Channel Swim Facts

FACTS ABOUT THE SWIM

Quick Facts: The Challenge
·
Distance: 21 Miles / 34 km (in a straight line at its narrowest point)
Temp: 15 - 18 degrees centigrade
Average Swim Time: 10-20 hours
Hazards: Jellyfish, Hypothermia, Debris
Most Popular Stroke: Front Crawl
Shipping: Over 400 commercial ships use the channel per day

Quick Facts: The Rules
·
What You Can Wear: one hat, one costume, goggles, grease, earplugs
No physical contact with boat or any person
Swim starts: by walking into sea from dry land
Swim ends: by finishing on dry land

Quick Facts: The Statistics (at 6th January ‘08)
·
World Record Time: 6hr 57min
First Crossing: 1875 Captain Webb Time 21 hrs
Successful swims: 1,333
Successful swimmers: 937

News

June
I have just taken part in the Henley Swim. This is a 2.2k swim of the world famous Henley Regatta course against the current. I came around 10th of around 160 ish competitors although I am awaiting the official results as the organisers need to review the finishing video to clarify my time. Will post when done.

Have been training in the river in my new wetsuit this week in preparation for the Henley Swim. It is at least 10% faster as there is increased buoyancy.

Bought a new wetsuit this week but it was too small and I had to send it back. I'm telling myself it was because of my big chest and not stomach!!

River training going well and up to the hour mark. (need to go for two hours in order to be allowed to swim)

Swam from The Flowerpot in Henley for the first time and it wasn't a great feeling getting into the river in my trunks in the pouring rain.

We are all being attacked by a parasite that lives in the water and seems to be commonly known as swimmers itch - nice. The result is a red bite like mark and a few days of itchiness until it passes. By then we've been back in the river again meaning that the cycle continues. I am reliably informed this is non contagious so no need to worry - Jay not happy about this though!

The team is fully together now and we are; me, Peter Frost, Heath Freeman and Jeremy Lovell-Davis. All half decent swimmers who are up for the challenge.

Intro and Welcome

CHRIS' CHANNEL SWIM CHALLENGE

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.

As you may be aware I am swimming The Channel as part of a team of four in late August this year. I am partly doing this for the challenge and to raise money for charity.

My target is to raise £1,500 for the charity CLIC Sargent which helps out young children that have been diagnosed with cancer. This is a great charity and it would be fantastic to achieve my target for them. Check out my just giving page.

I am training in the river 3-4 times a week in order to try and get fit for the swim and am going to take part in a few competitions between now and then in order to spice things up a bit and keep things interesting. I'll put a news section totry and keep this as up to date as possible so you can see what I have been up to!!

As an added incentive to part with your cash, if I raise my target, I will swim in the brightest pink trunks that I can find and post a photo up here for you all to see. No money - no pink trunks!! Here’s what I’ve found so far – any favourites?

All of your money will go direct to the charity and none will be used to pay for the costs of the boat taking us across etc.

If you have any questions about the swim or the training please feel free to email me and I'll put them up here with the answers. I'll try and send this round at least a couple of times before the swim so that you can keep up to date with my progress.