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My story

 

SO NEAR, BUT SO FAR..

Well - it's all over
 
My attempt at swimming the English Channel took place on Monday 8 September  - unfortunately I didn't quite make it, although I gave it a good crack
 
Another plucky Scots failure I'm afraid!
 
Here's a summary of what happened (I've also attached a video clip if you want to see what it looked like out there):
 
At 3.30am on monday morning i jumped into the cold, black water in front of dover's white cliffs and started my swim to france.
 
Conditions were pretty poor. The stormy wind and rain of the previous 2 wks had died down, but the sea was still choppy with a big swell and all the rain had dropped the water temperature down to 16C, about 3 degrees less than normal
 
I spoke with my boat pilot and decided I had no choice but to make my attempt that day because even worse weather was forecast for the rest of the week.
 
I felt strong and surprisingly warm as i swam but the choppy waves kept knocking my stroke out, preventing me from getting into any rhythm.
 
I swam the first 3 hrs in the dark with only the lights on my support boat and it was a nice relief when daylight started to appear, although it was another 3 or 4 hrs before I started to feel a bit of sun on my back
 
The waves and swell also caused problems when my boat stopped every hour or half hour to throw me an energy drink - each time I put the bottle to my mouth a wave would wack me in the face so I either didn't get much of the drink or I got It mixed with sea water which made me vomit.
 
I managed to keep going hour after hour, despite demons in my head telling me to get out and climb into a nice warm bed!
 
I reached the half way point after less than 6 hrs and my boat crew were excited because it looked like I would complete the swim within 12hrs. They told me I was ahead of 2 relay teams (6 swimmers in each team swimming for an hour each) who started at the same time as me. So I felt really good
 
I was still feeling good and strong as I went through hours 7-10. But I wasn't getting enough fuel due to the feeding problems and I think that's what did for me in the end
 
After 13 hrs 40 mins of swimming, and having got to within 1.5 miles of the french coast, which felt like touching distance, i got caught in the outflowing tide.
 
That meant that despite being so close that it would normally take me only about 30 mins to swim to shore, I  would have to swim even faster against the tide for the next 4 hrs than i had been for the last 13 hrs, just to stay still!
 
I tried to increase my stroke rate but I had almost nothing left to give
 
That was when my boat pilot decided that I was close to hypothermia and would not be able to  cope with another 4 hrs of zero progress. So i was pulled out the water on safety grounds.
 
I think it was the right decision. I don't remember much of hours 10-13 because disorientation was setting in, which is a good indicator that i was slipping into hypothermia
 
So, I didn't quite make it although I think I came about as close as it's possible to come without landing on French soil
 
I'm a wee bit disappointed, because I'd envisaged a certificate on my wall and a story to one day tell (potential) grandchildren!
 
I'll try again early next summer - I now know that I can do it.
 
The good news for me (and the WDCS) is you don't get a refund of your generous donation even though I didn't fulfil my end of the bargain!
 
Thanks very much for your support
 
I hope all is well with you

Steve
 

Now we know why you swam - there was a fire in the tunnel,great effort - well done Donation by Jan and Alan 15/09/08  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Wow! You are amazing. Donation by Tracey and Andy 12/09/08  

£50.00

you are brave and mad in equal measure....very best wishes and hope you avoid the ferries! Donation by jason auld 07/09/08  

£75.00 + £21.15 Gift Aid

Good luck you nutter! Donation by James H 06/09/08  

£100.00

Not long to go now! Hope it goes swimmingly............. Donation by Stephen Campbell 02/09/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

All the best Steve! Donation by Will Payne 02/09/08  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

When you get there, can you pick me up some Kronenbourg that was meant to go to the Middle East!? Donation by Greg B 01/09/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

You gave us food for thought but we'll stick with Eurostar Donation by The Callow Family 25/08/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

You go girl! Donation by Alan & Fiona Mittun 17/08/08  

£50.00

Best of luck Steve !! Donation by Graeme Lind 15/08/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Are the French girls ready for you? Donation by Rod & Jen 10/08/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Keep up the training... Donation by Peter Kennerley 29/07/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Go for it; and just thrill to the jellyfish stings! Donation by Mum & Dad 21/07/08  

£500.00 + £141.03 Gift Aid

Maori “Kia korero te katoa o te tinana” meaning “the whole body should speak”. Well I’m sure after your swim, your body will be screaming ! G. LUCK Donation by Katherine Mardon 20/07/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

A charitable pursuit to disguise your obsession with grease and rubber is a step too far. Donation by Ewan Currie 27/06/08  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Good luck Donation by John Dunsmore 25/06/08  

£250.00 + £70.51 Gift Aid

Good luck mate, on the turd dodging that is... Donation by Simon L 09/06/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Bonne chance ! Donation by Nico 09/06/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I could have thought of easier ways to mark the big 4-0. Best of luck you mad man! Donation by Ashleigh 09/06/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

King of cretins - you make us all laugh Donation by Nancrede 03/06/08  

£2.00 + £0.56 Gift Aid

Best of luck Steve. At least you will have the taste of your nuts (as they retract to your throat) to keep you going on the journey. Donation by "Dave" Turnbull 02/06/08  

£50.00

Madness, I say, madness! Donation by Claire Godbeer 28/05/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Fantastic challenge. All the very best. Donation by Kenny Cumming 22/05/08  

£75.00 + £21.15 Gift Aid

my 50% of the RL/GD JV2 Donation by graeme dacomb 15/05/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

debts settled, I think. Though my JV with billy may still be owing! Donation by kenny neison 15/05/08  

£196.00 + £55.28 Gift Aid

to each his own. Fello speedo wearer. Donation by kenny neison 15/05/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Have you not heard of the Eurostar?? All the best. Donation by Alex Potter 15/05/08  

£100.00

Ancient Chinese proverb say "When bird not pee, do not blubber. Wail!" Donation by steve weatherley 14/05/08  

£300.00 + £84.62 Gift Aid

Gaun yersel flipper! Donation by Gillian Clelland 29/04/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Very well done Steve Donation by Andrew Manning Cox 24/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
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