I joined the Viking Princess at Dover and we were soon joined by The Budgie Smuggler, a determined and good humoured relay team consisting of Melissa Dowell, Chris Swainsbury, Angie Greneski, Paul Salmon, Paul Oxley and Michael Longman. They were accompanied by their trainer Roger Duncombe and helper/gopher Dave Barker.
It was a very cold September morning as we left the harbour and there were several cases of sea sickness (Roger the Trainer) even before we arrived at Shakespeare Beach where the crossing as scheduled to start. The teams named of The Budgie Smugglers became self explanatory as the swimmers donned their costumes in the cold weather, perhaps a warmer day would have seen them renamed The Parrot smugglers. It was cold, and there was a big swell but everyone was up for it and bubbling with good humour.
Melissa was first off, entering the water at a deserted Shakespeare beach at 02:48, she is an excellent swimmer delivering a solid 72 Strokes Per Minute and soon put a creditable distance between us and Dover. She was followed by Chris, he started well, full of confidence and hit out at an impressive stroke rate, but his pace seriously faded in the final 15 minutes, during his stint the first light of day joined us from the east, illuminating a clear sky, the team were blessed by very little flood tide and we were heading almost straight out on a southerly course.
Angie took us into the first, South West, shipping lane and instantly we encountered The Julia a coastal vessal that passed close to our stern. By now Roger, a seasoned channel swimmer had stopped feeling ill. Roger had swam the channel previously with The Viking Princess in 2005 and then again with The Louise Jane in 2007, but it was obvious that he was more comfortable in the water than on a boat in a swell, however, he bravely and constantly broke off from his motion related affliction to give word of encouragement and advice to his protégées.
He was not alone with the sea sickness, Paul Salmon, had been very ill, but when his time to enter the water came round he was in there, doubtless relived to be off the boat, and swimming well, a great 70 SPM backlit by a beautiful sunrise. Paul took us close to the Varne Lightship at 06:45 and swam very well, he looked less than pleased at the idea of getting back into the boat when Paul Oxley replaced him in the water.
Michael, the final swimmer of the team took to the water at 08:48, putting in a creditable 60 SPM he carried us well into the north East shipping lane, by now, carried on the rising ebb tide we were moving to the west of Cap Geis-Nez, most seasickness had past and the day had brightened and cleared into a sunny day.. cold, but sunny..
Food was eaten, jokes were shared and we were a happy boat, France was clearly in sight and it was only a matter of time before the team completed it's task.
Moving well to the west of the cape the flood tide came in to carry us towards France, a quiet shipping lane and a warm sun maintained high spirits, but seasickness once again took it's toll. Paul Salmon was badly affected but, but when the turn for his second leg arrived he was up there, white faced, but ready.
11:45 French coastal water and the end is in sight, well to the east but in sight.
Paul Oxley put in a brave effort by slow dramatically near the end of his hour, totally blown!
Then it was Michaels turn, slowly but steadily he drew closer to the coast until at 14:18, clutching a bedraggled union flag a stagger ashore to claim the land as his!
The Budgie Smuggles swam the English Channel in 11 hours and 30 minutes.
Boat: Viking Princess
Pilot: Da Brickells
Observer: Monello
Music: La Media Luna by The Sad Fantasy..
Check him out..
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSadFantasy
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David Webster - CSA154by monelloswim195 views
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