English Channel Swim
On 13th July 2005, my mum set out on her first solo English Channel swim. Although she'd swum it before (as part of a relay team), this was her first solo attempt. It was a tiring enough experience for me, and I just spent the day asleep on top of the boat - so I can't imagine how 20 hours of swimming must have felt!
I thought I'd put information from the day here as it might be useful to anyone else thinking about swimming the Channel. I've written up a diary of the swim that someone made on the day, and there are also some photos available.
Feel free to check out the English Channel swimming photos here.
Channel Swimming Diary
Just so you know who the people involved in the swim are, Annette (my mum) is the person doing the swim, Daniel is my dad, A is my aunt, and N is the boat's skipper.
2.53 am
Started off at 2.35 am from Shakespeare Beach. Anna, who has been training with Annette all season, sets off at the same time. Annette has her whole family with her. She jumped off the boat, swam to the beach to start off her swim and shouted: "FRANCE!"
4.53am
Second feed. Annette said that it was really nice to see us all out there watching her. It's daylight now, but the sun hasn't come out yet. We told Annette that she's doing fine, but she needs to hurry up a little on her feeds.
5.53am
We're about 3 miles off the coast and just coming up to the 3rd feed. Quite a few ferries around and we can already see the shipping lane. Lance is slightly ahead of us with Anna, about 1/2 mile. It's a little choppy, and the sun hasn't come out yet.
6.32am
3 1/2 hours into the swim. We've just given Annette 2 Ibuprofens and Maxim Electrolyte. Still looking strong. Sea calm now, but no sun.
6.42am
Annette has just been sick, that stupid Electrolyte makes everyone sick!
7.00am
Annette has just been sick again. She threw up twice, but managed to tell Daniel that she loved him. "After all that", Daniel said. She then threw up again and said: "Okey Dokey, that's all out then, this is where the fun begins" and carried on swimming.
7.28 am
Feed of Maxim and half a banana. She asked me what the time was. We told her to drink quickly and get a move on to catch Anna up. Sea staying calm, but still cloud cover. We're in the middle of the SW lane. Debbie just texted to see how Annette was doing.
7.56am
5 hours on.Annette says she's feeling a bit tired and a little sleepy. Her stroke count has gone down slightly, but still doing well.
8.26am
5 1/2 hours into the swim. Annette definitely talks too much. We have given her another 2 Ibuprofens and 1 for the fishes. She told us we were mean! Why?
9.26am
We told Annette that Freda had rung, which cheered her up. She talks far too much. Complained that her feed was too cold and said the Electrolyte is making her ill. A still in with her.
9.56am
"I hate this", Annette said. We told her that if she stopped talking she'll get there faster. We're now coming out of the SW shipping lane. She's been stung by a few jellies.
10.12am
Just coming out of the separation zone!
10.28am
Annette said she loved us all. We told her we loved her too, but she needs to hurry her feeds. Sun just trying to break through. Sea really calm today.
11.18am
Just approaching the NE lane
12.03pm
Annette looking a little tired. We think we have another 6 hours to go!
12.40pm
We've just given Annette a feed and she said she wanted to get out. N said he'll record that on his mobile and send it to Freda!
1.06pm
10 hours into the swim now and A just got in again to keep her company. When we stopped for her feed we could just about make out France, but really misty out here today and Annette started screaming "FRANCE, FRANCE, I just want it to get bigger"
1.32pm
In one feed alone, Annette said:
"France is now getting bigger"
"Can we still see England?"
"I'm quite happy at the moment"
"We're not going to miss any of those amazing tides, are we?"
"We will if you don't stop talking", we replied.
2.26pm
Annette just asked the 1 million dollar question of Channel Swimming: "How many more hours? I need to know."
"You know we're not going to tell you that - just keep swimming"
2.56pm
Annette said she's getting tired, not surprising as she's just gone beyond the most she's ever swum. She did about 11.30 in Zurich. We have another 5 miles to go, so we estimate between 4 and 5 hours, depending on what the tide does when it turns! Fingers crossed! A is in with her again.
3.30pm
Annette looking really tired. A still swimming along with her. Annette says she's knackered and that she can't see France. We told her to stop looking and keep swimming, Very tough time now, about 13 hours. She says her shoulders are hurting and that she wants more painkillers.
3.57pm
Tide has now started to turn and we're making a bit of progess towards France. Annette was really sick on her last feed and she's looking very, very tired. Hopefully this tide will take us in.
4.27pm
Annette said she's knackered, but she can keep going. Tide is not helping us much and still about 5 miles to go. We told her she's making progress, which is partly true.
4.58pm
N just asked Annette to give him a good half hour of sprinting.
5.29pm
Annette really tired now and tide still not helping at all as now it's taking us up the Channel!
6.03pm
We told Annette that she might still have a bit of a way to go and that we'll give her a bit more information in the next half hour. She said she might as well get out now, but we said no way. She said she wanted some cheering because she felt she was out there on her own. I "requested" that the family come down from the fly bridge and get a little bit more involved.
6.28pm
N has just given Annette an indication of how long she's got to go. We told her 3 hours, but it's going to be a little bit longer than that, perhaps 4. We told her she still has 3 hours in her and that she can't give up now. Hopefully this is now the beginning of the end!
6.58pm
Daniel has just got in with Annette. Tide seems to be collaborating now. I admire Annette and Anna's courage and determination. This is a long and tough swim.
7.17pm
1.5 miles off the Cape, but the tide will take us up a little bit.
7.30pm
Annette said yet again that she loved us all. At least she's still got the spirit!
7.53pm
Debs just called to wish her well.
8.34pm
Anna has just landed. Lance is on his way to meet us. Annette not making much forward progress at the moment. Fog just came down out of nowhere. She's really a gutsy lady to keep going for so long.
8.58pm
Sea Satin comes round to say hello. Annette screaming "Congratulations" and "Well done" to Anna (I thought she had a sore throat!). She stops for too long and the tide has just pushed us back about 300 yards! We're still about 1.5 miles off the coast and still in deep fog. A in again to push her along.
9.28pm
A just out. We told Annette this could be her last feed. She's speeding up!
10.05pm
We thought it was going to be her last feed, but we had to put a light stick on, which we were trying to avoid. Still not making much progress - we're 0.8 miles off. We're running parallel to the coast with the tide.
10.12pm
At long last only 0.3 miles to go. N just had a little chat with her, told her to drink quickly and stay close to the boat. Fireworks on the coast - tomorrow is July 14th - Bastille Day!
10.40pm
I'm going in last minute as Annette is swimming off course instead of straight ahead onto the beach. I jumped in and managed to catch up with her as she scrambles over the rocks. We cleared the water, lots of algae here. I stop my watch: 19.42 minutes! That was a tough swim, but with a successful outcome! The rocks are really nasty and we both get bad cuts and scratches on the way back to the boat. Annette is spent. I towed her back to the boat a little, then tell her to swim on her own. We make it back to the boat. What a tough swim that was! So happy for her, she's been working on this dream for so long. MANY CONGRATULATIONS!
Other swimming websites
Here's a collection of swimming websites that also might be of use to you.
Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
Open water swimming site for humans and dogs