Mission accomplished. On 21 September 2010, at around 22:05 (local time) and after 12h 07m 44s (official swim time), I landed at Cap Gris Nez (France).
THANK YOU ALL VERY VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TOUCHING SUPPORT TO THE MS SOCIETY AND YOUR BRILLIANT ENCOURAGEMENT!
PLEASE KEEP DONATING!
http://www.dover.uk.com/channelswimming/swims/2010/solo/
http://s733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/tusalvat/English%20Channel%20Swim%2021%20Sept%202010/
You can follow progress on: Sept 19 (San Gennaro) Update: air temperature has fallen as low as 5C and the water is cooling down very quickly. However, there is some hope to go out on Tuesday, Sept 21. Fingers crossed... Aug 23 Update: conditions in the Channel (40+ knot wind) require a longer wait. The crossing could be from 3 September onwards, based on the latest weather forecast. Aug 14 Update: the attempt to bring the crossing forward has been called off at the last hour due to adverse weather conditions.
The Challenge
This summer I will attempt a “solo” swim of the English Channel, which means starting from dry land on Shakespeare Beach, near Dover, and swimming all the way to Cap Griz Nez, France (or anywhere in France, really, as long as I don't get lost in the Atlantic or heading towards Netherlands...), by getting fully clear of the water. No wet suit, no breaks on a boat: just the Channel and me.
The Cause
Please help me make this challenge special by donating to the Multiple Sclerosis Society (http://www.mssociety.org.uk/). The crossing, if ever completed successfully, would be pointless without your generous contributions.
We all receive numerous donation requests from friends and acquaintances embarking various challenges. They all remind us of the importance to aim high but also care about the less fortunate among us.
Any donation to this worthwhile cause will be greatly appreciated. If you wish to make an offline donation via personal cheque, please make it payable to "Multiple Sclerosis Society" and mail it to my home address (please get in touch if needed).
Please note that your donations are tax deductable (for UK tax residents). However, you may elect not to deduct your contribution and allow the charity to claim Gift Aid, thus increasing the value of your already generous contribution by £28.2 for every £100 donated.
Every penny of your donations (plus gift aid) will go to the charity. Any cost associated with the swim (support boat, registration fees, etc.) will be fully covered by myself.
Details of the Challenge
The swim is scheduled for mid-late August 2010, with actual date and time depending on weather, tides and other factors.
For those interested in some stats:
- Length in a straight line: 35km (22mls), but in practice much longer due to the tidal currents pushing up and down the channel;
- Max water temp: 16-18C (60-64F) (I have been given precious advice on how to deal with it: "if you feel cold, just swim faster!");
- Average swim time: 10-20 hours;
- Hazards: hypothermia, debris, jellyfish and 600 commercial ships using the channel per day. And no, there are no sharks (the water is too cold even for them!);
- “Clothing”: costume, swim cap, goggles and waterproof light for night swimming. No wetsuit, no mp3 player, no anything else.
Additional details can be found on http://www.dover.uk.com/channelswimming/
If you wish to follow the attempt as member of the support crew onboard the safety boat, please get in touch but be prepared to spend many long hours out at sea and bring loads of reading materials and sea sickness pills! My friend Fabio will be Chief of Staff; you would be reporting to him.
Thank you all in advance for your generosity in supporting this cause, which is very dear to me. Wish me luck and au revoir en France!
tags: channel swimming, channel swim, english channel, channel challenge, channel crossing
