarke
Matthew Clarke is an escort pilot from Jersey and a member of the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club since 6 July 2014. He runs Lionheart Pilotage, a commercial charter vessel specializing in open water swimming pilotage.
He was born in Jersey to a boating family. His passion for the sea was cemented at a very early age, acquiring his first small boat at the age of 10, allowing short, single handed trips out of his home port of St. Aubin. The arrival of his first engine powered craft at the age of 12, extended his range out to several miles along the south coast of Jersey to the popular fishing grounds of Corbiere.
In the 30 years since, Clarke has gathered much offshore experience, skippering open RIBs across the English Channel and as far afield as Paris, a 1400 km round trip.
Back in Channel Island waters, his knowledge of the rocks, reefs and world renowned tides has been formalized by being awarded the Jersey Boatmaster’s Certificate by the local Port Authority. This endorsement goes alongside 15 years of working through the RYA training scheme, obtaining the Advanced Powerboat certificate as well as accreditation for first aid, sea survival techniques and VHF operation. Culminating in the award of the commercially endorsed RYA/DoT Yachtmaster Offshore qualification, which permits Clarke to take passengers up to 60 miles from any safe haven.
Contents
Recent Open Water Swimming Highlights
- On 22 September 2022, he escorted Helen Betley on her J2F Jersey to France butterfly crossing.
- On 18 September 2022, he escorted Fernando Fer Espina from Spain on his J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 12 September 2022, he escorted Ross Wisby on his J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 10 September 2022, he escorted Kate Steels on her J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 26 August 2022, he escorted Steve Henigan on his Round Jersey circumnavigation swim around Jersey.
- On 23 August 2022, he escorted Amanda Bowden on her J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 16 August 2022, he escorted Connie Simons on her J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 14 August 2022, he escorted Kenneth Morrison on his Round Jersey circumnavigation swim around Jersey in 11 hours 11 minutes.
- On 12 August 2022, he escorted 71-year-old Chris Pitman on her Round Jersey circumnavigation swim around Jersey in 11 hours 32 minutes.
- On 1 August 2022, he escorted Nicolie Chaffe on her J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 23 July 2022, he escorted Simon Hagger, Stephen Gould, Jim Read, Zerrin Selen, and Eion Wallace on their Jersey-France-Jersey relay two-way crossing.
- On 19 July 2022, he escorted Brianna Thompson on her Guernsey to Jersey crossing.
- On 17 July 2022, he escorted Brianna Thompson on her J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 13 July 2022, he escorted the RG Mermaids with Deborah Vine, Catherine Stefanutti, Christine van der Spuy, and Justine Riley on their Round Guernsey circumnavigation swim.
- On 11 July 2022, he escorted the Deborah Vine, Catherine Stefanutti, Christine van der Spuy, Kate Curtis, and Heidi Skrzpek on their J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 7 July 2022, he escorted Stuart Cleworth, Louise Waugh, Ellie Bond, Colum McHugh, Peter Hitchings, and Paul Collins on their J2F Jersey to France relay crossing in 7 hours 40 minutes.
- On 4 July 2022, he escorted Two Buoys and a Gull Simon Cavill, Phil Gaudin, and Hayley Butlin on their J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 2 July 2022, he escorted Claire Poole on her J2F Jersey to France crossing.
- On 1 July 2022, he escorted Chris Tretheway, Rosie Foden, Joanne Green, Jackie Brandon, and Keith Lewis on their J2F Jersey to France relay crossing.
- On 23 June 2022, he escorted Guy Moar on his Guernsey to France crossing.
- On 14 June 2022, he escorted Iskander Sagarminaga on his Round Jersey circumnavigation swim around Jersey.
- On 7 September 2020, he escorted Nathalie Luisa on a record-setting crossing from Jersey to France in 5 hours 29 minutes.
Round Jersey Swims
- He escorted Andy Truscott on a 50.5 km training swim around Jersey in 10 hours 54 minutes in July 2018.
- He escorted Andy Truscott on his unprecedented 132 km Double Round Jersey in July 2018 with Alice Harvey and Chantelle Le Guilcher in 22 hours 6 minutes. Lap one was 10 hours 45 minutes; Lap two was 11 hours 42 minutes.
- He was the escort pilot for Better Late Than Never, a relay team that pioneered a two-way crossing between Jersey and France on 3 July 2017 in 16 hours 7 minutes. Swimmers Adrian Follain, Jenny FitzGerald, Martin Powell, Fay de Gruchy, John Asplet, and Chantelle Rose.
Guernsey to France Swim
- He piloted Amy Ennion to complete an unprecedented 48 km solo crossing from Guernsey to France in 15 hours 59 minutes 25 seconds on 15 June 2021.
External links
- Better Late Than Never News
- Sally Anne Minty-Gravett Does 66 km x 2 Within 72 Hours
- Daily News of Open Water Swimming
- 10 Top Men on a Hot Streak in Open Water Swimming – December 2022
- Matthew Clarke, Busy in the Channel Islands
- Denize le Pennec Kicked Off Something Special Around Jersey
- Nathalie Luisa Sets Jersey To France Record In 5 Hours 29 Minutes
- Lionheart Pilotage
- I Wanted To Say I Was The First Person To Do It ... Swim From Guernsey To France
- Lionheart Pilotage
- Round And Round He Goes, Andy Truscott Around Jersey
