Big Sea!

Yesterday was our last chance to do a long swim before the actual event. It was also really rough at sea - the wind was easterly, that is directly on shore which creates lots of waves and a big swell into the the bay.

Only Steve and I went out. We had no boat support (John went to the Boat show with the girls!)so we had to stick to swimming paralell with the shore in the bay. We did have to stay some distance of the beach to avoid being caught up in the surf!

Surprisingly, it was good fun swimming in the waves though it was difficult to stay swimming next to eachother as the waves kept sending us off in different directions.

It was quite hardwork going up wind as we made our way back to the sailing club just because you have to bring your head really high out of the water just to see above the waves where you are going!

We are really hoping that we don't have to swim into the wind on the day - ie we do not want a northerly wind - it won't take much wind from that direction to make our mission impossible. So.... I shall be praying to the wind gods all week for a nice gentle southerly wind and bright sunshine on Saturday morning.

A week and a half to go

The day is nearly here! Only a week and a half to go.

After last Saturday's swim, I think we are all feeling pretty confident that we can make it. The only real unknown is the weather. It won't take much wind to completely scupper us!

I am a bit disappointed because the caps and goggles that Blue Seventy wetsuits promised us have got lost in the post. Apparently the courier says they were delivered to no.18 on this street. Unfortunately there is no number 18!

The end is in sight

A great swim today. Liz, Steve and Joe swam the furthest that they have managed yet covering 5.61 miles! Have a look here at the track to see how close they got to completing the whole distance. Each of them is now brimming with confidence and certain that, should the weather turn out right on the 19th September, they will achieve what they have set out to...swimming from Swanage to Bournemouth. YeeHa!

By the way, thanks to the Bournemouth Belle (and whoever was skippering her) for altering course today ...very courteous!

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.