Even more final update:

Official time: 15 hrs 40 mins. Sorry for exaggerating - I knew that i had shaved some time off after i put the hammer down for the last hour!

Final Update:

Well. That was a long way! I am never doing that again!

But i made it, swam from Shakespeare's Beach to Wissant in 15 hours and i think, 49 minutes.

Thank you so much for your incredible support. Fantastic work.

A

Update:

Provided the weather holds, it looks like my swim will be from about 4 am on Thursday 10 August.

I am treating the fact that everything already hurts as a positive, on the basis that it cant get worse.

Anyone with an unquenchable appetite for the minutiae of the attempt is welcome to join the whatsapp group at:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Fi0xbCGcZyb4fKuYbc4ua3

Thanks to everyone who has supported me this far. If it all goes wrong, it is down to me. (And Nick Hill).

A luta continua,

Andrew

Original post:

Right then. As some of you know, I have spent a lot of time recently swimming, talking about swimming, eating after I have been swimming, or asleep. So i have decided to channel my behaviour into something constructive, but which also gives rise to a real risk that it will pass through hubris into ignominious failure. This, for many of you, will be the fun part.

I am going to attempt to swim the English Channel in August 2023. I have taken part in a couple of relay channel swims, with the wonderful Team Wallabies in 2020 and the remarkable Team Rhinos in 2022, but this time will I be swimming solo - although supported by a lovely group of people throwing Snickers bars at me from a boat. This has nothing to do with nutrition, as I have a very detailed plan involving 30 minute feeds with a fructose / sucrose / protein rotation. They just like doing it.

There are rules, of course. No wetsuit, no touching the boat till after we get there (they do bring me back after) and no more than 5 mins on the beach in France. Just me, my speedos, my goggles and a hat. For about 35 kilometres of swimming, give or take. There are jellyfish. There might be sewage (thanks guys). The water will probably be about 17 degrees. And it will take me quite a long time - I am not going to guess how long because there are many variables and I might do a sweepstake to monetise it.

I am able to try to do this because of Aspire, a wonderful charity that provides essential support to people who have Spinal Cord Injury. Have a look at their website to see the work that they do, helping people from injury to independence. I would be ever so grateful if you could sponsor me to help them with their work. I have paid for the boat myself, so whatever you donate will go to them.

I should also point out that this is an attempt. It is possible that it won't happen because of weather - although it is more likely to take place later than planned than not at all. And it is possible that it will, as i said, not end well. But you will definitely feel better if you give some money. And i will feel worse if i don't make it. Which, again, for many of you, will be the fun part.

The cowboy picture is very very old and has nothing to do with me swimming. But it is uniquely flattering, so i have included it.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.