Fly by Fruiting

So, the qualifier is done, there was nothing to get into the way of the swim, except for the usual risk of the weather causing delays - better known as the ‘Dover Coaster’.

Our booked tide was 12th-20th June.

I’ve heard it said that channel relays are a bit like herding cats, and this was no different. This swim was booked by me and based on inviting some of my favourite swimmers, not all were available and some of those that were had last minute challenges, however, we did have enough to make a great team, and others that I hope to swim with again another year. The team was comprised of Nick Murch, Patrick Tschorn, Kristen Smith, Nicola Budgen and me. This was a great mix of people but some with jobs that are hard to work swims around, so not only were we facing the challenge of weather uncertainties, but also the whole team was not available on all days in the weather window.

Stuart was our pilot and we spoke in the days leading up to the relay tide. In the tide ahead of us were an overseas team who had, to that point, not managed to get wet. The weather had been poor. Initially, it looked like our tide had a stretch of good weather, and so Stuart asked if we could let this team go ahead of us on our tide and we all agreed that we were ok with this. However, the weather changed and the first couple of days became not suitable for swimming and by the time the weather opened up we were well into the tide, with days that some of the team were not available approaching. We were given a few options:

Start Sunday 14th in the morning:
- Pros - a mostly daylight swim, but likely to finish in the dark
- Cons - a potentially lumpy start
Start Sunday 14th in the evening:
- Pros - finish in daylight, better weather
- Cons - overnight air temperature to go down to 8C (which would feel a lot cooler than 8C)
Start Monday 15th in the moring
- Pros - a mostly daylight swim, but likely to finish in the dark
- Cons - the weather window may close and mean it either gets rough or we miss a swimmable opportunity

Whilst I liked the idea of waiting another day or two in the hope that the water temperature increased a bit, I was absolutely terrified by the idea of such cold overnight air temperature and the likelihood of a night swim at this temperature. As a team we went with the first opportunity of Saturday daytime.

Nick was the first swimmer. He jumped from the boat and swam the short distance to shore at Samphire Hoe and at 09:49 he started our swim. Nick is a very fast swimmer and put a great distance between us and England in his first swim. My only concern with having Nick in the team was his nickname ‘the Storm’ earned at least partly because most big swims he’s done have ended up in pretty nasty conditions, but so far so good. I first met Nick in 2016 when he started training with me in Dover and have learned a lot from him since then thanks to the science that he’s brought to the sport.

You may be wondering why the team was called ‘Fly by Fruiting’, this is very similar to a phrase in Mrs Doubtfire when ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ throws a lime at his ex-wife’s new partner (Pierce Brosnan). Given that we have a habit of always throwing fruit and teabags at the swimmer in the water, it seemed a relevant name. We didn’t waste much time and the fruit started flying soon.

Next in was Patrick and he also doesn’t hang around. So much for the predicted challenging conditions to start with, these were perfect conditions with a big spring tide. Patrick joined us in training in around the covid era and since then has completed English Channel and North Channel solos and made a damn fine attempt at a two-way English Channel solo. Patrick has blossomed in the time I’ve known him. I wonder what swims lie ahead for him?

Kristen was our third swimmer, the wind did pick up a little for her, just before my swim which made for slightly bumpier conditions. However, we are all experienced enough that bumpy water isn’t an issue. I was just concerned about the potential wind chill impact. Kristen joined us in training after a successful channel relay. Since then she has completed an English Channel solo - with a rainbow to start her on her way, she’s also swim Loch Ness - a seriously bonkers swim. Kristen is a solid and dependable swimmer who is such a wonderful human.

Me next. I confess that I was really nervous. Mid channel is colder than the harbour. But it’s only 1 hour, not 2 hours. Am I really up for it? Will I let the team down? Then the thought of the potential wind chill. I went down the ladder rather than jump straight in. It was cold but I got swimming. i never really warmed up and that feeling of clenched teeth told me that I was cold. There is something very odd about channel relays - 4 hours on the boat disappear fast, but one hour in the water lasts a lifetime. This swim was no different. I kept my eye on Nicola, watching for signs of her getting ready and it was a welcome sight when I saw her get changed, however, it seemed like another lifetime before she actually got in the water. I was thrilled to be out of the water and got myself changed and wrapped up warm as soon as I could. Then the shivers started and boy did I shiver. I shivered so much that my hip flexors hurt (I’ve never had that). Sitting down was extremely painful. That discomfort lasted for the best part of an hour, but did pass.

Nicola came after me and finished the cycle for the team. Nicola was invited thanks to all of the volunteering she has done on the beach. She initially joined us when training for her first channel relay with her sister, and since then has helped out on the beach countless sessions making it so much safer and more enjoyable for others. She’s always alert and watching out, ready to step in and help when needed. Dover wouldn’t have been the same without her. Like me, Nicola struggles with cold water. Also like me, she is determined and fought for her qualifier and for her hour in the water.

Once Nicola was done we were back to the start with Nick again.

The second swims were much the same as the first except we saw more jellyfish in this round, and we also saw a seal which was last seen at the back of the boat at the time that Kristen had to get in.

My second swim felt a lot easier than the first. I didn’t dislike all of the swim, I even enjoyed some of it. However, I did still shiver a lot and I did still hurt my hip flexors (the strain caused lasted about a week), but I was hopeful that I wouldn’t have to do a third swim, but just in case I put another costume on.

I didn’t need to worry. Nick and Patrick are a strong start to the sequence and Patrick managed to land the swim at the cap 42 minutes into his third swim giving us a final swim time of 11hrs 42 mins just as it was getting dark.

It was a cracking day out with some awesome people - a great way to get back to the sport. Thank you team!!

CSA Details