From Mundaka to Guéthary, by Txomin Dachary

Txomin Dachary is a young Frenchman from Guéthary, a small village in between the French towns of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz. He is a volunteer fireman and lifesaving coach and he has been a swimmer from a young age as well as an outdoor sports enthusiast. Shortly after entering the brigade, a colleague was involved in an accident that left him quadriplegic. They shared a very close relationship, which led Txomin to promise he would swim from his friend’s home to his own, a challenge that was predicted to take 7 hours that he managed to complete in 3 hours and 45 minutes of freestyle swimming.

 

 

Our experiences that challenge us emotionally often reveal our inner strengths which we later use to build our future. After the crossing, he began to feel the urge to challenge his own limitations by swimming for much longer, in order to put his body and his physical and mental strength to the test. When swimming in open water, Txomin discovers a way to express himself, and to push himself. By adapting to his environment, and driven by the need to outdo himself, he continues searching for the sense of wellness he discovered during his first crossing when he fulfilled the promise he’d made to his friend.

 

San Sebastian was the starting point of his second long distance challenge, on course for Capbreton, with a distance of 65km. Txomin completed the crossing in 20 hours and 30 minutes.

 

Nine months later, he completed double the distance by swimming around Lake Geneva: 120km, 38 hours in the water. Surrounded by his team and with intense preparation. The journey forms part of the challenge; the training, dedication and choice of material. In the documentary about his adventure, he invites us to join him into the depths of his physical challenge against the elements that have led him to spend so many hours in the water. 

 

 

The crossing from Mundaka to Guéthary is roughly 90 km of swimming, which Txomin completed in 28 hours on the 15th June 2024. It was a crossing he was able to enjoy close to home with the help of friends who joined him on the whole journey. Unlike the Lake Geneva crossing, it was the elements such as the currents and salt water combined with the distance and cold water that determined how difficult this challenge was.

 

By Txomin:

 

“I’ve been a swimmer and a lifeguard on the coast since I was very young. The combination of these two passions has allowed me to develop a great sense of ease in the water in a natural environment and to carry out highly intensive weeks of training. 

 

I’m passionate about sports, especially endurance sports. I train rigorously everyday in order to exceed my physical and mental limitations. I am a decisive person. During each crossing, I try to go beyond my own limits in order to explore new frontiers and to show that human endurance has no limits. 

 

In my opinion, water isn’t just an element - it’s a playing field that allows me to express my inner strength. In the hardest moments, I constantly think of those who suffer much more without a choice. I’m lucky to be able to choose my challenges.

 

My previous crossings have helped me to gain experience and more confidence in my team. Above all, I’ve learnt that safety isn’t something you can overlook. During a crossing, I find myself many kilometres away from shore, and a poorly handled accident could be fatal. Additionally I’ve learnt that swimming is just a small part of the discipline. Before a crossing, it’s essential to have everything prepared down to the millimetre, including logistical preparation alongside physical and mental preparation. It’s also important to anticipate the conditions at sea (wind, period, swell, water temperature and currents) as best as possible. Forecasting errors, such as drifting because of a current or swell, can directly influence the ideal trajectory and can add kilometres to the swim. 

 

I’m passionate about endurance sports and the values that they represent. Given the playing field that surrounds us, especially in the Basque Country, I want to inspire people to give them a try, particularly swimming. I want to demonstrate that crossings are available to everyone; each person chooses their level and intensity.

 

On top of this, when the team is definitively structured and the crossings are completely financed by companies, I like to add a charitable cause to the challenge when an association allows me to do so. I would like to help sick children and give them a way to escape their daily lives with a day in the ocean.

 

Since the creation of the World Aquatics International Swimming Federation, I’m more motivated than ever to establish the first long distance swimming world record of 170 km. The attempt will take place in July and the team will keep the location secret while we finish preparing.”