An update on how my swim went.

The date for the swim was set originally in mid July 2009, but all things seemed to be against this. The weather was playing it's usual game, when my window of opportunity evenusually came the wind was too strong and the general conditions out to sea too rough for a crossing. The swim was now effectively delayed until another opportunity came up, this became late September.

September 28th came as that day, but we were to be plagued again with problems, this time with boat trouble. The swim was again postponed but only until the next day. On September 29th we set off from Sandphire Hoe cross the 21 miles to France.

The swim was harder than the previous year and I had in my mind parameters for reaching certain points in the Channel at certain times. The water was a little cooler than I was expecting, but the sea was settled, or atleast for the first few hours it was. The first was objective was to reach the southwest shipping lane in about 2 1/2 hrs. I reached this an hour later than I wanted to but I plodded on.  We seem to be in this lane forever and the separation zone never seemed to come. I only saw a couple of ships on my way across and it seemed like I didn't know where I was in the Channel. 6 horus in and the sea started getting rougher and at 8 hours it reached it's peak. Apart from the swell which didn't bother me and the sensation of the waves hitting me, I didn't really notice that the sea was that rough, though being on the boat my support crew had a different picture of the conditions and for them it was worse. The boat was being pitched and rolled in the swell and it's shallow draft was not helping.

 

All I cared about was the feeds and as long as they kept coming then I would be fine. The crew from what they told me, did an unbelievable job in keeping these feeds coming under very poor conditions, loosing one feed bin, smashed to smitherines on deck and fighting to keep balance on deck themselves. Hugh Hunter a taking large tumble at one point resulting in him momentarily loosing his glasses.

 

At 8 hours the pilot made the decision to pull the swim because of the worsening conditions and the impending night drawing in would not make it any easier. I was oblivious to all this and they weren't going to tell me until I reached France. 10 hours in and I was told to 'keep swimming and pick up the pace'. At 10 1/2 hours I could see the Cap, but it was too far off to my right and I knew I wasn't going to hit it.  I resolved to set myself in for a longer swim to Wissant Beach. At 11 hrs I was given my last feed and at 11 1/2 hrs Adam Walker (Support swimmer) got in the water. They offered me lights but I said I'll put them on for the return swim. I didn't know that they had pulled the swim even then. It wasn't until we hit the soft sand of Wissant and I told Adam I wasn't looking forward to swimming back  that he said I wasn't. He explained the conditions were too poor for the boat and for me for the double crossing. All that training and I didn't make the two way.

However, I am resolved in the fact that I hadn't given up and it was taken out of my hands. Another 1 way under my belt. Not a lot of people can say that. I'm endebted to the people that helped me get this far Freda and her beach crew at Dover, my parents and my sisters and am huumbled by the valliant efforts of my crew; Alexis Sheppard, Hugh Hunter, Adam Walker and Fred my pilot and his crew. I am also proud of what I achieved that day and the fact it has helped a worthy cause and you never know maybe 2010 is my year.

In the November I receieved an award from the Channel Swimming Association for the latest swim of the year; 29th September 2009 - After all that waiting since mid July, to evenusally swimming at the end of September, now thats what you call - 'Poetic justice'

 

I thank you all for your donations, I am truly humbled by your generosity. 

 

Chris

 

 

History of swim preparation todate:

As some of you may be aware I am swimming the this year. A feat which in itself is hard enough, but I am aiming to swim to and then back, being the 20^th person in the world ever to swim a 2 way. I have been preparing for this swim for a long time now and have put in some hard training, swimming up to two 10 hours swims in harbour. I am hoping to raise £1500 for Macmillan cancer support and hope that even though the credit crunch is upon us you will find something to donate.

Update -Due to the weather, my swim has been delayed for many weeks. I am presently waiting for a weather window to open up and my pilot to confirm we are ready to go. It's been a frustrating wait, knowing any day I will get a phone call to go. Keeping up the physical fitness and the mental attitude has been hard, but I appreciate it is al part of the challenge. I know I am ready and if the call comes later in the year then I will go for it. Thanks to all those who have faith in me and have donated both on and off line.

 

New Update as of 22nd September: Still waiting to swim. Hope I get my chance this coming tide, looking chubbier by the day, so stocking up for the swim. Alot of swimmers went on the last spring tide, highest of the year and made it cacross, including a two way swim. But forever hopeful it will happen.

 

Donations off line- Are £385. From: Alex Young, Roger Bancroft, Richard Tice, John Langton, David Jackson, Dan Haskins, Alan Young, Cliff Freer.

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