Looking ahead!

The latest from the Channel. It is with great sadness to us all that the juniors have had to scrub their relay attempt for this year. Ambient conditions are becoming a little nippy and we do want this to be a positive experience for them. They have all trained hard and put the required effort in. However, on the brighter side although deeply disappointed the enthusiasm has not been dented! There is always next year! Keep swimming team ;))

Catalina Channel

I am most privileged to know two very brave ladies. Robin you met in the last post. Brave lady number two a sufferer of ‘lupus’ has battled magnificently to train incredibly hard during the previous year. Her name Carolyn. She has trained for an English Channel solo and been skins almost ‘year round’ despite her flare ups from her condition and battled on each time. Her relentless determination and smiling face an inspiration. During this journey Carolyn completed a fabulous relay of the Catalina Channel during the summer. She and her team ‘The Wave Chasers’ had a fabulous crossing whilst battling some serious swell conditions. The training has not been easy, with many afternoon naps slumped over the computer keyboard at work… or was that.. riding Elephants in Thailand Carolyn? The team managed to prepare in all weathers which is just as well, as the Catalina crossing proved interesting to say the least. Carolyn with her team of beach friends.   Setting off in the dead of night, she swam the first leg. An eery sensation as we all know, but speedily executed by Carolyn. Then after rough seas and a very long night, breaking in to the day.. the team arrived on the Southern Californian shores near to LA. Well done Carolyn and the ‘The Wave Chasers’!...

Tahoe Support!

I was privileged to be helping a most courageous lady on the 18th August. Robin attempted to swim the length of Lake Tahoe, California in the USA. The swim is 21 miles long at 6,600′ altitude above sea level and the water temperature was a balmy 18/19C. The swim takes place from the southern shores of Lake Tahoe, to the northern shores with some rather tricky wind conditions. Due to these winds the swim begins at night and finishes the following morning. After a blessing from some visiting Tibetan monks in the car park by the beach.. What were they doing there? We moved down to the beach.   This traditional ribbon was blessed by the Dalai Lama and the Oracle prior to their departure from Tibet. We all wanted to stay on the beach and BBQ! Under the watchful eye of our pilot and first mate fellow open water swimmers, ‘Reptile’ and ‘Mad Dog’, Robin gingerly walked in to the lake at 1815, the sun was warm and the conditions choppy with a westerly wind blowing. After negotiating our way out from the small marina, through the jet skies moored on the outer perimeter, we were off. I was kayak support for the first 7-8 hours and then Jack, Robin’s son, a super runner and athlete who was way too fast for me took over for the rest. We found our boat and off we went. Into the night Robin swam with a strong start, one years training firmly under her belt. The conditions remained tricky well in to the hours of darkness. The wind changed direction a few times causing interesting drift scenarios but Robin plugged on strongly. At approximately the 5 hour mark the crew became aware that she was finding it difficult to keep her feeds down and seemed to be suffering from some nausea. However, she shook it off like a true ‘gladiator’ living up to her swim club name.. ‘Fang’, when again in the early hours she managed to shed a tooth and will thus be visiting that dentist again! Unfortunately, the nausea continued and we eventually realised that it was more than an upset stomach. Robin had been affected by the altitude. We were 6,600′ above sea level trying to conduct a marathon swim of some 22 miles long and altitude sickness can strike the fittest of people. We had only just become aware as she finally complained of shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. Robin had swum 15 of the 22 mile course and was strong when not vomiting. However, after 12 hours the brave decision was made to abandon the swim. Robin had swum her heart out true to character with a gritty performance, humbling all those present. I have absolutely ‘no doubt’ that she will return and conquer Tahoe. Indeed talking to resident experts Reptile and Mad Dog, this is often the case for a swimmer’s first attempt. Exhausted we returned to the start. The swimmer is somewhere wrapped safely in the sleeping bag below deck. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan. However, there are always positives and in this case the aim was partially achieved and Robin put in two fabulous swims within three weeks of each other. She successfully completed the width of Tahoe 11 miles and then 15 miles of the length 3 weeks later. we consolidated and proved that the training, strength and endurance is all in place and progressing nicely. The aim...

Swimming again!

This last year and a half has flown by! My previous blog concerned my visit to the Indian villages in Rajasthan benefiting directly from your most generous sponsorship for my Channel swim. Since then I have been busy. I underwent an operation re-attaching 25% of my bicep muscle to my right shoulder which was a product of the last 6 months training and the crossing itself.   I am very happy to report that it went very well and that I started swimming again one month ago. This of course meant 6 months on the ground in ‘rehab’ before I could return to work. During the latter part of this I discovered a fabulous ‘iconic swim vehicle’ which needed some work. It required a bulkhead change. This occupied me  during the last month off work, although, it proved quite challenging at times with the use of one arm. Stripped!   Getting there!   Hurrah finished. Et voila!! Two months later! Arrrrrgh!! A Jaguar tried to own my side of the road on a blind bend. Luckily nobody was injured. Back to the drawing board!   Since then getting back to work has consumed the bulk of time.. but the swimming is coming! I told you that I had not finished. Last year I crewed for the ‘oldest’ person to swim the English Channel. And swim it he did, spectacularly well! Otto Thaning, 74 years old, friend and heart surgeon from Cape Town, South Africa. If only I could swim like you Otto!   I have also been working hard ‘mentoring’ two fine lady swimmers from the USA, one of who is about to swim the length of Lake Tahoe in California and the other complete a relay across the Catalina Channel in California. I will be present kayaking and crewing for the Tahoe swim but most regrettably not able to join the relay team. What about me? Where is my swimming? Another two laps of Dover harbour together with a dip in San Francisco bay this weekend, avoiding the Japanese Whaling Fleet. Got to start somewhere,...

YOUR MONEY!

Dear readers… “eh, is anyone left?” Yes… it has been very quiet for a very long time.. I know. After the 24th September 2013, I had a rest. In fact the shoulder injury sustained during the lead up to the big day and subsequently during the crossing still persists. However, here I am again. Here to talk to you once more. Luckily for you the subject is something far more important than my ‘solo efforts’ to swim large expanses of water. I am here to tell you about what your most generous donations are doing! I am eternally grateful and privileged to have been included on a recent trip to visit the ‘village projects’ north of Udiapur in Ragasthan, India. I was part of a group hosted by Free The Children (FCT) and Virgin Atlantic sent to see first hand what ‘your funds’ are actually achieving. And the news is good, very good. I can honestly say that it was one of the most humbling experiences of my life, I am so glad to have been included. I met a team of Virgin Atlantic personnel and two Free FCT officials in the Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow airport, a great way to start the night flight to Delhi. Of course, still strictly on a training regime… I had to try several of the delights not to mention a few glasses of bubbly together with the clubhouse curry. We all compared notes and relaxed. After a long night flight we arrived in Delhi to be escorted to the domestic terminal by our very friendly local Virgin ground staff who managed an outstanding job of ushering us through most of the ‘red tape’ to make an internal flight connection. If you ever travel connecting through India… allow time… lot’s of time. After a 1.5 hour Jet Airways flight we landed on a short runway in Udaipur. A quick change into shorts and our fleet of taxis departed along the pot holed road to make the 3 hour journey to Araveli cottages. We arrived just as dusk fell, the huge vast mountains looming before us in the fading light. Rajahstan is absolutely beautiful. Araveli cottages were situated just outside the village of Araveli, within a walled encampment of 17 acres. This tented accommodation was fabulous. Each day was jammed full of visits, briefings, greetings whilst meeting the people involved in the projects. Not just officials and amazing volunteers but the local villagers who live ‘real lives’ which change on a daily basis as the principles of these projects consolidate and begin to take hold. ‘FTC’ have five pillars of sustainability at the heart of their vision: Clean water and sanitation Education Agriculture and food security  Alternative income Health FCT move into a deprived area and begin by sanitising the water sources together with educating the population concerning waist disposal. Educational improvements quickly follow along with school building projects. The school toilet facilities:   New school toilet block:   New classroom:     Without education there is ‘no sustainability!’   The children:   This education is not just for the children, but the whole community. Education for adults may consist of teaching a farmer that their preferred ‘grain crop’, because they like the taste, is not necessarily the correct crop for the region as there are other grain crops that grow better, are more robust, have a better yield and provide better nutrition. It’s hard to change cultural habits. Try taking away a cup...

The Final Assault!

  Now, where did I leave you? Ah yes, just off the coast of France at Cap Gris Nez lighthouse feeling ‘fresh as a daisy’.. Not! The wheel house door flew open and Reg appeared.. “You are doing okay.. now you need to dig in and.. sprint!” And with that , my pilot went back to the wheel. I knew exactly what he wanted. Four years of preparation, research and training. I had studied many charts and listened to many tales almost exactly the same as mine to this point. This was no surprise to me.. but the question was hanging thick in the afternoon air. ‘How long for?’ I should not and dare not ask. Not that the crew would have given me a straight answer anyway. The psychology of a swim like this is immense! Equally important at the planning stage as anything else. Visualising the finish, thinking strength, happy thoughts, all of you followers and ‘investors’, my children on the beach waiting… right arm….. left arm… right… So when Reg uttered these words I knew that the final tide was kicking in at almost 6km/h! I had to fight my way through and sprint to make landfall! I started out strong, sprinting for all I was worth. I understood. Failure is forever! I use the word “sprint”, because to me, it was. My stroke rate increased back up to about the same as the beginning of the day, however, my arms were tired; especially the left arm. It smashed it’s way through the waves instead of clearing and reaching forward. I felt every single stroke. This is normal after approximately 10 or 11 hours of swimming. The first feed arrived, I felt tired but good. The second feed arrived.. ‘when will the sprint be over?’ The third feed arrived and I could see the beautiful white chalky cliffs of Cap Gris Blanc, some 2 or 3 miles east of Cap Gris Nez. A fantastic expanse of sandy beach lay before me, a mere 2 miles away. Still, the tide was dragging us along the coast. Finally, we broke through the tidal lane which accelerates eastwards off Cap Gris Nez and began to aim towards the beach. I was exhausted. For the first time, I questioned what I had left within me. I was giving this my all. Possibly more effort than I had ever asked of my body before during an endurance event. The boys called me in. ‘What?’ Feed already? That seemed awfully quick. In all honesty I probably wasn’t terribly lucid at this point. “You are going in!” “What??” ‘You are going in to the beach! You are going to make it, but first you must feed once more. You need this to get to the beach.’ My mind was dizzy but the focus remained completely clear. The prize was there before me and I was exhausted. I saw Ray lowering the dinghy to escort me in, and David appeared next to me, once more ready to guide me towards the beach. I can tell you that I didn’t need guiding. Like an ‘old man, pension in hand, I rushed towards the ‘bingo hall’. My pace was painful and the last strokes were killing me but the beautiful beach with rolling sand stretched out before me and the water temperature was rising 18/19C. It felt like bath water! No really, it was! I thought that I would overheat after all those hours in the...

On Our Way..

We were on our way! Once we left Dover marina we were in the ‘black of night’ travelling underneath the dark menacing presence of the ‘White Cliffs’ to ‘Samphire Hoe’ halfway between Dover and Folkestone. This was the start point according to tidal forecasts and Reg’s knowing wink.   After much debate between the nervous boat crew, Hagar lost the toss and had to ‘grease me up!’ Check my equipment.. steady girls… ‘strobe lights on’, cap and goggles adjusted! I then descended down the steps to the dingy waiting below in the cold night.     Ray, Reg’s brother helped me aboard and we motored off to the beach. We arrived in the stillness under the cliffs and Ray said.. “Ok, slip over the side and you should be able to wade in from here.” The swim must start and finish on dry land. Following orders and keen to get moving in fresh night air, we shook hands and I thanked him for everything and slipped over the side. Straight under, ‘splutter, choke’. It was far from shallow. I came up laughing, trying not to choke. My ‘old crocks’ shot off my feet into the dark night and cruised away. Yes, I know they had to go anyway!   I swam in and cleared the water, standing there feeling naked. The boat horn sounded. The swim had started. Strobes flashing in the dark cold night I began my first few tentative strokes.   ‘Goodness, I wish that I had learnt to swim properly.’   ‘Don’t rush, warm up slowly and don’t push it straight away.’   I was like a finely tuned carthorse startled out of the farmer’s field. By 0700 the sun had risen and the night to day routine had begun. Feeding every 30mins from a delightful menu of warm carbohydrate liquid, black tea with sugar, bananas, peach slices and mars bars, I swam on at a good pace. Reg, in need of a rest, came out of the wheel house. “Good swim, you’re doing well” And off to the bunk he went, handing control to his brother Ray. When he woke a few hours later the fun and games had began. After swimming really strongly at about the 3 hour mark, I had a ‘shoulder twinge!’   Immediately, I asked the boys for medication. I dosed up with painkillers and anti-inflammatory tablets. On I went at a slow cruising speed. However, there would be a penalty to pay later, regarding the tides.   I swam on and begun to settle after the scare realising that although I had to nurse my shoulder, the much revered prize was still possible! I was not feeling too tired yet, operations normal. This was truly a testament to the years of training, events and preparation that I had endured. It felt good.   I was very lucky and the some of the team got to experience swimming with me. The rules state that the first three hours are solo and there after a support swimmer may join the swimmer for one hour every other hour. For me it was truly about sharing this amazing experience, out in the middle of the Channel. Very important, as at least one of the boat crew (TBC) will attempt a crossing in a couple of years.. ‘when his wife lets him’. On we went remarking how strong the tide was at each feed, as I was swept aside like drift wood. The water was...

We have a swim on our hands!

  I am absolutely overwhelmed by your following, your messages, good wishes and enthusiasm.. Thank you so much. It is an accomplishment that I truly have not come to terms with at this point and one that I know could not be achieved without my amazing ‘Boat Crew’, your support and the incredible support received from Virgin Atlantic.   I have sat for the past three mornings feeling most moved, having a mug of tea on a bench, on top of the cliffs looking across the water towards France. I realise that something should have been posted shortly afterwards to give you all the ‘run down’, a blow by blow account.. but sadly I was most definitely in a recovery phase after extreme effort. I have not experienced this feeling for many, many years. Unfortunately, my PR manager and chef was also absent.. “He had legged it when the rum ration was finished”!   I arrived in Dover on the 18th September ready for my tide.  Having done all of the hard work during training I was now ‘tapering’! Aiming to arrive at the point of departure in peak physical condition.. that would be a first!!   It consisted of a daily swims off Dover beach varying between 1-2 hours, whilst watching the all important ‘water temp’ begin to fall and eating as much pasta and grains as humanly possible. It was here that we ran into the fastest man in the world, Trent Grimsey from Australia. He holds the record for a English Channel crossing, made last year, 6 hours and 55 minutes! I noticed that he has a very similar swim technique to me.. “Right!” He is the one in the white cap in the middle that looks like a swimmer. Within a few days my trusted ‘Boat crew’ began to arrive and settle in. In amongst the briefings and equipment checks there was some serious ‘behaviour’ to contend with. And then the preparation came. On Sunday afternoon I spoke with Reg the pilot, as he motored back through the Dover marina entrance with an injured swimmer on the way to A&E (shoulder), who informed me that we were on for the following morning, Monday 23rd September at 1000, to be confirmed at 2030 that evening. Panic! I had totally prepared myself to swim ‘Night into Day’ and not day into night! The physiological advantages for me of swimming night into day were enormous. With the daylight or direct sun, if one is lucky, heating one’s back. But not day into the cold night, that was another ball game!! Consequently, I found any excuse not to rest and by 2030, when I called Reg. I was relieved when he cancelled his plans and told me to prepare for Tuesday morning the 24th! The swim was on! Monday was filled with a swim in Dover, just for fun with the Boat Crew, to ensure that they would fully understand the meaning of cold. Then back up to Base Camp for more eating and final preparation. I had a massage and dined at 4pm, ‘more pasta, arghhhh’. Then bed! Uhmmm.. yes, well, a couple of good hours sleep and I was back at the table for the ‘Last Supper’ with the boys at 9pm. A few heads down for a final sleep whilst I went back to bed before getting up for a breakfast of porridge and honey. More eating!   When I awoke, my guardian angel Philippe Fort...