Post swim update….

We got the job done, in 17 hours 11 minutes, motivated by your kind donations and messages of support. This certainly played its part when the force of nature (a strong east current and high winds)  kept us from ‘touching’  the French coastline  after 12 hours swimming.

We were one of the eight channel swim attempts setting off from Folkestone on 21 June, only 4 succeeded !

We set off from Samphire Hoe at 0337 with Rich Cragg setting a cracking pace (in the dark), Elton Sharkey taking over at sunrise, before handing over to Hugo Mitchell-Heggs and then Callum Fraser to complete the first round of 1 hour shifts each. The water got nippier the further we ventured into the channel, with a constant wind and stronger than expected current (as reported by the boat’s pilot) fighting each other to whip up confused waves that battered our aim to get into a good swim rhythm and pace. By the end of the 3rd cycle of shifts, we had good sight of the French coast, but a strong easterly current coming around the Cap Gris Nez point (our planned destination) kept us from touching distance of this peninsula. Hugo and Callum emptied their tanks on the fourth shift cycle to put Rich and Elton in a good position to break through the final stretch of choppy waves and a final push onto the Plage de Wissant. A long, hard day but the experience was worth every minute of the slog !

We are raising funds and awareness for the Mental Health and Well-Being charities supporting serving Royal Navy personnel, their families and veterans. Many thanks for your support 🙏

We complied with the Channel Swimming Association rules - trunks, swim cap and goggles between us and the cold (it was about 14 Deg C) and the jellyfish!

We aimed to complete the channel in less than 16 and a half hours (which is the time it took the Army’s 6 man team to do it in last year). We didn’t quite manage it this time with just 4 in the team, but there is always next year !