Double training

So today saw two training sessions take place, one of which was a bit impromptu during a family kayak trip in Poole harbour. Here's a bit of experimental video footage off the camera!

Teamwork...

Any great undertaking generally becomes a sum of it's parts. The full team for the Swanage to Bournemouth Swim is slowly coming together and is beginning to look strong. As things stand we have 4 swimmers but that is just the start of it.


Each swimmer will be accompanied by a boat which will be crewed by a driver and a spotter. Ben here is going to be the spotter for John in 'Flying Fox'.


John from PierHead Watersports yesterday offered to accompany us with his lovely big RIB which is a bonus.


Providing back-up in the kids department yesterday was our next-door neighbour Sally who kindly took charge of the rascals while we were out on the water.

The Team is taking shape!

Time and Date are Set

John has done is homework with the tidal charts so the time and date for the swim are set.

We are setting out at 6am from Swanage Pier on Saturday 19th September provided that the weather forecast is OK i.e. not to windy. A little southerly wind would be fine.

Sunday is going to be a reserve date and also the next weekend although the tides won't be so favourable

There are now FOUR in the Team

We now have 4 members of our team for the swim which is GREAT.

As well as me and Joe, Steve Williams has definitely decided to join us and so has Paul Hicks who I met for the first time today.

Steve is a member of Swanage Lifeboat Crew and a talented sports man as well as being very experienced on the sea both as a sailor and a lifeboat man.

Paul is a friend of a friend of my sister's and saw my e-mail and blog. He is doing a Team Channel Swim the week before we are planning to do our swim (19th September). Unfortunately I don't have a picture of him at the moment. (Paul - if you read this - please send me one). Sounds a bit hard core this Team Channel Swim but Paul told me he was using it for training for our swim!! That worries me slightly because I think he actually knows what he is doing.

Big Training Swim

Steve Jo and I did a 2 hour training session today with John and Ben providing support cover in the boat.

We started at Old Harry then swam back towards Swanage round the bay.

It was beautiful weather and really enjoyable. John got some great photos.

I think we all really enjoyed and are feeling fairly confident that we are going to make to Bournemouth in a month's time.

Oh my Goodness! What have I done!

I went for a swim tonight with Steve. We went to the other end of the Bay and back. It seemed pretty far and I am exhausted now. Problem is, I have just measured it - it was only 2 miles!!

Admittedly we came back against a really strong tide - but still - will I really be able to make 7 miles in a month's time?? Better get training!

What is exciting though is that Steve might join me and also Paul from London who I have never met but who is doing a cross Channel team swim. He says it will be training for this!

Maybe John is right! - Maybe this is bonkers!

Blogging Wars

I was going to tell you about my lifeboat hero husband without whose knowledge and expertise of the sea and tides and everything nautical, I could not even attempt this swim.

That is until I saw the slanderous material last posted on his last on his lifeboat scrapbook blog http://lifeboatscrapbook.blogspot.com/ in which he suggests that my plan is "bonkers"!!!! and that I have a form of insanity!!!

Therefore, I have just decided to make sure that you know what John does when he is not being a lifeboat hero.

Joe Poole and Sea Monsters

This is Joe Poole. I am delighted to report that he has decided to join me on my swim to Bournemouth.

Its always nice to have a big strapping chap with you in case of shark attacks or sea monsters!

Joe is raising money for the Air Ambulance.

Swanage Swim Club

We actually have an unofficial sea swimming club in Swanage. I swam with these guys this morning. We usually swim over to the other side of the bay and back which is about a mile and a half or so.

Its always lovely to be out there first thing in the morning before the day and the crowds get going specially when it's great weather.

I decided to ditch the wetsuit this morning - which was great until I started to lose all sensation in my legs on the way home!

Swim to Old Harry

So far my training has involved swimming up and down along the shores of Swanage Bay.

Today for the first time I ventured further with John for back up in our boat, I swam from the beach in Swanage (just under the Grand Hotel) to Old Harry. The tide was with us so it was surprisingly easy and alot of fun.

We worked out that the easiest way to go was for me to swim about 2 or 3 metres from the side of the boat and use that as my reference point. This saves me lifting my head out of the water so makes life alot easier than when swimming without an accompanying boat.

Maybe I can get all the way to Bournemouth!