▶️ Post-4️⃣2️⃣nd English Channel Solo Update. (Socials Post #1)

As some of you noticed there was a long delay between this swim and the last.

After my 4️⃣1️⃣st swim, there were many swimmers with bookings who needed a chance to swim before me and there also many windy days in August where no swims started.

This swim was delayed 3️⃣ times and finally started at 1️⃣2️⃣: 3️⃣0️⃣am on Sept 2️⃣1️⃣st (British time).

As the swim was due to be mostly in the dark I opted not to put Zinc on, for which I am sure the Captains were very happy about ??

Armpit and neck greasing is so important as my arms can do 3️⃣6️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣+ rotations per solo crossing and my neck up to 1️⃣8️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ rotations. Lots of potential friction! ?

Caroline did a great job greasing me up with kitchen gloves ? (who knew they had this cool use ⁉️)… Looking for local crew for your English Channel swim? Caroline is amazing!! @caroline.swims

I prefer not to swim in the dark ? for long periods but I don’t have a choice. I go when captain Reg says to go! ?‍✈️

Reg wanted to finish in the light as there are many cray pots (lobster pots) around the French shoreline ?? (more so than on the English side). The pots do have buoys attached to indicate what is underneath but the buoys are tiny in size! The pots / buoys have no lights.

Catching a craypot line on the boats propeller will abort a swim and cost the captain a lot money.

Complicating things further, the tide also rips faster on the French shoreline which means its extra difficult to dodge them! ?

AND it’s even more difficult to dodge them on a Spring tide (because it’s a higher and faster tide and the buoys get pulled under and, often, out of sight by the tide).

So….best to finish a Spring tide swim in the light, if possible ?

(Did you see my purple tshirt? Team Reeves is one of the English Channel relays I coached a few years ago. We had a ball ?!!).

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