Sunday 20 September 2009

We Made It!

As it was actually John that did my last post, I wanted to add my bit too!

The swim was geniunely really good fun from beginning to end. We were so incredibly lucky with the weather. There was hardly a breath of wind when we started out and although it was a bit choppy in the middle we can hardly complain.

Thank you so much to our support crew: navigator and event manager and chief co-ordinator John Gilmour, support boat no.2 and picnic makers extraodinaire Tom and Rachel, support boat crew and photographer,Barbara, support team Sally and Ben. We couldn't have done it without you.

Thank you so much also for the support of everyone who has sponsored and encouraged us. I have also almost reached my sponsorship target of 1000 pounds which I am delighted about.

The big question of course is: what next? Any one fancy the Isle of Wight next year???

Saturday 19 September 2009

Proof of the pudding!


Job done!

All swimmers arrived safely at Bournemouth pier at 1031 after roughly 3 hours 45 minutes of swimming. No body seemed to suffer too much and there were huge grins all round on arrival! Well done Steve, Joe, Liz and Paul (and thanks to Tom and Rachel for safety boat cover)

More later...

Friday 18 September 2009

All Systems Are Go!

We are all on for tomorrow now!

The forcecast is still for northerly winds but very light and just now the bay looks really calm so it's going to be fine!

We are launching the boat tonight because, luckily we realised last night that if we don't launch tonight there won't be enough water at the slip way to get the boat in because the tide will be really super low - if we have got our tidal calculations right!

I am really looking forward to tomorrow. I hope we make it. Watch this space!

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Weather Worries


Saturday's forecast is for a northeasterly wind - which is the worst wind direction we could have - we will be swimming up wind and it is 'wind against tide' which will make the sea really rough. THIS IS NOT GOOD.

The only good thing is that the wind is forecast to be quite light - 5mph - having said that - today the wind was forecast 14mph and it was really really rough out there with big waves splashing over the sea wall in Swanage.

Blue Seventy Team Kit


Our Blue Seventy caps and goggles finally arrived on Monday!

Blue Seventy Wetsuits kindly agreed to sponsor us with this kit for our swim.

I think it looks pretty smart and it is nice to have some 'team' kit.

I tried out the goggles on Monday and tonight and they were excellent - they stick firmly to your face, don't steam up and you do get all round vision because of their shape - they are Blue Seventy open water 'vision' goggles - highly recommended!

Sunday 13 September 2009

Start and Finish Times and Places

In case any one wants to provide moral support and is at a loose end at 6.45am on Saturday morning, these are our start and expected finish times and places on Saturday 19th

Start:
Time: Dawn (6.45am)
Place: Swanage Pier

Finish:
Time: Approx. 10am
Place: West of Bournemouth Pier