If there's one thing I've learnt from the whole experience of the relay, that's how notoriously unpredictable the English Channel can be. The sea state throughout the week (week beginning 18th Augusts) in Dover was rough. Our team did get the opportunity to go Wednesday morning at 3 am, however the no. 1 slot decided they wanted to go (we were no. 2). Looking at the tracker that day, it seemed like a party, every pilot boat was out and making their way across with swimmers. Eventually I lost patience I asked my Dad if we could just go down to Dover Wednesday night.
Despite the weather being good, the sea state was still marginal for swimming, so this meant more waiting, but in Dover. Thursday I got to meet Gemma, who was on the team. Had a great 40 minute swim, in pretty rough water (good prep for Saturday night). I swam again Friday with Dad and Saturday morning with Freda + beach crew. After I had finished swimming, the all important call we had been waiting for, Dover Marina 6pm. So rested up for the rest of day and then prepared for a long night.
We all met at the marina in high spirits, with other swimmers that were equally as excited. Everybody felt ready!
Despite the weather being good, the sea state was still marginal for swimming, so this meant more waiting, but in Dover. Thursday I got to meet Gemma, who was on the team. Had a great 40 minute swim, in pretty rough water (good prep for Saturday night). I swam again Friday with Dad and Saturday morning with Freda + beach crew. After I had finished swimming, the all important call we had been waiting for, Dover Marina 6pm. So rested up for the rest of day and then prepared for a long night.
We all met at the marina in high spirits, with other swimmers that were equally as excited. Everybody felt ready!
We decided the order we would swim in, by our 10k swim times or a rough estimate. I was going to go first, followed by Gemma, Brian, Tom, Ray and Dermot. So with that I went down below decks to get ready for the start.
The boat went round the wall of the harbour to Shakespeare beach, the starting point. There wasn't much of a start gun. just a thumbs up from everybody on the boat and then...go! Anastasia also had swimmer just starting off around the same time. The water around the wall was relatively calm and things went on for the next 20 minutes relatively normal. However once we started to leave the protection of the harbour wall, the waves started to pick up. I started kicking fresh air while swimming, tumbling down waves and watching the boat sway from side to side. At one point I could see the underside of the boat while breathing (just a little concerning!). Then came the interesting bit... getting back on the boat in roughly, 6-7ft waves! Gemma got in and swam round me for her leg and then I clambered up the ladder onto the boat. Once up, went from one side of the boat to the other and if I had jumped a little I could have dived straight in the other side!
Things got very serious when the pilot's mug got broken with one very big wave which knocked everything flying in the boat. At this point Paul (pilot) came up on deck and said 'we need to have a chat'. I don't think any of us were willing to question what he was saying, we needed to return to dock while we could still see the huge waves continuously battering us.
Once back in the safety of Dover Marina, Paul suggested tomorrow mornings weather might gives us a chance of a relatively calm crossing.
Things got very serious when the pilot's mug got broken with one very big wave which knocked everything flying in the boat. At this point Paul (pilot) came up on deck and said 'we need to have a chat'. I don't think any of us were willing to question what he was saying, we needed to return to dock while we could still see the huge waves continuously battering us.
Once back in the safety of Dover Marina, Paul suggested tomorrow mornings weather might gives us a chance of a relatively calm crossing.
| The conditions had improved vastly on the previous night, so decided to give it our best shot. I prepared myself to get us started from Shakespeare beach again. Anastasia again left around the same time.Once again thumbs up from everybody on-board Optimist. I dived into the waves and sped alongside the boat. For the first leg I got about 3.8k out from land and rated around 78 strokes/minute Gemma changed over with me an hour later. |
She kept up the pace and it went on from there, everybody giving 100%. After Gemma, Brian followed, then Tom, then Ray and finally Dermot. Ray managed to find a large metal chest on his leg, which he almost head butted, but thanks Paul keeping a look out, thankfully didn't.
My Second leg involved jumping in during the separation zone (Hello Jellyfish!). I soon realised I was going to get stung and predictably, a small blue one decided to roll down my chest. Then on the foot and then I just stopped worrying about it, because they were everywhere. Was just like brushing up against a stinging nettle, lasted for about 10 minutes and then the agitation went. All you could hear from the boat was me cursing at them and them returning with 'get on with it'. Also to stop me from sighting, the pilot decided throw tea bags at me! Was good fun though!
As we made our way across the North East lane we drifted up towards Calais, where we encountered quite a lot of traffic. Brian got honked on his leg! Thankfully though the tide turned and we started drift back down the coast towards Wissant and away from Sangatte
My Second leg involved jumping in during the separation zone (Hello Jellyfish!). I soon realised I was going to get stung and predictably, a small blue one decided to roll down my chest. Then on the foot and then I just stopped worrying about it, because they were everywhere. Was just like brushing up against a stinging nettle, lasted for about 10 minutes and then the agitation went. All you could hear from the boat was me cursing at them and them returning with 'get on with it'. Also to stop me from sighting, the pilot decided throw tea bags at me! Was good fun though!
As we made our way across the North East lane we drifted up towards Calais, where we encountered quite a lot of traffic. Brian got honked on his leg! Thankfully though the tide turned and we started drift back down the coast towards Wissant and away from Sangatte
As we got closer Paul and Loretta our observer said they reckoned I would be taking us into the beach. This meant I would have to swim hard to get us out of the tide and into the blue zone (where there wasn't any tide!).
I think I gave it my best shot (rated 84 strokes a minute all the way in). Every time I went to breath the side the boat was on, I could see all the team out on deck cheering me on and the pilot with his window open doing the same. And then Mike Oram decided to join in and circled us on his boat 'Gallivant' honking us, I gave in a brief thumbs up and smiled at them! As the light started to fade, the team started to get ready to swim into the beach. Guardian lights and light sticks on everybody. Then as we got about 500 metres from the beach one by one the all hoped in and followed me into the beach. It started to shallower and shallower, until finally my hands started scooping sand while taking strokes. Time to stand up and run onto the beach. It was a fantastic moment, everybody dancing around, shaking hands and hugging one another. Then remembering to search for pebbles, everybody sprinted off in different directions trying to find their memento. And with a few photos of the team to mark the occasion we swam gently back to the boat where the crew and Loretta were waiting to congratulate us. Then the boat turned and headed back to Dover. The lights of Wissant faded and huge ships loomed into view as we crossed the shipping lanes lit up like Christmas trees. Then Dover harbour came into view and it was over, we had done it! Fantastic time, that I won't forget with a great bunch of people!
Happy swimming everyone!
Next up: One-Way Windermere
I think I gave it my best shot (rated 84 strokes a minute all the way in). Every time I went to breath the side the boat was on, I could see all the team out on deck cheering me on and the pilot with his window open doing the same. And then Mike Oram decided to join in and circled us on his boat 'Gallivant' honking us, I gave in a brief thumbs up and smiled at them! As the light started to fade, the team started to get ready to swim into the beach. Guardian lights and light sticks on everybody. Then as we got about 500 metres from the beach one by one the all hoped in and followed me into the beach. It started to shallower and shallower, until finally my hands started scooping sand while taking strokes. Time to stand up and run onto the beach. It was a fantastic moment, everybody dancing around, shaking hands and hugging one another. Then remembering to search for pebbles, everybody sprinted off in different directions trying to find their memento. And with a few photos of the team to mark the occasion we swam gently back to the boat where the crew and Loretta were waiting to congratulate us. Then the boat turned and headed back to Dover. The lights of Wissant faded and huge ships loomed into view as we crossed the shipping lanes lit up like Christmas trees. Then Dover harbour came into view and it was over, we had done it! Fantastic time, that I won't forget with a great bunch of people!
Happy swimming everyone!
Next up: One-Way Windermere