Congratulations to Mr. Paul Leonard on completing the Tsugaru Strait!

With the Tsugaru strait cross swim under his belt, he is now an OCEANS SEVEN ACHIEVER!!!

Swim date: 19 June 2026

Age: 54

Nationality: UK

Country of Residence: UK

Swim Start Time: 04:07

Swim Finish Time: 15:25

Completion Time: 11 hours 45 minutes 43 seconds

Swim Distance: approximately 40.5km

Swimming Style: Free style

Water Temperature: 17.0℃ – 20.5℃ *Sea Surface Temperature

Air Temperature: 17.1℃ – 26.5℃

Relative Humidity: 42％ – 94％

Wave Height: 0m – 0.5m

Wind Speed: 0m – 5.1m

Stroke Rate Per 60 seconds: 62 – 70

Swimmer’s comment
Tsugaru Strait — completed 🌊
What an incredible, challenging and unforgettable experience. The swim started in tough conditions with a lively chop and water around 18°C, but the conditions changed quickly and the temperature dropped as the swim progressed. The chop stayed with us, but it also helped push me in the right direction, and the focus was simply on staying composed, swimming well and adapting to what the ocean gave us.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. Channel swimming is never a solo achievement — the training, preparation, support, encouragement and belief from so many people make these moments happen.

A very special thank you to TSSF for their professionalism, patience and incredible support throughout the day. The knowledge, experience and care shown by the team were outstanding and gave me the confidence to keep moving forward through every challenge.

Thank you to my coaches, family, friends, supporters and everyone who has followed the journey. The Oceans Seven dream has been a long road, filled with highs, lows and lessons, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of it.

Observer’s comment
I was impressed by the sincere and thoughtful way Paul answered each question during the briefing, despite slight apprehension.
On the morning of the swim, there was a healthy sense of anticipation, but he looked to be in good condition and well prepared for the challenge ahead.
The first half of the swim progressed smoothly, but the second half became much more demanding as Paul encountered strong tidal currents. In particular, at the tide line, even the briefest pause would have caused him to be swept backwards, so he kept his feeding stops as short as possible and continued pushing forward. It was inspiring to watch him overcome such difficult conditions, and once he had cleared the strongest current, he was able to continue steadily to the finish.
Immediately after completing the swim, Paul was clearly exhausted and experienced some muscle cramps caused by the cold water. However, after warming up, he gradually recovered, and it was a relief to see him looking much better by the time he returned to the Kodomari port.
One of the most memorable aspects of this swim was watching Paul and his support crew member, Andrew, working together towards the same goal with complete trust in one another. Their strong bond as father and son was truly inspiring, and I believe it was that relationship which helped make this remarkable achievement possible.
Paul and Andrew, congratulations on your successful Tsugaru Strait crossing and on completing the Oceans Seven! It was an honour to witness your incredible achievement.
Observer: Fumiaki Ōnishi