Swimmers view

Swimmers view
Sea Leopard - swimmers eye view

Friday 19 August 2011

Ranie Pearce - Solo Success 5th August 2011 - Report by Keith Oiller

Ranie Pearce - photo from http://www.swimmingthechannel-august2011.blogspot.com/
1300 - Arrived at Dover Marina.


1310 - Onboard Sea Leopard with Stuart Gleeson (pilot) and Stewart Richardson (Crew)
Introduced to Ranie (swimmer), Jackie, Robert and Hannah (Support team)

1320 - Left pontoon. Safety briefing given by Stewart. Informed Ranie of proceedures and CSA guidance, together with main rules covering solo swims and observer duties. Stewart checks that all on board have passport/identification.
1325 - Return to pontoon to enable Robert and Hannah to collect identification from car.
1340 - Left Dover Harbour accompanied by 2 yachts.

1355 - Arrived off Samphire Hoe beach. Ranie has completed preparation for swim. Has 2x lights fitted and activated (cap and swim suite straps). Swims ashore to commence swim.

1403 - Ranie clear of water. Re-enters water on klaxon being sounded. Stop watch started and swim commences at 1403hrs. Weather good - light wind, virtually clear blue sky.
1420 - Two dolphins spotted by Jackie approx 50m port bow.

1425 - Inshore quite busy - 4 x yachts to south, Pathfinder and relay team approx quarter mile off bow.
1428 - Ranie stopped swimming briefly but contined after acknowledging that she was OK (Just checking that we were paying attention.

1451 - Sea France Ferry Roden leaving Dover bound for Calais.
1503 - Standard data taken and recorded.
1507 - Stop for feed. Drink given by bottle on string. Energy bars given via bucket on feeding pole.
1509 - Swim recommenced after feed
1525 - Pilot advised approx 2 miles off shore
1540 - Very little inshore traffic. P&O freight ferry leaving Dover
1605 - Clear Blue Skies with low bands of clouds on horizon to East and as a back drop to the white cliffs of Dover. French coast is clearly visible.
1622 - Cabin cruiser crosses close across bow travelling up Channel.
1623 - Seal spotted approx 150yards off port side.
1640 - P&O ferry passes on port side bound for Calais.
1715 - Sea France ferry passes close on Starboard side bound for Calais.
 

1722 - P&O ferry passes close on Starboard side bound for Dover.
1845 - DFDS Seaways ferry passes close on port side bound for Dunkirk.


1847 - Enter South West Shipping Lane.
1853 - Container ship NYK Cool line Summer Flower passes close astern. Travelling down Channel after being advised of our position by Dover Coastguard.
1855 - DFDS Seaways ferry passes close on starboard side bound for Dover.
1925 - Large Bulk Carrier San Marino Trader passes close astern travelling down Channel.
1945 - Area of weed entered - safely negotiated by Ranie. Small coaster passing astern.
1955 - Ranie stops swimming momentarily - "The weed scared me." Still some small areas of weed.
1957 - Ranie stops swimming - to check that all on board Sea Leopard are OK!! She can see France.
2000 - Large container ship CSAV Ruparco passes very close across bow. Ranie takes opportunity to feed.

2004 - Oregon Highway car carrier passes close across bow going down Channel.
2008 - Fulmar (seabird) visits Ranie - chif photographer Hannah has taken photo.
2028 - Stop early for feed to allow vessel to pass.
2030 - large bulk carrier FD Vittorio Raiola passes very close across bow.
2110 - Cruise Ship Costa Magica passes across bow going down Channel. Getting dark.
2135 - Slightly delayed feed. (Problems changing gas bottle - can't get the staff these days!!) Ranie swims backstroke whilst finishing Mojo bar.
2155 - Very little close / visible shipping. Large container vessel approx. 2 miles ahead going up Channel (silhouetted against lights on French coast)
2220 - Enter Separation zone.
2230 - Enter North East Shipping Lane - very little visible shipping.
2345 - Shipping continue to be quiet - lights of three ferries can be seen some distance to the South.
0029 - It's raining - light, fine drizzle. Visibility has reduced but still reasonable, having been very good
0108 - DFDS Seaways ferry passing close on Port side bound for Dunkirk.
0142 - P&O Ferry passes close off Starboard side bound for Calais.
0145 - Approx half way across NE Lane. Stopped raining visibility increased. Lights on French coast clearly. Visible again. Lights on English coast still clearly visible are only slowly diminishing.
0155 - Over past 15mins Ranie has tended to alternate strokes (front crawl, back & breast.) After feed taken at 0158, returned to front crawl.
0230 - Light drizzle. Visibility to South reduced but lights around Calais still clearly visible.
0232 - Feed taken. Ranie concerned that it is raining and those on Sea Leopard are getting wet. Visibility has reduced - looks like those on board will be getting wetter.
0252 - P&O Ferry passes on starboard side bound for Calais. Continues to rain more heavily. We are getting wetter
0328 - Still raining. Visibility limitied. 2 small coasters passing astern. Shipping is relatively quiet - approx. three quarters of a mile before we leave shipping lane and enter French inshore waters.
0334 - Ranie stopped swimming - asked for "Second Surge" sachet to help relieve cramp.
0336 - Second Surge given with water. Ranie swims back stroke for 8 mins, front crawl 4 mins, back stroke 4 mins beffore returning to front crawl.
0356 - Left NE Shipping Lane and entered French inshore waters.
0425 - Continues to rain. Light to medium drizzle. Very little inshore shipping - even the ferries aren't coming out to play.
0455 - Heavy rain but sky is brightening.
0506 - DFDS Seaways ferry passes astern en route to Dunkirk
0525 - Combination of tide and time has resulted in our postition being rather further East than desired.

Comment from Pilot: "It's a learning curve - you learn something new on each trip"

Comment from Crew: "Pity the skipper didn't do a recce of the Belgian coast when he checked out the French coast a couple of weeks ago."
0625 - Small coaster passing across stern going down Channel/bound for Calais.
0650 - Pilot advised that landing may be on Calais harbour breakwater.
0712 - Coast North of Calais harbour looks tantalisingly close. Level of encouragement given to Ranie has increased.
0722 - DFDS Seaways ferry passing astern entering Channel approach to Dunkirk harbour.
0724 - French motor launch passing astern, yacht passing approx half mile inshore of Sea Leopard. 2x French fishing boats working inshore.
0750 - Crew preparing tender.
0806 - French yacht passes close astern going down coast - makes a change to receive a friendly greeting.
0825 - Stewart and Hannah leave in tender to acccompany Ranie ashore. Pilot keeps position to enable observation of completion of swim.
0843 - Stopwatch stopped @ 18hrs 40 mins. Location: Sand Dunes, Pointe de Walde, East of Calais harbour wall.
0859 - Tender returns to Sea Leopard and Ranie, Hannah and Stewart return on board.

0905 - Commence return to Dover Marina, all on board in high spirits.
1130 - Enter Dover harbour after uneventful return Channel crossing.
1140 - Safely back on pontoon with a very happy team.
1145 - Left boat after completion of official report forms.


Thursday 11 August 2011

The Crawlers - 9th August 2011 - report by Cliff Sharp

The Crawlers - Jennifer, John, John & Diana - photo from http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=crawlers&isTeam=true#
I joined the CSA pilot vessel Sea Leopard at 14.30hrs, meeting the four members of “The Crawlers” relay team, plus their two trainers/helpers. Introductions were made to the team, boats crew and me. Paul Ingenthron, who is planning a solo swim later in the year, asked if he could accompany us for the experience, as no one had any objections we welcomed him aboard.

Loading of the mountain of gear took place and Sea Leopard left the pontoon on the falling tide. Prior to leaving, Stuart Gleeson, the skipper gave a brief safety talk and advised on safety equipment etc. At this time I gave a recap of the essential rules regarding the swim, swimwear and what was required during changeovers etc.

I established that no food or drink was planned to be consumed while swimming and that the group would each swim for one hour.     

We took a slow run down to the start point off Samphire Hoe on a gloriously sunny afternoon the sea was very calm with the wind coming from the Northwest and off the land so we were in the shelter of the cliffs. Pathfinder who had an Australian solo swimmer on board followed us down. After a brief update on safety while swimming ashore through some large rocks at 15.17 Jennifer jumped in and swam to the beach.

1532 - The off was given by whistles and boats horn, Jennifer started the teams relay attempt with much encouragement from all on board!

1540 - Jennifer swimming strongly and fast. Pathfinder who had set off her swimmer a few minutes after us draws alongside our port side. Their swimmer seems very strong. Hope he is not going too fast as on a solo. I want to swap boats as all on board Pathfinder are eating doughnuts!

1600 - Many shouts of encouragement to Jennifer and even more photos taken.

1627 - Hour gone very quickly.

5 minute warning to next swimmer John and Jennifer.

1632 - John Hobbs in water.

1640 - 1.4 miles covered.

John powering on and covering a lot of ground.

1650 - Yacht under sail passes close in front and between us and Pathfinder.

1727 - 5 minute warning to next swimmer John and John in water.

1732 - John Young in water.

1750 - Sea Venture calls up the coastguard to announce their swim has started, we think a bit late as they have been off Samphire for some considerable time.

1800 - Another swim started, Stuart confirms there are four swims in progress now.

1810 - Wind has veered to the South West and started to pick up we are noticing a slight side swell.

1827 - 5 minute warning to next swimmer Diana.

1832 - Diana in the water.

1840 - Sea is picking up and becoming uncomfortable.

1915 - Relay team on Viking Princess given up! They could only have been swimming for just about two hours, they must have a problem.

1925 - 4.5 miles from English coast.

1927 - 5 minute warning.

1932 - Jennifer in the water for her second swim.

2005 - A flotilla of yachts pass astern of us coming from Folkestone there must be an inshore race.

2027 – 5 minute warning.

2032 - John Hobbs in the water for his second swim. This time he has on both a headlight and glow stick as daylight is now fading fast.

We are now just half a mile from the shipping lane.

2040 - John powering off again and covering a lot of ground.

2045 - We have entered the shipping lane.

2120 - Large bulk carrier the E W Brooker passes very close across our bow. Stuart has already called her on the radio to notify her that we have a swimmer in the water. We brace for her wake but as the swells are so bad now anyway we don’t actually notice it!

John called to swim close to boat for safety.

2127 – 5 minute warning.

2132 - John Young in the water for his second swim.

2200 - A procession of large ships passes down channel well in front of us.

2220 - Large car carrier well lit up passes across our bow.

2225 - Full dark now although quite a bit of moonlight. Swimmers lights show up well.

2227 – 5 minute warning.

2232 - Diana’s turn to enter the water for her second swim.

2240 - Pathfinder calls up Dover Coastguard for the latest weather forecast as conditions deteriorating. This not available yet.

2250 - Dover Coastguard call Pathfinder back and give the latest forecast South westerly 5 to 7 then gale 8 later.

2310 - Pathfinder call up, they have aborted their swim due to bad weather. Only us left now.

2315 - Stuart talks to the team and advises that with the way the wind and swells are picking up and with the terrible forecast, there will be no way we can land in France. He explained that where we were, although uncomfortable, was safe and that we could continue the swim for some hours, but that we would still not be able to land, thus we would not be able to complete the swim. Did the team wish to continue?

After some considerable discussion the team decide that it would be a waste of effort to continue swimming when they all knew they would have to abandon at some point.

2323 - Diana called to in water and told situation etc.

2325 - Diana swims to boat and climbs out of the water.

2330 - Drogue and dinghy secured with a little difficulty in the rough seas and we are on our way home. Side screens pinned up and everyone told that it would be a wet passage home.

A choppy journey home however the team are undaunted and drink cans of Guinness to celebrate

0110 - We make it into Dover Marina where the swimmers unload their gear and with handshakes and farewells leave to make their way back to their hotel.

0130 - I stay on board as we have to move the boat to its mooring and I have to grab a lift back to Folkestone.

Monday 1 August 2011

ZRSDP Channel Relay 119R – 25th July 2011 - report by Dan Earthquake

“In Dover, decked out in ZRSDP team apparel. All the gear but no idea. surveyed the port, saw France, just 21 miles away”
I had this curious message forwarded to me a few days before being recruited to observe this swim, but didn’t know what ZRSDP stood for. I guessed my friend had found “All the gear but no idea” amusing, as I did. It was not until after the swim that I realised that the original message had been sent by the Captain of the very team I had been observing, but having been with them for the day they certainly were a happy and good humoured group.

I met the boat at 0430 as requested and tied my rucksack and paraphernalia to wall mountings on the rear of the cabin as is my habit on Channel Crossings. The team assembled on the public pontoon at 0445 with a crate of food, a box of utensils, pans and bottles and various rucksacks and bags. Waterproof sacks the size of bin bags with clip fastenings were labelled with each persons name. There were lots of people, all in blue hoodie tops and at this point it was hard to discern the swimmers from the supporters. At 0449 introductions were made between the team, me and the crew of the Sea Leopard – Stuart Gleeson (Pilot) and Stuart Adams (crewman). The luggage was passed aboard and at 0458 a team photograph was taken before the swimmers and one supporter came aboard and the rest left the pontoon via the steps to the dock above, keen to get to ShakespeareBeach in time for the start.
Leaving Dover Harbour behind

We were underway by 0500, safety briefing given before leaving the harbour walls and much movement on deck with people arranging their kit. I gained the names for the official forms, checking spellings and confirming the order in which the team would be swimming. Accompanying the team was “Uncle Peter” Dobson, who was indeed the uncle of one of the swimmers, and father in law to another. The team itself are close friends – a few went to school together – two are cousins, whilst the brother in law of one is a friend of another. I lost track of the connections, but suffice it to say that they were very comfortable in each others company, always good for a team.


Viking Princess carrying Chloe McCardle
The swells outside the harbour rocked the boat as we left the safety of the walls and we overtook Viking Princess carrying Chloe McCardle and Jolly Sailor carrying her film crew. Louis Jane followed them to Samphire Ho, whilst we made for Shakespeare beach, arriving behind Suva, Anastasia, Seafarer and Pathfinder. Sea Venture 2 had left earlier and Sea Satin, Masterpiece, Gallivant and Pace Arrow were also escorting swimmers today. Conversation on board was often directed towards the thought of what Chloe must be thinking prior to starting her three way attempt, and constant checks on how far away she was from us were made during the day.

I reminded the team of the pertinent rules regarding costumes and examined the first two swimmers who were wearing those, others I inspected later on, prior to getting in the water. Jamie was to be the first swimmer, so I briefed him on the start procedure. At 0510 Jamie began limbering up by swinging arms and stretching, and as we pulled in towards the pebbles of the beach we could see the blue tops of the supporters waving and cheering.

At 0527 Jamie Drysdale leaped over the side and swam to shore, greeted by his friends. We waited as Jamie made his preparations, back to us as instructed. He turned to us briefly, but then turned away again for a few seconds before raising an arm to give us the signal he was ready to start. Stuart sounded the horn, I started the stopwatch and noted the time as being 0528, giving this information to Stuart as a back up. Jamie entered the sea and began to swim.
Jamie swims away from the White Cliffs

Team Captain James Herbertson then gave me a rundown of what ZRSDP stands for – the Zimbabwe Rurul Schools Development Programme, of which the team are raising money for in the hope of £10,000 for building a new school. As the day progressed news via text, twitter, facebook and phone calls kept the totals coming in and it turned out that the team managed to gain £21,000 in sponsorship by the time they got off the boat.

At 0551 Stuart contacted Dover Coastguard to inform them of our intention to escort the swimmers across the Channel giving the relevant administrative information. Jamie swam strongly, and the two foot swells got less the further away from shore that we went. I put sun cream on, the early heat of the day giving me some indication of what was to come later.

0556 – Dark object sighted ahead, possibly a seal. The team are excited and get cameras ready. A few minutes later it is identified as a lobster pot marker buoy.

0610 – The first of many pots of homemade spaghetti bolognaise are emptied into the pan and heated. The team are fans of proper food on such trips and the “WAGS” (wives and girlfriends) are praised for providing copious amounts for the team to consume.

0622 – Angus Hodson gets ready for the first changeover.

0628 – Gus goes over the side. The team is eager to find out how far each has done, this involves a check with one of the Stuarts giving the previous latitude so the screen curser can be positioned on the line already travelled. I do this every time before they ask to save harassing the pilot/crew unnecessarily, especially when negotiating the shipping lanes. It transpires that Jamie covered 1.8 nautical miles in his first leg. Complicated calculations are then made to convert the information into statute miles and kilometres.

Angus

0705 I record Gus to be swimming at 64strokes per minute. I am asked a question for the third time, the others groan and I ask where the enquirer has been for the last hour or so. It is a trend that occurs many times during the day, and each time it is met with derision from the rest of team that asked – and listened to the answer – first.


Richard Stretching.
0728 – Richard Hogg enters the water, he has a straight arm stroke and a curious twist of the wrist in the recovery phase of his front crawl. Gus has swam 1.7 nautical miles. The calculations begin again. It is a time of filming and speeches, with voice overs and general speech resembling the continuity announcer of Channel four emphasising the drama of the event. They point the camera at me a few times.

Uncle Pete & Justin
0828 – James Herbertson enters the water. Richard has swam 2 nautical miles. James encounters some seaweed, the first clumps of many. James is swimming at 70 strokes per minute as he enters the South West shipping lane.

0852 – James is wearing an Aquasphere swim mask, and in common with everyone else who I have ever watched swimming with them stops to adjust them. I have also tried them and gave them away as I found them to leak. That's not to say Aquasphere make bad goggles - I wear their Eagle prescription goggles and they are the best I have ever tried.

James with Varne Lightship in the background
0908 – Varne Sands lightship is in the background, great for photographs a mile or more behind him. I’m asked what the Varne Sands lightship is and in explaining that it is there to mark a danger to shipping, someone asks if anything has ever run aground on the Varne Sands. This leads to Stuart Gleeson explaining about the accident in 1971 that led to the creation of the traffic separation scheme.

The Straits of Dover are arranged like a motorway, with two separate lanes for traffic – the South West Lane and the North East lane. This scheme is called the Dover Traffic Separation System which was introduced after a series of accidents which started on the 11th January, 1971. The disaster happened when the Peruvian freighter Paracus hit the tanker Texaco Caribbean in thick fog causing the Texaco Caribbean to explode and sink with the loss of many crew members. The explosion was heard and felt throughout the South Kent area. The wreckage was hit the following day by the West German cargo ship Brandenburg which also sunk with the loss of 24 of its 32 crew members. On the 27th Feb 1971, the wreckage was also hit by the Greek cargo ship Niki, which sank with the loss of its entire crew.


Following a government enquiry, the Dover Traffic Separation System (TSS), the world's first maritime radar controlled TSS was set up by the International Maritime Organization. The shore-based long range traffic control system was updated in 2003. Marinas along both coasts provide information on the Traffic scheme and Channel weather. The scheme allows vessels travelling north to use the North East Lane on the French side of the straits and south bound vessels to use the South West lane on the English side. Between these two channels is a separation zone. Coastal traffic and yachts passing between marinas can use the inshore zones and vessels crossing the scheme, such as ferries, must cross at 90 degrees. Channel Swimming escort pilots are allowed to cross the lanes but have to be certified as competent by the Marine Coastguard Agency with stringent safety rules for equipment carried on the boat including the AIS – Automatic Identification of Ships radar. This allows the coastguards and other shipping to see vessels on their radar giving information of where they are going, how fast and what size they are.


0926 – Suzanne Gibson makes a speech for the video camera. “I think that Channel Swimming is a very wholesome thing and that it is the duty of every citizen to have at least one go at it.” Suzi also explains that she will not swim straight away as she needs to urinate before starting, the threat of the video is mentioned but is soon forgotten.
Suzi
0928 – Suzi enters the water, we discover that James has swam 1.8 nautical miles. The team have now got into a habit of holding up a white board with the numbers of 30, 45 and 55 at the corresponding minutes accompanied by a lot of cheering and waving. It is not too hot, surprisingly, and more pleasant on deck than I had thought it would be. Suzanne swims 1.5 nautical miles in her rotation.

1028 – Justin Hess enters the water.

Justin


1041 – We enter the Separation zone.

1049 – A few jellyfish are sighted and this leads to a discussion about them.

1115 – We leave the Separation zone.

1124 – Seafarer 2 aborts. During these first few hours of the swim it was initially in front of us. Then we drew level and for a while it was on our port side and then went in front of us, crossed our bow and ended up on our Starboard side before we overtook again to get in front. Of course, it is always how the swimmer is affected by the action of the tides, the pilots have to adjust their courses accordingly. Justin has achieved 2 miles in his hour.

1128 – Jamie enters the water for his second rotation. There is now some friendly competition between the team over who is getting the furthest on their hourly slots and the speeches for the video reflect this between bulletins from the mobile phones regarding money raised. Spirits are high and the weather and conditions are good.

1129 – Stuart blasts the horn at Jamie who is swimming away from the boat. He readjusts and comes back towards us.

1135 – Weed, varied clumps and blooms that always seem to catch the swimmer unawares.

Richard swimming on a sea of glass


1215 – Pace Arrow, which was just in sight for most of the day on our Port side aborts. The team asks who was swimming and why they did not continue, but this is not information that is generally available unless you know someone on the boat, and in this case I do not. Jamie finishes his hour having covered 2 nautical miles.

1228 – Gus gets in for his second swim.

1258 – I have been asked to comment upon a discussion regarding the distance swam and how much further there is to go. I tell the team that it is an impossible question, as the effects of wind and tide in the next few hours will affect their progress and that I am not familiar enough with their individual capabilities to calculate how far they have left to swim. It is better to follow the boat and not look ahead as the sight of France can be very beguiling. This discussion is interrupted by the Peter showing Gus the 30 minute sign which causes everyone to jump up and down, clap and cheer loudly.

This amazingly does not wake Suzi who has developed a good habit of catnapping between eating and swimming. The team has a good system of looking after the person who has just finished, and before each swimmer exits the water their towel and clothes are made ready and a hot drink that they asked for before getting in is heated. I feel that the care that they give each other is very effective and worth mentioning.

Gus waiting for Zara to pass
1304 – Zara is a 100metre long Cargo ship heading for Dordrecht travelling at 9.9knots up the North East Lane. The two Stuarts make their calculations and decide to make Gus treadwater in order for it to pass at a safe distance from us. Gus isn’t pleased but realises the importance of this when he looks up and sees it passing in front of us 400metres away. Gus takes the opportunity to have a few swigs of Lucozade and loses maybe two minutes due to the stop. He continues on purposefully.

1317 – Petkum is a 161metre long Cargo ship heading for Antwerp travelling at 15.3knots up the North East Lane. It passes 400metres astern of us with no issues.

Petkum



1328 – Richard enters the water for his second rotation, Angus is pleased to hear that he has done the furthest distance so far of 2.5 nautical miles.

1348 – Uncle Pete peels the cellophane off what appears to be a large sausage which is some sort of cured raw beef. He offers me some, but it’s not appealing to me. Most of the team have a chunk, except for Richard who is the current swimmer.

1349 – We exit the North East lane and Stuart Gleeson informs the Gris Nez Traffic that we are entering the French inshore waters. Conversations between Pilot and Coastguard are beautiful sonnets exchanging information. It is interesting to listen as each of the pilots call up, everyone calls each other sir and the French chap on the other end of the radio has a musical voice which I have heard a few times over the past few years. He seems bored by it all, and we hear him call up each vessel and ask where they are headed, how many are on board, enquire after damage and defects and finally sign off with “Good watch sir.” Occasionally there are a few real gems – broad Kent accents sometimes confuse him and a ships captain with an accent I could not place gave a stream of information that had to be repeated several times. Finally the musical French voice came back with “Thank you sir, have a good watch,” and we wondered if he had just given up and resigned himself to the fact that the desired information was unintelligible.

1423 – Richard seems to be speeding up noticeably and I count his stroke – I am right, he has upped from his usual 53/54 to 59. I see fist sized jellyfish pass him within a few inches – it is a Pelagia Noctiluca which is purple in colour and can give a reasonable sting. The team are pleased it has missed him, but I point out that if there is one, there are likely a few (thousand) more in the vicinity. I ask if they have any white vinegar for him, they have normal stuff for putting on chips.

France seems close now, we are looking at the tide changing in a few hours and the team is upbeat and positive. I’m asked if it is likely that the team will finish before a third rotation. I can’t be sure, and Stuart Gleeson agrees that it is unlikely. I tell James that his leg is very important as we are now not far off the Cape and likely to be swept around it towards Boulogne. We are in about 40 metres of water, so the current and tide are greatly affecting our position and when it changes in the next few hours it will take us back round and up towards Calais. A good effort from James now could mean that one of his first two swimmers will have a good chance of landing, but he has some serious distance to cover. He is positive and happy to give it his best.

1428 – James leaps over the side and immediately gets himself into a strong rhythm which he keeps for the full hour. Richard has red marks like small cuts on his face – he has been stung. We tell him that he has covered 2.5 nautical miles. The Aloe Vera tube comes out again, it was used earlier with deep heat for James’ back and now it is being rubbed on his face. He doesn’t complain of the stings again, so I assume that it gave some relief.

1458 – I see a seal bottling 30m ahead, it watches us for long enough for all to see it but not long enough for cameras to be focused. Mine has run out of battery life hours ago, having been used all weekend without recharging.

1508 – The team think that James is close enough to get in, but Stuart and I are sure that Suzi will need to swim again and her short catnap is interrupted to get ready. I brief the team on landing – that the swimmer must continue onwards until there is no more water to swim in and to be completely clear of the water unless the land is too dangerous to climb out of, in which case it must be clearly touched. I make sure that everyone is clear about the rules, no one has any questions.

1516 – A yacht that was heading straight for us passes 20meters astern and waves happily at us, and we wave back.

1520 – We are half a mile off land. Suzi wonders if she could stay in France a while (jokingly) as a French passport holder. I tell her that it is more likely that she would be interned until they could ascertain why she had not entered the country via port control. I advise her to swim strongly but not to burn herself out in case she has to swim the full hour – others have been a similar distance off and not been able to land.

1528 – As has been the system all day, we count down from 20 seconds to the exact time of twenty eight minutes past the hour and Suzi leaps over the side. James climbs the ladder, clearly exhausted and unaware how well he has done. He has swam 2.1 nautical miles and got the team into 9 metres of water. I explain that at 5 meters depth Sea Leopard will stand off.

Nearby, Suva has a solo swimmer attempting a 2 - way swim. The pilots confer by telephone, both swimmers are heading for the small shingle beach between the groups of rocks. We need to tell Suzi not to touch the other swimmer if he lands at the same place. Tension is high but still positive, Suzi is swimming purposefully towards the shore. Two swimmers enter the water off Suva to escort the swimmer in, submerged rocks here mean that punts and motor craft are in danger of grounding or being smashed. The swells are slight today, but I know that a single person in the rear of a small boat cannot simultaneously sight the swimmer and look for obstacles.

I offer to swim in with Suzi to get the exact time and to ensure her safety after landing on the return to the boat – Stuart is happy with this and we agree that I will signal when she is clear of the water and that he will record the time and blast the horn when I do.

I jump over side and swim the last few hundred meters next to Suzi who is now heading for some round rocks about fifty metres away from the shingle beach. I touch a rock beneath my hand – a propeller breaker for sure and then there is nothing for another fifty metres. Suzi stands up, and carefully climbs out. The waves make it hard, it would – and has been – horrendous in worse conditions and as she completely clears the water I signal to Stuart who blasts the horn. Swim complete in 10 hours, 13 minutes.

I congratulate Suzi and tell her that we must not touch the other swimmer if he lands nearby as he is doing a two way. Suzi has a quick look for pebbles to take back for the team, but they are all over a tonne in weight so they are left where they are. I help her back down the slippery rock and we swim back to the boat. I get to the ladder first and help her up. She is greeted with great enthusiasm – we look back to see that the other swimmer has landed. We sound our horn and cheer and wave – he waves back.

Now it’s preparing for the return trip. The drogue is pulled in by Stuart Adams and the punt is tied closer to the stern of the boat. Champagne flows, followed by choices of Whisky, Rum, Beer and red wine. . Uncle Pete lights a cigar as fat as a sausage and passes it around those interested (not me or the two Stus) and everyone smiles. We see that Viking Princess has turned around, I call Mikee Phillips and discover that Chloe McCardle has landed in 9 hours and 2 minutes, a fantastic time especially given that she has had to save energy for the rest of her trip. Fred Mardle lands his relay team in 9 hours and 58 minutes also, he tells Stuart over the radio.

James updates the team on the fundraising – it seems that more money has pushed their total to over £21,000 which causes the second bottle of champagne to be shared around. The remaining portions of Spaghetti Bolognaise are eaten and as Suzi takes yet another nap the team unkindly position the cigar and wine glass in her hands and take photos for Facebook and webpages. She will have something to say about that I’m sure.

The trip back is uneventful and after unloading I leave the boat at 1830. The team kindly invite me to join them in the White Cliffs pub where they will be signing their names on the wall. I have to decline, as I have many things to do before I eventually return home to Birmingham – two days later than originally planned.

Another trip done, what adventure. Well done team, I’m sure we will see you back again.