Alex Fordyce
ALEX FORDYCE HAS SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED TO SOLO SWIM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
Fundraising for Second Chance Childrens Charity
Story
I attach a photo taken in early June in Jersey whilst sea training in 13 degree water- I had to complete a 6 hour sea swim to qualify for the Channel crossing.
The English Channel at its narrowest point is 21 miles wide (34km’s). I am going to attempt to swim this at the end of August / beginning of September 2019.
I have had to gain significant weight for insulation, from 85kg to a fraction under 100kg 🙄, as Channel swimming rules dictate you cannot wear Lycra and you need to be able to fight off hypothermia caused by the cold water. Usually it is not advisable to be in water of this temperature for more than 2-3hrs! The swim could take anything from 12- 17 hours depending on tidal conditions and the weather out at sea. The strong tidal currents in the Channel switch 180 degrees approximately every 6 hours adding another complexity to the challenge.
I shall be fed from a boat with support crew and a bottle tied to a line providing crucial fluids and some solid ‘treats’ every so often. The swim will either start in the dark or finish in the dark as tides dictate when we can begin.
Due to the unpredictability and physical nature of the crossing this is my toughest challenge to date by a country mile and so I would be grateful for any support that you are willing.
Second Chance is a charity that I have worked closely with for a number of years and they carry out superb work in improving the lives of disadvantaged children. The CEO Doug Hulme who I know well has one of the warmest hearts and works tirelessly for this wonderful charity. Each year I see for myself the incredible difference they make to peoples lives. Any support you can provide will be hugely appreciated. Messages of support will make their way onto the boat via the web and on to the whiteboard so please keep them coming. It will really help me dig deep when things get tough which they will undoubtedly do!