Hi,

In October we shall be attempting to solo paddle our open canoes across the English Channel (13th October 2008 update, yesterday we succesfully solo paddled our three open canoes from Folkestone to a beach near Wissant, more information below ). The canoes are 14 to 16 feet long, 12 to 14 inches deep. They have no deck to prevent them shipping waves. 

We shall be accompanied by a pilot from the Channel Crossing Association and a support vessel. Our pilot usually accompanies a swimmer and occasionally a sea kayak but never before an open canoe.

We are fortunate to have Helen and Heather on the team, they have a high level of valuable first aid and professional sports physiotherapy experience and will be on the support vessel.

We'll need to paddle over 20 miles across turbulent tidal water, around ten hours kneeling in the canoes. There are about 400 ships moving in the Channel daily. I've found only two references to crossings by canoe, the Rob Roy was partially decked and I believe the other from the late 1800's would also have been decked.

Dave and Steve suggested we fundraise for East Anglia's Children's Hospices, this charity relies upon donations to provide valuable care to children and their families. I've worked as a nurse as part of the Ipswich Children's Hospice Care Team for the past eight years.

If you think we've taken on a fair challenge, to offer your support please sponsor us. All donations will go directly to the charity. All costs for making this attempt, including the services of the pilot and the charter of the support vessel, are being paid for by ourselves.

On the first fair weather day between the 5th and the 9th of October, we shall launch near Dover as light breaks and head South East.

On the day whilst paddling I shall think of the children and their families. The strength and courage within those children is far greater than we may need.

Please support us and the work of this charity.

Simon

Simon King, David Truzzi-Franconi, Steven Seinet-Martin, Helen Millson and Heather Patrick

15th September, thankyou to everyone supporting us, we've gone through the initial target of £300 and so have set a new target of £600.

26th September, with great support from fellow paddlers, friends and family, we've gone through our £600 target to over £1,000, and so we've set a new target of raising £1,500 for East Anglia's Children's Hospices. On the North Sea early this morning paddling off Felixstowe, riding over a fair size of swell on the sea, with a beautiful sunrise over the water.

2nd October. There have been strong winds during this week and we are now watching the weather hoping for a break. In discussion with our cross channel pilot we shall be looking for the opportunity to attempt the crossing in feasible conditions within the next seven days. If a safe opportunity doesn't arise, with the pilot we shall be setting a new window of time. Thankyou to everyone for supporting East Anglia's Children's Hospices.

8th October, after starting the week with gale force winds and rough seas, the weather is finally changing in our favour. Unfortunately our pilot has taken a fall and was admitted to hospital yesterday. However, unless there is major adverse change in the weather forecast, we have a firm plan to launch with a fellow Channel Crossing Association pilot on Friday at daybreak. Thankyou for supporting us by contributing towards the valuable work of the team at East Anglia's Children's Hospices, they're helping some really wonderful children and families.

13th October, wind strength and sea state turned out to be too much on Friday. Therefore, we launched yesterday, Sunday, from a slipway in Folkestone and set off at 0745. We paddled our three canoes across the shipping lanes and the rougher water over The Varne shallows mid channel, and after 23 miles we beached about one mile west of Wissant at 1715. A succesful solo crossing of the English Channel, after paddling three quarters of a mile back out to our support vessel, a Folkestone trawler, we loaded aboard and were motored back to England.

A great team effort, and a big thankyou to those who have shown their support for us by contributing to the very valuable work of East Anglia's Children's Hospices.