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We did it!! – The First Brits to swim the straits both ways
On Tuesday 5th July Chris Sheppard and Adam Walker started their swim from Tarifa Point at 11:30 local time (09:30 GMT) and completed the 2 way crossing of the Gibraltar Straits at 21:11 local time (19:11 GMT), aided by their support boat with Emily Walker and Melanie Sheppard. Confirming Chris and Adam as the first British swimmers to swim a 2way and also breaking the British record on their first leg to Morocco.
Chris said "It was the hardest swim he had ever done, including the channel, due to the speed they had to swim to overcome the strong tides which potentially were taking them out to sea and the time limit before the pilot would pull the swim due to the local shipping rules in the Straits which forbade swimming at night."
Both swimmers knew it was worth it when they were joined early on in the swim by Pilot Whales and dolphins. "It just brought it home to us why we were doing this challenge. Within the first hour of the swim we could hear the Pilot Whales under the water" The crew confirmed this when the Pilot Whales broke the surface 20 metres from the boat. "At one point on the return leg we had dolphins swim within 4 feet of us, so close you could almost touch them, it was truly a sight to behold and knowing that they were there by their own choice made it all the more poignant." Adam commented "Whilst on the return leg I observed a fin coming towards me which then dived under the water only 5 metres ahead like something out of a jaws movie." ...he looked but saw nothing under the water and is sure it was a dolphin (or so he hoped!!).
Melanie and Emily who provided Chris and Adam with their vital feeds during the crossing were entertained by young dolphins dancing through the waves, one jumping out of the water and dancing on its tail fin, only to disappear when they got their camera ready. The crew had dolphins with them for most of the crossing.
The water temperature was warmer than expected, as high as 21C down to a refreshing 15C in parts. Chris commented "It was a relief to feel the cooler water as it was more difficult to set a pace in the warmer water."
During the swim they were fed on the half hour on carbohydrate drinks, bananas, chocolate mini rolls, jelly babies and electrolyte to keep their bodies energised and hydrated. Even with the intake of several thousand calories they were still using more than they could consume.
The feeds, pace and stamina were everything in the swim. "We had been informed by the pilot on the day to make the return leg possible we would have to reach Morocco in 3hours 15mins. We had trained to hit between 3 1/2 and 4 hours, so were quite concerned regarding pace." In order to do the 2 way they first had to reach Morocco and were told to swim at full pace all the way to give them a chance. At 14.55 they touched Punta Ciras in Morocco and immediately turned around and started their return leg. The return leg would be a longer and tougher swim, testing their endurance to the limit. After 6 hours the boat crew informed them to swim quicker to beat the tides which were threatening to take them out to sea. Chris said "At this point I was swimming at what I thought was a good pace but was very low on energy, when Melanie and Emily both shouted for us to swim faster. I don't know where I got the energy from but just told myself to swim harder, not knowing how long we would have to keep the pace up for. It felt so soul destroying after swimming for so long to be told if we didn't pick up the pace we wouldn't make it back." At the second instruction from the crew to swim faster Adam became more concerned that they wouldn't make it and that at any point the swim could be pulled. However, in a determined attempt to succeed they continued to swim at a faster pace, as in Adam's words, "I didn't want to fail and spend time later wondering..... what if?" Chris had similar thoughts and recalls saying to himself "... it’s only a few more hours of hard slog compared to years of wondering".
After swimming for 9 hours solid both swimmers could clearly make out the Spanish mainland all they needed now was a place to land. The tides were starting to get stronger and they only had now 45mins in which to land before the tide would take them around the peninsular and the swim would be stopped. All they were told was to swim hard. They both pushed on and with 15 minutes to spare they reached a rock on the Spanish coast. Adam finished at 21:09 and 2 minutes later Chris joined him at 21:11. Completing the 19miles round trip in 9hrs 39mins and 9 hrs 41mins respectively. Afterwards Chris said “Even though we could clearly make out the cliffs of Spain it seemed to take ages to land” .
The swim was over, they had done it having had the experience of a lifetime to swim within feet of Dolphins and Whales in their natural habitat. They also set several records (The fastest one way crossing by a British person, the first British 2 way crossing and the first to swim the two way as a pair in the world.).
Chris and Adam would like to thank their support crew of Melanie Sheppard, Emily Walker, Angela Hopkins, Anne Sheppard, Peter Walker, Margaret Walker, Gareth Hughes, and Antonio (Pilot), Fernando (Zodiac driver) and Rafael (ACNEG President) with whom this swim was possible
We would also like to thank ZOGGS swimwear, Everyone Active (Lammas Leisure Centre), Clem and Margaret Turner, Colin Slaven, Teressa Dixon, Dave and Sharon Young who loaned us the biggest Union Jack we have ever seen and all who have read our website and who have donated to our charity Stop Whaling. All monies will go towards helping to bring awareness to the cruelty of Whaling the world over and help protect these gentle giants and their habitat.
We would also like to thank our friends in Gibraltar who have helped to bring awareness of the plight of whales to the public forum in Gibraltar; Environmental Safety Group www.esg-gib.net and Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation www.gbc.gi
What did we do it all for?
Thousands of whales are hunted each year by humans for their meat. We wanted to swim amongst the several different types of species in the Gibraltar Strait, in support of these magnificent creatures and their plight, raising money to help build reserves and educate people to the devastating consequences 'whaling' has on these wonderful creatures, as well as the inhumane ways they are killed.
Which whale species are currently being hunted?
Fin, Minke, Bryde’s, Sei, Humpback and Sperm whales.
How are whales killed, is it humane?
There is no humane way to kill a whale at sea. The hunting process can never be an exact exercise - whales are a moving target, shot at from a moving vessel which sits on a moving sea. Grenade harpoons are often used to kill whales forcing them to be subjected to a long, slow and painful death. They are often killed under the guise of conducting scientific research, a practice backed by many governments.
Their biggest threat is humans and humans need to put it right before it's too late!!!
Please give whatever you can to this fantastic cause we hope to raise £5000 if possible.
Tell your friends and let’s put a stop to this barbaric practice of the slaughter of these gentle giants of the sea.
Many thanks
