First Attempt to Swim the English Channel - September 24, 2013
Part I
My preparation and training to swim the English Channel was a journey in itself. The preparation chipped and hacked away at me like a stone taking form with a chisel and hammer from a loving artist sculpting a different person entirely both physically and emotionally. I began to change and so did my world around me. Deep friendships were forged that will last my lifetime. It did become a life changing experience. I’m not one to ask for help too often, but it is a fact that you won’t get far as an open water marathon swimmer without support from friends and knowledge from experienced swimmers. I found that there were two journeys actually 1) The Preparation and training and 2) The crossing itself. Both journeys were life transforming and they at times drove me to the edge of sanity.
We arrived safely from London driving on the left hand side of the road. Again a whole new experience and luckily nothing happened. I was forced time and again to try brave new things throughout my journey and this is the beauty of it. We traveled to Folkstone, Kent on the East coast of England near Dover Harbor. Our destination, Varne Ridge Holiday Park dedicated to the Channel swimmers run by Evelyn & David Frantzeskou. Some swimmers choose to stay in more modern facilities but I did not go wrong to take the advice of Irish open water media icon Donal Buckly to stay there. We were greeted by our host Evelyn and David with hugs and evening tea when we arrived. David hangs plaques of each successful swimmer, and hoists their national flag and decorates their caravan with a banner.
The guests were also more than friendly. Within 5 minutes of our arrival my French friend and crew member Karine Regazzoni was singing a chansen with a Brazilian named Fast Eddie. The sexy and likable pilot from Brazil. Fast Eddie kept everyone's spirits high at Varne Ridge.
Varne Ridge was full of Swimming Rock stars as well as some fun party spirit. We were greeted by the world record holder, Trent Grimsey the fastest person to ever swim the Channel. He also gives incredible bear hugs. He was there to support his friend, Australian Justin Hanby with a crew of 3. Trent had recently been sharply criticized in an open water swimmer’s forum the previous week for technically littering in the Channel. He had been taught as a professional swimmer to follow Fina rules during feeds which go very fast. He threw his plastic cups in the water-as all competitive open water swimmers do. There was video footage of him doing this. It was a hard time for him. He later picked up trash on the beech of Dover to make amends. In my mind the organization that writes these rules should be criticized and not one of the swimmers trained in its ways.
Trent reviewed my feed plan and he offered suggestions and improvements. He give great bear hugs too.Lisa Cummins, first Irish woman to swim a double crossing of the Channel was there and she helped me pin on my flashing light “just so”, to avoid a disaster during the night. Donel Buckley known as The Lone swimmer and award winning blog writer (a must read for any marathon swimmer) went through our equipment even though he barely sept in 24 hours. I was elated to know that a swim colleague from the swim camp Distance week held in Cork Ireland Sylvian Estadieu had been out in the Channel the night before and set a new record as first man to butterfly across the Channel. How excited we were.
There is a beautiful park across the street from Varne Ridge over looking the English Channel. On a clear day you can see to France.
There are benches dedicated to deceased swimmers and you do feel the gravity of your decision to take a risk to swim in an uncontrollable environment. The statistics are 1 in 6 make it to shore and rarely but recently swimmers have died trying. A good crew is everything. These ladies came to make the journey with me. I will love them forever for it!
Crew and support:
Joëlle Lanfranconi, Karine Reggazoni, Janja Maletovic
