Team TOTM as they start their English Channel crossing!In the early hours of this morning (August 7th 2008), 6 very tired girls and their 3 support staff arrived back in Dover Harbour after a successful crossing of the ENGLISH CHANNEL!
They set off from Shakespeare Beach near Dover at 10-52am, with Chloe swimming the lead leg. She set a cracking pace and apart from raising her head once to ask:" How long has that been?", swam well in the near perfect conditions.
Next in was Chantelle and she also quickly got on with the job. Those on the boat had quickly started on the food supplies..and we started to hope for a quick finish so that we didn't run out of food!
Tasmin was third swimmer in and entertained us with her cheeky waves and facial expressions! At some point the other swimmers and coaches on the boat had decided that to cheer on those in the water, a rendition of the "YMCA" was in order! This became a tradition which continued at the midpoint of each swim leg until we reached France!
Along the way various renditions of "Nutbush, Macarena, Time Warp and Greased Lightning" were also performed-it got to the point where the CS&PF observer (Bob) was letting us know that it was 2 minutes till "YMCATime"!
Amelia was our 4th swimmer in the water and once she settled into her rythym swam beautifully-she sighted a couple of jellyfish but wasn't stung.
When Amelia had finished her 1st swim Alice entered the water and proceeded with a very "business like" swim! She has already successfully swum around Jersey Island and is booked to swim Jersey to France-and the way that she swam should have no problems! Conditions continued to be perfect and the coaches (knowing the capabilities of their swimmers) were thinking that a sub 11hour swim was possible.
Bianca hit the water.....and the weed! Her entire 60mins consisted of strong swimming and weed eating!!!! She also had to contend with the choppy water at the sand bar near the Varne lightship-and did so admirably! Bianca is attempting a round Jersey solo in September and showed the fortitude to do so!
This means that our first rotation was completed and Chloe was back in the water...and we quickly discovered that she did NOT like the variety of seaweed in the English Channel! Still swimming fast, she was guided by Sally around most of the green carpet until she hit clear water 30niutes later).
We have dubbed Bianca the "SEAWEED QUEEN" and Chloe the "SEAWEED SCREAM"!
When Chantelle hit the water for the second time, we managed some great photo opportunities with a number of ships & ferries sailing past.
During the second rotation all of the girls swam even better than their first legs. Tasmin & Amelia were our last two swimmers to hit the water in the daylight and both swimming comfortably-Tassie at one point raised her head and asked for the "YMCA"!
Alice entered the water with lights firmly attached (she now has the new nickname of Nobby-be sure to ask her why!)-by this time we could all see lightning in he distance and we began to wonder whether or not we would have to abort the attempt. Alice continued her great form until Bianca took over.
Bee also took to the night swim with pleasure-and proceeded to kick strongly for the entire hour!
She handed over to Chloe-who immediately hit a clump of weed! She must have a seaweed magnet! However, she called out "seaweed" put her head down and again proceeded to swim fast.
When Chantelle entered the water at 11-52pm, we were hoping that she would be able to make it to France. With thunderstorms all around and lighning cracking we were concerned that we might have to call it off so close to the finish....luckily she had a mighty swim and escorted at the end by Coach Sally, touched France amongst the boulders at Cap Gris Nes.
After 18months of planning and 13hours and 47mins of swimming Team TOTM had succesfully crossed the English Channel!
Congratulations to all of the girls and thankyou to Dave Whyte & crew on board Ocean Breeze, Bob our observer and "Mum" Michelle who has taken care of us all!
They set off from Shakespeare Beach near Dover at 10-52am, with Chloe swimming the lead leg. She set a cracking pace and apart from raising her head once to ask:" How long has that been?", swam well in the near perfect conditions.
Next in was Chantelle and she also quickly got on with the job. Those on the boat had quickly started on the food supplies..and we started to hope for a quick finish so that we didn't run out of food!
Tasmin was third swimmer in and entertained us with her cheeky waves and facial expressions! At some point the other swimmers and coaches on the boat had decided that to cheer on those in the water, a rendition of the "YMCA" was in order! This became a tradition which continued at the midpoint of each swim leg until we reached France!
Along the way various renditions of "Nutbush, Macarena, Time Warp and Greased Lightning" were also performed-it got to the point where the CS&PF observer (Bob) was letting us know that it was 2 minutes till "YMCATime"!
Amelia was our 4th swimmer in the water and once she settled into her rythym swam beautifully-she sighted a couple of jellyfish but wasn't stung.
When Amelia had finished her 1st swim Alice entered the water and proceeded with a very "business like" swim! She has already successfully swum around Jersey Island and is booked to swim Jersey to France-and the way that she swam should have no problems! Conditions continued to be perfect and the coaches (knowing the capabilities of their swimmers) were thinking that a sub 11hour swim was possible.
Bianca hit the water.....and the weed! Her entire 60mins consisted of strong swimming and weed eating!!!! She also had to contend with the choppy water at the sand bar near the Varne lightship-and did so admirably! Bianca is attempting a round Jersey solo in September and showed the fortitude to do so!
This means that our first rotation was completed and Chloe was back in the water...and we quickly discovered that she did NOT like the variety of seaweed in the English Channel! Still swimming fast, she was guided by Sally around most of the green carpet until she hit clear water 30niutes later).
We have dubbed Bianca the "SEAWEED QUEEN" and Chloe the "SEAWEED SCREAM"!
When Chantelle hit the water for the second time, we managed some great photo opportunities with a number of ships & ferries sailing past.
During the second rotation all of the girls swam even better than their first legs. Tasmin & Amelia were our last two swimmers to hit the water in the daylight and both swimming comfortably-Tassie at one point raised her head and asked for the "YMCA"!
Alice entered the water with lights firmly attached (she now has the new nickname of Nobby-be sure to ask her why!)-by this time we could all see lightning in he distance and we began to wonder whether or not we would have to abort the attempt. Alice continued her great form until Bianca took over.
Bee also took to the night swim with pleasure-and proceeded to kick strongly for the entire hour!
She handed over to Chloe-who immediately hit a clump of weed! She must have a seaweed magnet! However, she called out "seaweed" put her head down and again proceeded to swim fast.
When Chantelle entered the water at 11-52pm, we were hoping that she would be able to make it to France. With thunderstorms all around and lighning cracking we were concerned that we might have to call it off so close to the finish....luckily she had a mighty swim and escorted at the end by Coach Sally, touched France amongst the boulders at Cap Gris Nes.
After 18months of planning and 13hours and 47mins of swimming Team TOTM had succesfully crossed the English Channel!
Congratulations to all of the girls and thankyou to Dave Whyte & crew on board Ocean Breeze, Bob our observer and "Mum" Michelle who has taken care of us all!
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