The toughest day trip

At 44 years of age, Mark Honeyman is already a veteran of endurance events on and off Lanzarote. But this May he hopes to complete a challenge that has never been achieved before – a return swimming journey to Fuerteventura.

The annual one-way race between the islands is reserved for elite athletes, so swimming both ways is certain to be a gruelling challenge, covering at least 30 kilometres in half a day. We talked to Mark to find a little more about it.

What do you do on Lanzarote, Mark?

This year I’ll have been living on Lanzarote for 19 years with my wife Sabrina. Between us we clean apartments, villas, pools, and spas for owners of second homes and complexes with tourists enjoying their holidays. It’s a busy, busy lifestyle, especially when it’s combined with training and some down time, but we love our life here and the journey that has got us to this point.

How long have you been distance swimming?

Since me and my coach Paul Cardwell-Hounam from Swim Lanzarote completed a marathon swim years ago, doing a 10-km non-wetsuit swim in Puerto del Carmen. Ive been addicted to the family of Swim Lanzarote and long-distance swimming ever since.

What made you think of this challenge?

I was looking for another challenge, one that would hopefully be a first. Having done all the usual races and challenges, I found myself looking for another challenge that I haven’t yet done. Then it dawned on me – the only challenge I haven’t yet done is the one that isn’t available. The one in my head that pushes me to go further.

So here I am.

I’ve already completed the distance from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura one-way, swimming in the Bocaina 15 in October 2022, but then it occurred to me that I’d never heard of anyone swimming there and back.

It’s a purely personal challenge. I’ve often run for charity in the past, and completed the London Marathon twice for good causes, but this challenge, with all the training and hard work, is just about me. It’s personal.

There must be easier ways to save a day return fare on the ferry, Mark. What are the risks?

The main obstacle is, without a doubt. The one way swim is known as the Bocaina 15 because it’s 15 kilometres between both islands. But that’s a straight line, as the crow flies, and in reality, you swim a lot further because tides and currents are always changing. And the longer you’re swimming, the more this is an issue.

For that reason, I’ve been advised by my coach Paul from Swim Lanzarote to start from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote and then back to Fuerteventura because of the conditions at the time of the year.

How long will it take?

I finished the Bocaina 15 in just over 5 hours, so we would be looking at between 12 – 13 hours for both ways. Hence why we are planning complete this with the maximum amount of daylight for safety. Honestly, though, now I have this accomplishment in my sights time will not be an issue for me. Only completing the challenge.

Do you get bored when spending so much time in the water?

Not on the day of the challenge, no. I’m excited, I’m nervous, I have a lot of adrenaline. During all the training, yes, I have to admit that the sea swims can get boring because of the amount of time I have to be in the water. I like to swim with different swimmers, practice my nutrition for the day, and look at all the coral and different fish. I manage.

Whales and even sharks are often seen in the Bocaina Strait. Do you ever see animals or birds on such a swim?

Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of angel sharks and rays, but Ive never come face to face with a whale. I love it when the gulls perch on the buoys, especially when they’re brave enough to stay put as I pass them within 2 meters.

I do fear being in deep water, on my own, without other swimmers, but this is something I have to overcome for this challenge. I’ll be accompanied by a boat in any case, and hopefully we won’t see any other type of sharks.

How do you prepare immediately before such a challenge?

I’m grateful and fortunate to be medically and physically fit. I’ve done marathons, Ironman races and loads of other triathlons, as well as other swims, so I know what I’m doing. For me, sleep is really, really important, as well as the nutrition to feed the body and muscles.

For this reason, as in training, preparation for the one or two days before is so important for such a long swim.

What long term preparation is involved?

Ive been doing endurance sports now for almost 10 years. From the first marathon, here in Lanzarote 10 years ago, to Ironman races here, in Barcelona and the UK, and all the middle and smaller distances, in between. It’s never been competitive for me.

I’ve never pitted myself against other people. Instead, I’ve always tried to better myself.

But that doesn’t mean I’m alone. I owe a huge amount to my coach, Paul from Swim Lanzarote. He’s the reason why I finished my first Ironman on Lanzarote and, if I complete this, he’ll also be one of the main reasons.