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My story

 
We have done it!!!!!!!!

We started at 3pm on the 2nd Oct on the dot, the sun was out but unfortunately so was the wind, straight into our faces. Our plan was to swim 30 minutes each in rotation for as long it would take to get to Geneva estimating 13 swims each and swimming between 72 & 75km.

So for the first 5 hours to battled with the waves, which was a little like getting a sharp smack in the face with every breath. Coupled with this the sun went down and the temperature dropped to 4 degrees. The other major issue was that we were swimming at approx 3 kmph and the boat at tick over when 7kmph, this caused great difficulty in keeping the boat level with the swimmer and in a straight line with all the waves!!

8.30pm the waves were so bad that the support boat we were towing hit the back of the swim boat while we were in a change over and the propellor of the swim boat got the tow rope entangle. Once the rope was cut free we decided to head in to port for a break from the weather and a re-think. 

9pm ish - we sent two of the team off to the support Van for a sleep to recharge batteries as the cold had got to one of the team and the conditions to the other.  We then spent an hour or so checking weather forecasts, and after speaking with a pilot friend we estimated we had to wait till midnight for the wind to die down. 

10pm - We had a crew change, each crew consisted of a driver, spotter, & feeder so James, Patrick & Jason were replaced with Captain Night driver Steve, Alain & jason I need no sleep Shutt. 

10.30pm - With the weather so bad and moral very low we decided to call in our reserve swimmer (John Mills) who actually was due on the boat in the next shift at 3am to drive. I spoke with him and asked if he could pop down to the lake and help out through the night with 3 or so swims to assist the 2 remaining swimmers. 

11.37pm - John M arrived - we decided that we would swim till first light then join back to full force with all the swimmers the next day. 

12.15am 3rd Oct - off we went, boat crew 2, and 3 swimmers. By now the wind had died a little and we had renewed confidence the 3 of us swam thru the night doing our religious 30mins swims 1 hour off 30 minute swim 1 hour off. 

4am - probably my lowest point; the water felt like ice; and body temperatures were falling and our old enemy the wind was back!

5am - we arrive in Evian port as the wind was up again and we needed a break and sleep. 

6am - we called for the support vehicles, to see how the other 2 swimmers were. They seemed low; hungry; pale; but OK, 

8am - after a little rest we had reached the decision point, if we had a chance of getting to Geneva still 40+km away we needed all 5 swimmers motivated and ready, after many discussions amongst ourselves and phone calls to loved ones we decided for a 915am depart from Evian port - we also agreed to take it swim by swim with the aim to get to the Yvoire, the point which we hoped we could see Geneva and then push for home. Moral was low, nothing I personally have experience before. 

9.15am - We are 8 hours behind schedule and not sure if we were even going to make it & after the last 18 hours of bad weather confidence was low but we left. All 5 of us.... plus crew 3 (Ladders, Debs, Alain i don't need any sleep either) Also we had Steve, Jason, James, Rory in the support boat keeping company. 

We swam & Swam all taking turns all swimming strong & fast the weather at last was PERFECT no wind, sunny & calm - we passed Amphion, then Thonon, then we had Yvoire in sights admittedly is was 15km away but we could see it. Boat load after boat load of supporters came to visit the swim boat, which gave us all a massive lift and hearts started to lift and sneaky thoughts entered my head like we might make it...... 

5pm  Yvoire fantastic but could not see Geneva... Another crew change obviously Steve night driver rejoined the boat joined by Rory, Alain I need no sleep and our new 6th Swimmer I hate fish debs, debs never having swam open water, in a wetsuit, scared of fish and was supposed to be a crew put together a string to 3 fantastic swims THANK YOU.. More time for the others to try to hydrate & eat & rest & just try to hold on...

6pm someone Music Mr Motivator shouts Jet d'eau I can see it It was Geneva in our sights, after lots of chats with Crew & swimmer we ascertained we had 20k to go...... I knew now it was doable

630pm The sun was setting and the wind was getting up again, But LAura kept going against here demons into the waves, her small body being thrown back with every stroke.... 

730pm The sun is setting again, If told before you will have to do 2 nights in a row I would have questioned the challange - awayway As the sun went down Gaynor looked like she had jets on her feet she was flying, and not just for the standard 30 minutes she pulled out a 50 minute swim, then Music pulled a 45 minute swim we could see the lights of Geneva and we were on a roll. 

8pm - It seems like the longest minutes of my life!! And John Mills is still Swimming after being asked nearly 24 hours earlier would you pop down the lake just to swim 2 or 3 times till dawn there he was in the water with his perfect technic on his 9th SWIM to put that into perspective that is approx 15km in total AMAZING for a man who said I think I could manage 2 or 3 swims, started swimming in the middle of the night, no warning, nothing THANK YOU....
9pm Gaynor is flying again and not for a miserly 30minutes and other long swim and we can almost touch Geneva
950pm Music is in the water now just swimming on air, he has been on the boat since 9am the day before, kept us all going and motivated he lead from the front and he put in his second 45 minute swim in a row, he knew & so did I this team were going to make it
 (NOT SURE ON TIMINGS AS LITTLE TRIED AT THIS POINT)
1030 I get in the water and the finish line is within touching distance so I decide I am not getting out till I get to Geneva ....
11pm - Alain shouts to me 500metres to go....
11.15pm He lied... but now we really did have 500metres and all the swimmer joined me in the water and we swam together towards the rocks in the dark, 

11.30pm 30hours & 30 minutes after we left Villenerve we arrive in Geneva to a welcome of family and friends we had done it, It has taken all my reserve and mind to get through it but we would never have achieved this with out each other and all the support people so thank you to all Crew, Steve,Ladders,james,Rory,Jason,Alain,Debs,Ed,Patrick you were all fantastic and for putting up with grumpy me for all that time in a small boat. Also thank you to all people who made the effort to come and cheer us on it really helped us all.

PS I am never doing it again, 










we are attempting a relay swim of Lake Geneva (also known as Lac Leman), the largest freshwater lake in Western Europe.   It's a long crescent shaped lake - around 72km in total.  The English Channel is only 35km, so we'll be swimming the equivalent of the channel twice, plus a bit more.  It's also a very deep lake, 310m at it's deepest.  Full of large fish...

The swim will happen during the first weekend of October, actual date dependent on the weather, and we'll set off from Villeneuve and swim to  Geneva, or vice versa, depending on wind direction. There will be four of us, plus support boat, taking part in the relay, each of us swimming about forty five minutes at a time, with a number of longer swims thrown in so that each member can get a decent rest at some point in the twenty four hours that we are hoping it will take us.   The biggest challenge will be the weather, as swimming in cold, choppy water is not pleasant, and swimming in the dark, something we've not done before.  We are trying not to think of the creatures with sharp teeth lurking in the depths...

The aim of the swim is to raise money for several causes close to the hearts of each team member. The La Chapelle d'abondance school, Tunstead School, Child Bereavement Charity,  Breast Cancer Care and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Charitable Trust.


We hope you will give generously to these good causes and thank you in advance for your kindness.

Keep your eye on this page to see how we get on......


The Team.


Donations made on this page will go to :The La Chapelle d'abondance school, Child Bereavement Charity



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Congratulations on a great achievement! Donation by Ray Pritchard 24/11/09  

£50.00

Well done Jon and team, incredible, whatever will you do next Donation by John Mills (senior) 25/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Hi Stuart. We are very impressed with you and your team's effort. Well done! Christeen and Sandy Donation by Christeen Finlayson 21/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

From a mariner -Crazy you could have waited for the ferry. very well done. Donation by Bob & Maureen Hockliffe 19/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Stuart & co - an amazing team effort - well done, especially with that weather. So impressed. Good causes. Donation by Tony Palmer 16/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well Done Gang! Outstanding effort! Donation by Romi Nella 15/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well Done Stuart and co Donation by Tawfic Nashashibi 13/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Wow!!! You guys are amazing .... crazy but amazing! Well done to you all! Donation by Clare Harrison/Nichol 12/10/09  

£50.00

Well done everyone! Fantastic achievement! Thanks for keeping Jon busy over the weekend that I had to work!!! :) Donation by Nicky Mills 11/10/09  

£50.00

OMG, that all sounds very, very traumatic. Well done to all of you and for riasing so dosh too (u r all nutters) x Donation by Emma Walker 09/10/09  

£75.00 + £21.15 Gift Aid

Awesome effort Laura and Music! Good on ya! Bloody ledgends! Donation by Silas & Angela 09/10/09  

£20.00

Good work Laura - Great to read of your achievement. Hope its a busy winter for you. Kate Donation by Kate Trewavas 08/10/09  

£20.00

Well done Jon and team, a huge effort against the odds! Donation by HERMIONE MACKRILL 08/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done - trust that you have thawed out now Jan and Martin Donation by Jan and Martin Sambrook 08/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Has to have been far worse than rowing. Sorry we couldn't get out to see you. Fantastic result Donation by Dick & Angela 07/10/09  

welldone!!!!!!! norma and alistair Donation by Norma Paton 07/10/09  

£100.00

brilliant open water swim well done the whole team Donation by tom & sue 06/10/09  

Just read your inspiring story & just had to send another £100 Donation by Denise Whyte 05/10/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Great effort for a great cause. Must have been cold? Donation by Patrick Stones 05/10/09  

Well done guys - Lake Superior Next Year? Donation by NETbuilder (Tony & Dan) 05/10/09  

£100.00

Well done - what an incredible achievement and bonker idea xxxxxxxxx Donation by Odette McBride 04/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hi good luck hope it goes smoothly and nobody suffers from sea sickness or you experience any strange lake winds! PS call me if you need a sub... Donation by John Trott 04/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Laura & Friends, Well done for doing such a fantastic thing! We hope all went well. Donation by kim & Tony 04/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Hope it all went well! Was thinking of you! X X Donation by Sarah Bilbey 03/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Guid luck ma web toed friends Donation by Muff 03/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Laura? Music? You guys are CRAZY!!! Truly phenomenal what you re doing and for such worthy causes. Good luck to the whole team xx Donation by Toni King 03/10/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Well done all. Great achievement! Donation by Lynne Smith 03/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

You guys rock! Best of luck and dont forget your water wings....(arm bands in Unglish) xx Donation by Mel Holloway 02/10/09  

£30.00

GOOD LUCK very brave of you Laura- from Phil & Sue H Donation by phil Hansen 02/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck Laura ! Donation by nicholas leighton 02/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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