Army B Team CSA Observer Report
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Report for Cross Channel Swim No: 118R – Army B

Wednesday 01 August 2007

Boat: Samallen

Pilot: Freddie Mardle

Crew: David Heath

Observer: Keith Jefferies

Viking Princess the RAF boat piloted by Reg Brickell

The weather was good, the teams were ready, and so it was time to get this long awaited Cross Channel 6 person Relay Team Competition between the Navy, Army ‘A’ and ‘B’ Teams and the RAF underway. This involved 4 boats – Viking Princess with the RAF, Louise Jane with the Army A, Sea Venture 2 with the Navy and Samallen with the Army B.
Louise Jane the Army A boat piloted by Andy King
Samallen the Army 'B' team boat piloted by Freddie Mardle
Seaventure II the Navy boat piloted by Ray Cooper
Little Kev being rowed across to start the race

All the boats made their way to the start point and got themselves into position for the start. A swimmer from each boat made their way to the beach at Samphire Hoe and stood poised ready for the signal to start.
Army 'B' moving to the start point - smiling!

00.20am the boat horns blew, the teams started whistling and cheering, and with a big splash the swimmers entered the cold waters of the English Channel, Kevin Hutson was our first swimmer and he set off on a stroke rate of 72 strokes per minute, the race was underway.

The Army B Team consisted of the following personnel: Kevin Hutson (known as little Kev), Kevin Galbraith (known as big Kev), Suzanne Anderson, Suzy Holmes, Michele Whalley, Esther Haselwood and admirably supported by Pip Tattersall.
'Big' Kev Galbraith

01.20am, the first hour passed very quickly and it was time for the first changeover, big Kev hit the water and he set of on a steady 66 strokes per minute. 
UnknownSleeperx185

People were starting to settle down, and it wasn’t long before you could hear the snores of certain people - who shall remain nameless!

Can you guess who this person is under the cover?

Although the weather was quite warm and clear, the water had a slight chop to it and this was commented on as the swimmers came out of the water.

Hover over the image.
These icebergs are NOT in the Channel!

02.20am, time for a change of swimmer. This time it was the turn of Suzanne to enter the water, she had a steady stroke rate of 62 strokes per minute, the water surface temperature was a nice 17C, and it’s easy to say that because I was on the boat and not in the water.
Suzanne braves the cold and dark

03.20am, time for a changeover and this time it was the turn of Suzy to enter the murky depths of the Channel, her stroke rate was 62 strokes per minute.
FREE: You can see Real Time Shipping movements plotted by AIS (Automatic Identification System)
Pip greasing Suzy.

It was about this time we heard the Coast Guard reporting to the other vessels in the Channel to take care because there were a number of Cross Channel swimmers in the water.

04.20am, our position was Lat 51 06.984 and Long 001 30.701 and it is time for Michele to hit the water, again the change over went well and everyone on board was encouraging each other to do well. Her stroke rate was also 62 strokes per minute. Freddie, our pilot, reported to the Coast Guard that we were now entering the SW shipping lane.
Michele takes to the water
Esther ready to swim

The dawn was now starting to break and it was good to see the deep red glow of the sun starting to rise in the distance. 

 Sunrise

The time now was 05.20am and this time it was the turn of Esther to feel the cool waters of the Channel around her body, she set off at 64 strokes to the minute. You could now feel the warmth of the suns rays on your body and it seemed to give a lift to everyone on board including our pilot Freddie Mardle.
Little Kev's second stint

06.20am, it’s time for little Kev to go in for his second stint and once again he was off on a stroke rate of 72 strokes per minute. All throughout the time of the seems there was a continuous slight chop to the sea, and the wave height was approximately 2’. 07.20am, time for a change of swimmer so little Kev came out and big Kev went in.
Big Kev looks cool after his swim

The time now was 08.20am, our position was Lat 51 02.627 and Lon 001 33.760, changeover time and Freddie reported to the Coast Guard that we were now entering the NE shipping lane. The changeovers continued to go smoothly especially now the sun was up and giving a little warmth to the backs of the swimmers.

The time now had come around to 12.20pm with good changeovers, high spirits and general conversation.

12.41pm, someone shouted that they could see what looked like dolphins or porpoise so everyone was on the lookout and then sure enough, rising out of the waters came the fins, there must have been at least a dozen, it was decided not to tell the swimmer as this may have put him out of his stroke.

People were starting to get excited as they could quite easily see the French coast line but unbeknown to them, we were approaching the stage where the tide was due to change.
Cap Gris Nez

Can you spot Suzy?

Hover over the image.

Then it changed; now it was a fight for Freddie to show his skills as a pilot and the swimmers to give everything they had to battle hard and strike for shore as the tide whisked us past Cap Gris Nez and fortunately into the bay.
Suzanne grits her teeth

The time was now 14.20pm and time for another change and hopefully the last. We were making our way very slowly towards the French coast line, it looked so near yet so far but Suzanne gritted here teeth and relentlessly pushed on.
We've done it!

We were now just under a 1/4 of a mile from the coast and Freddie gave permission for Pip to join Suzanne on her last push, and there it was, finally at 15.02hrs Suzanne dragged her tinred body out of the water and on to French dry land. After gathering her thoughts both her and Pip rejoined the boat to a great reception from everyone on board.
A very happy B Team heading home

Time for the swim - 14 hours and 42 minutes.

Well done everyone.

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