The Journey

After months of training our adventure is now complete.

Part 1 of the Channel Swim

Part 2 of the Channel Swim

We made it

On Wednesday evening we got the call saying we need to be in Dover for 01:30am ready to start our channel swim attempt as there was a break in the weather conditions.  This gave all of us only a few of hours to get ready and travel to Dover but we were going!

When we arrived in Dover it seemed all the other pilot boats were out and had left just before us.  Before Reg our pilot arrived Rodger called in the troops and got out the sealed envelope with our swim order.  No one apart from Rodger knew what order we were going in so we were all anxious what order we will be going in as some of us will be swimming in the dark!  The order given was:

1. Melissa Dowell
2. Chris Swainsbury
3. Angela Greneski
4. Paul Salmon
5. Paul Oxley
6. Michael Longman

Shortly after Reg arrived in the Viking Princess, welcomed us aboard where we met our official Mikey who gave us a quick run down of the rules.

All ready for the challenge ahead

As soon as we got out the harbour wall we met some choppy water where some of the team started to feel unwell and we had not even started:

Paul Salmon not looking so good

At 02:45am Melissa climbed on-board the dingy and was taken to Shakespeare's beach to start our channel attempt.

The start

Melissa gave a good strong swim to start us off and we had already overtaken 2 other pilot boats before the first hour.  Chris followed by Angi gave it their all in the dark before Paul Salmon had the sun rise swim.

Sun rise at 6:32am

Paul Oxley had the next swim and managed to keep in a straight line and allowed us to catch up another channel swimmer.

Can you see the other pilot boat in front?

Next was my turn (Mike) and managed to keep our strong pace going.  We all pushed hard and during our next swims and we managed to arrive at Cap Gris-Nez in France 11 hours and 28 minutes after the start.

Mike get your head down and stop looking where you are going!

Chris look where you are going!

Angi on a mission

Paul O getting ready

We made it to France!

A huge thanks to Rodger for giving us his time over the last 18 months and without we would not have been the team we were.

The End

Still waiting

8 foot waves in the channel so no go tomorrow.

Still no go

Reg informed us we will not be going tomorrow morning due to bad weather in the channel.  Both Paul's, Angi and I went to Halstead for a swim at 9pm as we are still not going in the morning.  Unfortunately we did not realise the schedule had changed so we had to swim in the new "Moonlight" session with background music and no swimming lanes.  All I can say was it made a change from the normal routine.

Not today

Paul Salmon, Chris Swainsbury and I went to Frinton this morning for a short sea swim.  It was a bit choppy but did not seem too cold.  This evening Paul Salmon called our pilot Reg (Viking Princess) to see if we will be going tomorrow morning but it seems the weather is too windy at the moment.  Paul will be calling again tomorrow evening to see if we will be going on Tuesday. Lets hope so!

Second Boat Swim

On Tuesday evening we embarked on our second and last boat swim before the actual channel swim which is coming around very fast.  We all met again at Titchmarsh Marina, jumped aboard the Misty Lady where Terry and Sue greeted us. After about 30 mins Rog gave us the signal to get ready and a quick reminder on what we should be doing unlike our last boat swim where we went off in all directions!

We all jumped in the cold water together and swam for about 20 mins then 3 got out and 3 stayed in and then changed over.  We also all had to swim individually for around 8 mins so we could practice the change over.  After another de-briefing from Rog, we had another group and solo swims to do.

Thanks again to Terry and Sue as we abandoned them on the boat because a low tide was preventing the boat getting back to the mooring..... We hope they got back eventually?!!

The Budgie Smugglers team swim

Paul might need to get a GPS!

First Boat Swim

Last night we embarked on a sea swim to see how life was going to be for
real, in a few weeks time. We all met at Titchmarsh Marina, jumped
aboard the Misty Lady where Terry and Sue greeted us. We chugged and I mean
chugged out to Sea for around 30 minutes then Big Raj said, in the wind and
rain "come on get ready your in". So we all stripped ready for action and
1 by 1 jumped off and in we went, we all swam together for a while then Rog
stopped us pointed out the error of our ways, then sent us off again
swimming into a sparse open space. We swam for about 1hr 20 minutes,
practicing take overs and swimming all alone, pretty good fun really, but
maybe not for chuck, or should I say Salmon! We ended the night with a
nice hot curry at the Riverside Earls Colne.

Chris having a close encounter!

Melissa showing us what we should be doing:

Lakeside SwimFesT 2011

Last Sunday 17th July, we all entered a 3.8k open water race at lakeside,
seemed a good idea after a gallon of beer some months before. All 6 of us
swum, along with coach Roger, who had gone for a big swim curry the night
before. Non of us had swum this far before non stop in race conditions,
My team summary is as follows

Paul Oxley - told to take it easy, went out like a rocket and came back
looking like a radish

Melissa Dowell - had a bike crash the day before but put in a top shift

Paul Salmon - rockin and a rollin, not happy but swum well

Chris Swainsbury - shaky Dave overcame the cold to play a blinder

Angi Greneski - she was worried about the cold, Oh really ! Good job

Mike Longman - Well as forest gump would say " I just woke up one morning
and just swam n swam.......... "

Coach Rog - Let's just say the curry done its job !

On Thursday, we are going out to sea with a fisherman to be dropped in some
way out and then swim our way back to land, wish us luck we may be some
time.

FAMILY FUN DAY

After a lot of preparation it was our family fun day today. The day was a great success and we managed to raise over £1000 for our chosen charities.  Thank you to all that supported the event and I hope you all had as much fun as we did. A big thank you also to all the staff at Halstead leisure centre.