Page 27 - Enjoy-it 2024

It’s a serious task swimming across the busiest shipping lane in the world, the tides are brutal and the jellyfish season has a real sting in its tail...
The water is not cold but it is still pretty uncomfortable 15-18 degrees, so we train, we train hard, we eat and
we talk kit, goggles, statutory swimsuits and swimming hats, we talk changeovers, our swimming order and weather, and that becomes a new obsession – the winds, rain, tides, lunar cycles and discuss swimming at every opportunity. Especially at the inimitable Durley Swim Camp where every year the most hardcore of marathon swimmers from across the planet meet for a week of six-to-seven-hour swims to qualify for the big boy solo challenges. The camp welcomes anyone who wants
to swim, improve, learn and of course enjoy what the Bournemouth coastline has to offer – in May...
To the team that I was lucky enough to become
a member of included the two Hannah’s, Jen, the superhuman Liz and nephew Ant, it was a harmonious bunch – thank you for your support and time, we had a ball together. How lucky am I to have found these beautiful people to swim with.
In stark contrast how unlucky was I to choose 2024
– the weather had been appalling and our swim was postponed twice due to gale force winds... then it was on! July 11th 2024 with a 01:45 meet. We procrastinate, and are are unhinged, as Amanda our guru, can’t be our chaperone, she had her window for a (real) marathon swim (Dover to Brighton!) from the 12th – and without her in the depth of the night, it felt like the first day of school without mum... but I hope we did her proud.
Optimist was our vessel for the challenge and after a safety briefing in the winds, we set off to Samphire Hoe to embark on what now really did seem like a pretty ridiculous idea. The sea swell was over a meter, the sky was as black as the water itself and Liz was away, just two safety lights glinting defiantly in the water, Ant in next, going strong as the sky slowly began to brighten with the promise of a wonderful sunrise, it didn’t disappoint, next Hannah P with enthusiasm, and then my shout – at hourly intervals we swim and once I was in the water the magic really began for me. The sun rose over the yard arm, shards of light beaming into the jade water illuminating the bubbles generated by my every stroke through the waves, the rest of the team on the handrail with persistent encouragement – I think of Mum & smile, my smile was so wide it dislodged my goggles, then I spot a super tanker on our bow... Dad, and cry into my dislodged goggles, that’s a lot of salt water to deal with! The hour flew by, the waves still pounding over my head – back to the boat for Jen to take the baton... through the white horses with courage.
The final swimmer in the rotation was Hannah G – with
a strong reassuring stroke, and we go again, the water was cold, the wind unforgiving but the sun shone on
our resolve. I experienced cramps and cold, and for the others seasickness played its part with 2/3 of the team,
I was lucky and quite happy to eat all the pork pies, chocolate brownies and cheese triangles myself... We dug deep, and after 13 hours and 43 minutes we swam behind Ant onto Wissant Beach in the Pas de Calais region – we were in France, after swimming over 33 miles due to the neap tide!
Incroyable!
A quick photo, a handful of shells, bemused looks from native beach goers, a dream come true and a personal achievement that tops them all – we did it... and I did it for Dementia UK...
We motor home on one engine and bottle of Moet, and the last-minute frisking by boarder force made it all the more real.
The Sharp Swimmers, what a team, we are friends for life and of course respect to the sea... my friend on this occasion...
Channel Swimming
and Pilot Federation – www.cspf.co.uk
The Durley Swim Camp – Facebook: Durley Sea Swims Dementia UK – www.dementiauk.org
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