Albion Star Team - Astounding Swim Completed across St. Brides Bay, Pembrokeshire, June 2025
An enthusiastic swimming team, Albion Star, has successfully swum across St. Brides Bay this week at its widest point – over 15 kilometres – in under 5 hours. The relay team of four was made up of strong and experienced cold-water sea swimmers: Laura Voller, Elspeth Lewis, Fiona Coombs, and David Anderson.
The team name Albion Star is derived from two passenger steamships. The SS Albion floundered in Jack Sound in 1837 and sank on a beach adjacent to Marloes (now called Albion Sands), while the SS Guiding Star floundered after hitting a rock in Ramsey Sound in 1885, eventually sinking on Whitesands beach. All souls were saved. Both wrecks can still be seen to this day at low tide. As the team swam across St. Brides Bay, they wanted to create a symbolic connection between North and South Pembrokeshire – hence the name Albion Star.
Skipper Padrig from St David’s Blue Shark Charters was outstanding, enabling a safe crossing along with a marvellous support crew: Maggie Fitzpatrick, Debbie Cranmer, and Jo Sharp. The team was also joined by a pod of dolphins, gannets, puffins, and other seabirds along the way.
Expedition leader and local mum Laura Voller said, “We really pushed it hard on the water to achieve sub-5 hours. The bar has been set for other swimmers to come to St. Brides Bay to beat this record. This will provide a much-needed boost to local sea businesses. It was a complete dream to have raised so much money for young people’s mental health across Pembrokeshire.”
It all started at Martin’s Haven and ended with a super welcoming crowd on Carfai Bay beach.
There were a few jellyfish stings, as the team didn’t use wetsuits. They have raised nearly £1,200 for Megan’s Starr Foundation. Megan sadly took her own life aged 14 after being cyberbullied and struggling with her mental health. This wonderful organisation, set up by her mother Nicola Harteveld, provides safe and supported places for young people to meet up in Pembrokeshire.
Nicola Harteveld, CEO of Megan’s Starr Foundation, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to the Albion Star team for choosing to support our foundation with such an inspiring challenge. Their strength, spirit, and compassion have not only raised vital funds, but also awareness of the mental health crisis facing young people today. We are truly blown away by what they’ve achieved and look forward to welcoming them soon to The Dizzy Bear by Megan's Starr for a special thank-you.”
This was a significant challenge, and we hope that money will continue to be raised for Megan’s Starr Foundation. The JustGiving link is shown below:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/relayswim?utm_medium=TE&utm_source=CL
The team name Albion Star is derived from two passenger steamships. The SS Albion floundered in Jack Sound in 1837 and sank on a beach adjacent to Marloes (now called Albion Sands), while the SS Guiding Star floundered after hitting a rock in Ramsey Sound in 1885, eventually sinking on Whitesands beach. All souls were saved. Both wrecks can still be seen to this day at low tide. As the team swam across St. Brides Bay, they wanted to create a symbolic connection between North and South Pembrokeshire – hence the name Albion Star.
Skipper Padrig from St David’s Blue Shark Charters was outstanding, enabling a safe crossing along with a marvellous support crew: Maggie Fitzpatrick, Debbie Cranmer, and Jo Sharp. The team was also joined by a pod of dolphins, gannets, puffins, and other seabirds along the way.
Expedition leader and local mum Laura Voller said, “We really pushed it hard on the water to achieve sub-5 hours. The bar has been set for other swimmers to come to St. Brides Bay to beat this record. This will provide a much-needed boost to local sea businesses. It was a complete dream to have raised so much money for young people’s mental health across Pembrokeshire.”
It all started at Martin’s Haven and ended with a super welcoming crowd on Carfai Bay beach.
There were a few jellyfish stings, as the team didn’t use wetsuits. They have raised nearly £1,200 for Megan’s Starr Foundation. Megan sadly took her own life aged 14 after being cyberbullied and struggling with her mental health. This wonderful organisation, set up by her mother Nicola Harteveld, provides safe and supported places for young people to meet up in Pembrokeshire.
Nicola Harteveld, CEO of Megan’s Starr Foundation, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to the Albion Star team for choosing to support our foundation with such an inspiring challenge. Their strength, spirit, and compassion have not only raised vital funds, but also awareness of the mental health crisis facing young people today. We are truly blown away by what they’ve achieved and look forward to welcoming them soon to The Dizzy Bear by Megan's Starr for a special thank-you.”
This was a significant challenge, and we hope that money will continue to be raised for Megan’s Starr Foundation. The JustGiving link is shown below:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/relayswim?utm_medium=TE&utm_source=CL