THE SWIM
The English Channel is the 21-mile stretch of water that separates England and France. The Channel has played its part in history over the past thousand years and has now become the most iconic swim to tackle in the world. One of the first questions people ask when they meet an open-water swimmer is "Have you swum the Channel?". Swimmers come from all over the world to attempt this 'Everest of Swimming'.
This historic swim was first completed by the famous captain Webb on 12th August 1875. This 21-mile swim from Shakespeare Beach in Dover to Cap Gris Nez in Calais remains one of the toughest swimming challenges possible.
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This battle against the cold waters, tides, jellyfish and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world will last anything between 8-20 hours of constant swimming, the equivocal of 1352 non-stop lengths of a standard 25-meter swimming pool.
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Training will consist of a mixture of open water, ocean and pool training. Professional open water coaching, as well as progressive cold water exposure, will ensure my body can cope with the cold temperatures of the channel. A 6-hour training swim will be completed in the months leading up to the swim to ensure my body is ready for the crossing.
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The swim is being completed in association with the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, and the swim will be completed with a pilot vessel that will carry friends, family and a crew to help ensure my safety throughout.
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No wetsuits or anything that may help in buoyancy is allowed to be worn during the crossing. At no stage am I allowed to touch the boat or have any help apart from being thrown food and water, which must be consumed while in the water. With nothing but a pair of Speedos and a heavy covering of Vaseline or ‘sea grease’ to stop the chafing, this first stage presents many challenges.