I joined the Viking Princess at Dover Harbour and we were soon joined by Chloe McCardel, her husband Paul McQueeney and a support swimmer Michael Reford. As Chloe was attempting a 3 way swim there were two observers (Ms Monella) and of course Reg and Ray Brickell made up the compliment of seven.
A film for Television was being made about Chloes swim and the film crew had hired another boat, The Jolly Fisherman, and a couple of RIBs to accompany us on the crossing so we made quite a little Task Force as we left Dover harbour and steamed to Samphire beach.
We had actually attempted the swim the previous evening but the weather was wrong so we waited and now at 05:42 Chloe, having completed a brief interview on the beach to camera, enters the water and begins the swim. After the long wait everyone is pleased to finally be underway there is a full fleet of channel swim attempts out today so we won't be lonely out there.
Chloe strikes out at a powerful 70 Strokes Per Minute but seems unhappy with her goggles and soon changes them, I've seen her do this before, it's almost a ritual with her.
The weather is good and there is a large window of opportunity for the 3 way swim with a good 30 hours of stable weather forecast. So, it is with the last remnants of sunrise lingering in a clear sky that we settle down for a long day...
Chloe had been swimming comfortably for a couple of hours before the camera crew decided to start their boat filming. There then followed an hour of interviews, filming and posturing regularly interspaced by the film crew taking it in turns to feed the fish..
We pass the The Varne lightship at 09:30 and then at 10:10 there is a problem with Chloes feed, this time she has been given a juice mix made from Siberian Pine Needles (??) apparently they are full of goodness and energy, they may well be but Chloes face shows exactly what she thinks of the taste, she spits out most of the mix and then starts to retch and vomit,
It takes us only 30 minutes to cross the separation zone and at 10:40 we enter the North East shipping lane.
In fact her pace is excellent she has by now overtaken most of the other swimmers out in the channel and is on for a very fast time on the first crossing and at 13:42 we are only 2 miles off the French coast.
It's low tide as we approach the Cape and we are limited to how close to the shore the Viking Princess can go, so Ray prepares to accompany Chloe ashore. And it's just now that the camera crew reappear, so we watch as Paul and Ray in the tender land Chloe just to the east of the cape at 14:45.
Chloe has completed the first leg of her three way attempt in a very fast time of 9 hours and 3 minutes!
She spends no time ashore at all, merely clears the water and turns straight round to commence the second leg..
Back to England..
Sadly the second leg is less successful, after a good start Chloe slows and eventually has to give up her attempt and leaves the water after eight hours and thirty two minutes into the second leg.
Chloe swam for a total of Seventeen Hours and Thirty Five Minutes.
Boat: Viking Princess
Pilot: Da Brickells
Observer: Monello & Monellette
Music: Mango's Theme - Blackfeather
By John Robinson (djrbfm)
Check him out..
http://musicianstogether.com/user/djrbfm
thanks John..
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Abhejali´s channel swim.m4vby Abhejali122 views
@vegasdaddy17
it always warm my soft southern heart when i hear that you are having a "harsh winter"..
bit early though isn't it?
please note...
Spurs third!!!??!
monello198 3 months ago
Bad Luck Chloe...You'll make it one day...excellent vid Mikee...very dramatic particularly liked the soundtrack...Nice to watch these throughout the harsh winter up here...Keep up the good work...
vegasdaddy17 3 months ago
monello198 3 months ago
amazing feat!!!!!!,...I see she made a two way cross.....is three a common attempt? mind boggling, the hours alone, in the water.....not to mention constant motion, exertion factor..17-1/2 hours at that business, superhuman....super vid and soundtracking, Mr M. !
cinderellalifestyle 3 months ago