11th September 2010 - The deed is done.  We set off from Runswick at 1:25pm with reasonable conditions and a support crew of both RBRB boats (thank you to the crews), two kayaks and a surfer.  3 hrs 5 mins later we arrived at Whitby and the GPS showed an actual distance of 6.8 miles.  The swim went very well and I would like to thank every one of you for your support.  To my surprise I was greeted by a tunnel formed by the RBRB crew and supporters which was hugely appreciated.  There's a video of the swim above, although the video quality is better at http://www.tombottomley.net/RunswickToWhitby/RunswickToWhitbyTraining.html.

 

30th August 2010 - Update:  the photo above shows the conditions on the indended date of the swim.  It was a typical bank holiday - the sea had been pretty quiet for most of the week and then suddenly a Northerly gale blew it up into a foaming cauldron.  the waves rose from nothing on the morning of the 29th to 8ft by the afternoon. They peaked the next day at around 10ft at 6am and are now subsiding again.  Typical.  Where the white water is off the headland (Kettleness) is the point I needed to swim round to get out of the bay.  Will try again next weekend ... the challenge will of course be done! See the training diary for up to date info.

 

On Sunday 29th August 2010, at 2:30pm (or, if the conditions aren't good, some date as as soon as possible thereafter), I will be stepping off the sands at Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire, to swim approximately 7 miles across the North Sea to Whitby.  It's a bit of a step up from the 1 mile in Windermere in 2009 and it was hard work training for that so this should be quite a challenge.

The reason for this endeavour is to raise money for the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat (RBRB), a charity I am involved with and which is very close to my heart.  RBRB is an independent lifeboat service quite separate from the RNLI although it works in close co-operation with both the RNLI and HM Coastguard.  There is more information about the work of the charity at www.runswickrescue.org.uk and more information about the swim at www.tombottomley.net.  There is also a training diary at www.tombottomley.net/RunswickToWhitby/RunswickToWhitbyTraining.html.

 

As an independent lifeboat, RBRB has to be entirely self-funded and has running costs of between £5,000 and £10,000 per annum.  This year the charity is purchasing a new boat which is a radical departure from the previous ones - smaller, lighter and faster, it is a Gemini 420 catamaran hulled inflatable, sporting a Mariner 50 and is capable of almost 40 knots.  Most importantly it can be launched and crewed by 1 person albeit procedures are likely to dictate a minimum crew of 2. This is essential in the modern era where crew availability in seaside locations is sparse because of changing work and living demograhics.  The new boat will itself cost the charity over £10,000 this year in addition to the normal annual running costs.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

As ever, I am extremely grateful for every pound donated and I hope my efforts will prove worthy.

Thank you for taking the time to read this page.

Tom