After more than 20 hours in the South Atlantic, Angus McPherson completes a historic 47km circumnavigation swim of Saint Helena, marking a Guinness World Records attempt pending ratification.
St. Helena Island (12 March 2026) – Just a day after reaching the halfway point of one of the toughest open-water challenges imaginable, Angus McPherson has done it.
After more than 20 hours battling the South Atlantic Ocean, Angus successfully completed the full circumnavigation swim of Saint Helena, covering an incredible 47.10 kilometres. The marathon swim officially wrapped up at 21:08 South African time on 11 March when Angus finally reached the shoreline in Jamestown. Waiting for him on land were cheering supporters, friends, locals and his support crew who had followed every kilometre of the demanding journey.
The moment marked the end of a challenge that began the night before, when Angus entered the water shortly after 23:00 UTC. Through the darkness of the night and the long hours that followed, he navigated powerful currents, shifting ocean conditions and the physical toll of spending nearly a full day in open water.
By the time he touched land, the tracker showed an extraordinary set of numbers: 47.10 kilometres completed in just over 20 hours. The swim is now being submitted as a Guinness World Records attempt and is believed to represent the first male completion of the St Helena Island circumnavigation swim, pending official ratification.
Long-distance swims of this scale are rarely solo achievements, even when only one person is in the water. They rely on careful planning, navigation, teamwork and trust between swimmer and crew.
And after 47 kilometres of open ocean, the journey ended with a well-earned moment on the shore.
Sources: Angus McPherson/ Facebook
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