Not to be taken lightly

I have the green light to swim tomorrow morning, weather permitting. The water temperature is 17'C, ambient air temperature between 21-26'C on the coast, wave height is 3-5 feet in the middle of the channel; beaufort (i.e. wind speed rating) of 2-3 along the coast and 4-5 in the middle. A beaufort reading of 5-6 is indicative of a "small craft warning;" greater than 7 is a full gale!


I have been training in Dover for 5 days now. This is hallowed ground. Swimmers from all over the world converge here in an attempt to swim the channel. In other words, I am not the only "freak" swimming in the ocean without a wetsuit! There is a team of sponsored athletes from India. Two of these swimmers are teenagers with disabilities. One of them has left me with an unforgetable image of determination. This particular athlete is a paraplegic. His coach wheels him to the upper beach. From here, the swimmer makes his own way to the ocean--using only his arms to make his way over coarse rocks to water's edge. There is no stopping this swimmer once he is in the water. He swims unencumbered for upwards of 4-5 hours/day. He will be attempting his swim towards the end of August. Other swimmers I have met include a Japanese woman who successfully crossed the channel this week on a spring tide! Spring tides are associated with very strong currents. Most swims are planned around neap tides (i.e. when there is less current). This was her 5th channel crossing and she did it in a very respectable time of 14 hours. She was on the beach swimming the very next day! Other countries that are represented here include Iceland, Germany, Egypt, Brazil, Venezuala, USA, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, and the UK., just to name a few.


I have also met my pilot, Andy King. He took me and an American swimmer (Rendy from La Jolla, California) for a test swim in force 5 waters (severe small craft warning). Rendy is a very ambitious swimmer. She is set to complete the "triple crown" of open water swimming. This includes the Catalina Channel in California, English Channel and Manhattan Island swim in less than 6 weeks! She won the prestigious Manhattan Island Marathon swim last year. Rendey and I are very evenly matched.....going head to head in a training session between the walls of Dover Harbour. It is an honor to swim with her. She is swimming in the tide before mine (today) and I would expect her to make the crossing in less than 10 hrs (9 hrs if conditions are favorable). Rendey and I are very impressed with Andy. Andy is very adept at manoevering his boat a safe distance from us, and just ahead so that he guides us to France, not the other way around. He also makes it a point to maintain eye contact with us every time we turn our heads toward the ship's bridge for a breath. He will also position the boat to ensure that we are swimming on the leeward (less windy) side of the boat. Andy is also a character who makes us laugh. For example, his second mate is a Shrek doll mounted to the boat's mast! He is also known for using colorful language to spur his swimmers. We have been forewarned to expect words of encouragement such as...."swim you crazy BAST@$^!" Furthermore, if we see him donning cap and goggles, then we are in real trouble. For you see, Andy is a "salty sea fisherman," and he does not exactly have the physique of a swimmer. Seriously though, for Andy to take the time to escort us for a sea trial, speaks volumes for his professionalism. He also makes us laugh which puts us at ease; and in so doing, also reminds us to have fun and not take ourselves too seriously!
The photo up top, from left to right (Christian and Jonathan from New York, Mike from Seattle and yours truly; Nuala from London stands in the front row). Nuala had a successful crossing yesterday in 12 hours. Unfortunately, Mike and Christian did not make it. Both were pulled 10 hours into their swims due to severe hypothermia. Both of them were within a few kilometers for France. I am relieved that Mike and Christian have made a full recovery. I cannot help but feel for them as this was their 2nd attempt at the channel. By no means is this a failure....both trained hard and gave it 110%. This serves as a reminder that this swim is NOT to be taken lightly. Consequently, I am having some fleeting moments of self-doubt......Do I have what it takes? The answer of course is yes, but this experience serves as a reminder to:
1) Respect the ocean
2) Stay determined and focussed on the goal--those sands of France.
3) There is no looking back to the White Cliffs of Dover.
4) Visualize success and put one arm in front of the other until I reach Cap Griz Nez.

I will be departing at 0600. You can track my progress at www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?map=folkstone. Look for the boat called Louise Jane. We will be dodging all the other ships you see on the map.

Powered by the Orcas of Haro Strait and Ogopogo,
Brent