Dan, swam with the CSA www.cspf.co.uk , and was the first solo success of 2013. Following the scenic route, his heroic swim took 21 hours and 25 minutes, landing at a sandy beach just outside the entrance of Calais Harbour!
Well done Dan on your successful swim.
Later this summer seismologists predict France will experience an earthquake 'doublet' , as I join this seasons names of big hitters to land on the shores of France.
Madame and Monsieur, what you're about to witness, is no illusion... please support me by raising money for the four cancer centres of the UK and terminally ill children by visiting my donation page.
As I write, I have been put on stand by to officially swim the English Channel, although I am guaranteed to swim on the 28th August - 4th September tide, with 24 hrs notice, I can from now be called at anytime to swim.
Oh how 3 years have passed so quickly....it's time to walk the talk!
I have followed a training programme structured by my coach Tanya Harding, based on my zero previous experience and her exceptional coaching ideas. From my observations, Tanya is the only open water coach that truly engages with her cross channel swimmers, in my three years training in Dover Harbour, she is the only coach I have ever seen get onto the water to support her swimmers.At all times, she has made me fully aware of the complexities of swimming the English Channel and why it is one of the ultimate challenges in the world.
Tanya will be part of my support crew when I swim the channel, the respect I have for her is total and I trust her with my life to make the right call at the right time, if ever needed. As a channel swimmer, in my opinion, it cannot be any other way.
To achieve success, I have always acknowledged that I will have to work hard. The commitment and dedication to get to this point has been immense. They say ability is one half of the success, coming from a non swimming background, I have had to nurture that ability.
Emerging from the winters 'stamina building' swim sessions, I now train 10 hrs in the sea at weekends and at least twice a week in the pool, completing continuous sprint sessions, that's 50 metres in 70 seconds, including rest and recovery, for 1 or 2 hour periods. I also visit my coach once a week to improve the efficiency of my stroke.
Today, I wait poised, not as some high speed tea clipper ready to sail the trade routes but as a totally determined industrial oil tanker with the right mental attitude to reach my destination.
Over the years I have considered every aspect of my swim: Endurance, Salt Water, the Cold Water, Air Temperature and my Mental focus.
In June, I returned to swim Lake Windermere under some of the most unforgiving weather conditions, which saw my support boat at times being unable to row up the lake and my crew become stricken with sickness and migraines, at one point I had swam half a mile in an hour and a half, due to the winds.
Nevertheless, with water temperatures at 11 degrees, I successfully completed my swim in just under 12 hours physically battered and bruised, tested mentally - just what my coach had wanted.
At my medical examination, my doctor told me I was as 'fit as a butchers dog'.
I am ready.
Finally to a fellow swimmer.
It was with deep regret that swimmer Susan Taylor died in her attempt to cross the English Channel on the 14th July. Susan was 1 mile from France.
I would like to extend my sympathy and thoughts to her family and friends at this very sad time.
Susan was raising money for her charity, Rainbows.
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