Nearly a century ago, Pauline Jackson a Black ultra-marathon swimmer from New York publicly declared her intent to swim the English Channel. She trained. She fundraised. She prepared.
She was ultimately denied her right to attempt the swim because of the color of her skin.
Her dream was never finished.
In 2027, I will attempt the English Channel crossing in her honor.
This is not simply an endurance challenge. It is an act of historical restoration.
Unfinished Waters is a multi-year project documenting the physical preparation, mental resilience, and cultural significance of completing the swim Pauline was refused. The journey will include open-water training swims across the United States and Europe leading up to the Channel crossing.
Unfinished Waters is not just one swim in 2027. It is a multi-year journey honoring Pauline’s legacy by retracing the distances she swam and building toward the Channel crossing she was refused.
This journey includes:
🟦 Phase I — Foundations (2026)
Open-water swims of 5–7 miles to build endurance and begin documenting the story. These swims will take place in Florida and NY where Pauline began her journey.
🟦 Phase II — Historical Tribute Swims (2026)
10–12 mile marathon swims inspired by Pauline’s documented races, including a tribute swim in Lake Ontario — where she competed in the 1920s Wrigley Marathon.
These swims reflect the cold water and distances she endured without modern support.
🟦 Phase III — Channel Simulation (2026–2027)
15–20+ mile open-water swims to simulate English Channel conditions — building the physical and mental resilience required for the final crossing.
🟦 Final Chapter — The English Channel (2027)
A full Channel attempt from Dover, England, completing the dream Pauline was never allowed to pursue.
Each milestone swim will be documented as part of the Unfinished Waters project — honoring history, building endurance, and preparing for the ultimate crossing.
This is not a single event.
It is a commitment to finishing what history left unfinished.
This project funds:
• English Channel pilot and safety boat fees
• Cold-water
acclimation and training logistics
• Travel and international
preparation
• Documentary filming and post-production
•
Historical research and preservation
Every contribution helps carry this story forward.
History left this unfinished.
Together, we can complete it.
This is not symbolic.
It is physical. Cold water. Distance. Commitment.
But most of all — it is unfinished.
Help finish the dream.
