Quantum of Solent II and Oaks Sharks Swim

Deborah Herridge is raising money for The Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation

Story

I DID IT!!!

14.7 mile two-way swim across the Solent and back again. It took me 7 hours, 18 minutes and 47 seconds and was lovely for the first half and hell for the rest when the wind picked up and created big waves. So happy and relieved, and a little bit tired now.

Swimming across the Solent again on the 22nd September, a 4.5 mile route with 23 other nutters. Wish us luck!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am fundraising here for a wonderful local charity, The Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation, set up in memory to a courageous young man, Oakley Waterman, the son of Lorraine and Dave Waterman, and which honours his last wish to purchase a caravan at Church Farm, which he loved so much, so it could also be used by other children, who are suffering with similar life threatening illnesses.

About my open water swim challenge

After last year's successful one-way swim across the Solent, swimming a route that had never been swum before, diagonally from Ryde to Hill Head Sailing Club, this summer I am going to attempt a double crossing and reverse last year's route, starting the swim from Hill Head Sailing club on the English mainland, swim across to Ryde on the Isle of Wight, do a quick 'tumble turn' and then swim back again. The tumble turn was meant to be just a joke but I've had several people say they'll sponsor me if I do one at Ryde, so I will, and we'll video it and post it live. We'll also have regular updates on Facebook on the day and have a live tracker so you can see my progress across and back again.

I also only ever swim 'skins' which means only swimming in a swimming costume, cap and goggles. Which also means I don't have any thermal protection or buoyancy from a wetsuit, and have to keep moving to stay warm and not get hypothermia.

As the crow flies / fish swims, the route two-way if swam in a straight line is 13.6 miles (21.8 km), but I will be curving the route slightly so that I swim at least 14 miles (22.5km). Based on last year's times it should take me around 7 - 8 hours. The first tidal window we have is 26th June, if the weather doesn't allow that we have more dates in July and September.

This is the swim page, click like on the homepage and you'll see it live on the day and get a weekly training update.

https://www.facebook.com/QuantumofSolent2ReturnoftheTide/info?tab=page_info

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.