WHAT HAPPENED?

Mon 30 Jul 07

0945hrs

Ian Coles, Rob Healey and Kev Hutson have been in Dover since Wednesday and have been training in Dover Harbour. They’re staying at the Ghurka Barracks in Folkestone for the duration. Kev Brathwaite and Hamish McCarthy have joined them and later this afternoon after a leisurely lunch in one of Dover’s many great eateries the plan is to go for a short swim in the Harbour.

The Relay ‘window’ is 31st Jul (tomorrow) until 4th Aug. It’s the boat pilots who decide if conditions are right for the swim. As you know the weather has been pretty dire recently which has prevented most of last weeks attempts from leaving. With the weather on the up those delayed swimmers will hopefully get away tomorrow - so our Race will take place either Wednesday or Thursday - talk about tense eh!

As you know this has never been attempted before so the co-ordination of 4 boats, who would normally be independent of each other, is a first for everyone. Our heartfelt thanks to the pilots willing to give this a go!

Whichever day they set off it will probably be about 0400hrs - yep that’s 4 o’clock in the morning(!) - this avoids trying to clamber onto French rocks in the dark at the other end. Then they’ve all got to come back.

All the teams will stay over night after the race as the Channel Eagle Cup will be presented to the winners at 10am on the morning after the Race.

Keeping in touch with the boats by phone means we’ll have the latest up-to-date information for you and will be updating this page as and when we hear anything.

Exciting isn’t it!

1500hrs

Ian Coles’ Mum says, she can confirm they have been training twice a day since Wednesday.Wendy is an active member of the Channel Swimming Association and has actually spent last week in Dover waiting for a break in the weather to accompany a solo attempt as Observer. 

Wendy says that our swimmers haven’t had it easy, as the Harbour water has been quite choppy at times. Obviously she sends her good wishes to all “They deserve to do well.”

At the moment I only have contact with the Army teams - anyone know what the Navy and RAF are up to - drop me a line and I can add ‘What’s Happening?” info on them too.

2200hrs

Okey dokey , here’s the latest - sketched lightly in a 3H pencil of course...just in case....

We now have a time..........MIDNIGHT TOMORROW.....aarrgh - I hadn’t thought of that one!

So that’s 0000hrs tomorrow night. Light sticks are on hand and Rob’s sure all the Army are ready - need to know about the Navy and RAF PLEASE....Rob did say that apparently they have arrived at Shorncliffe but aren’t in the same place as he so there’s no contact yet.  If there are any Navy or RAF friends, family, parents etc please let them know I would love to be able to put info about them up here.......if they don’t have my number PLEASE send me an email by pressing the ‘Leave a Message’ button at the top - I’m checking every half an hour or so until I conk out - busy day tomorrow lol!

Tuesday 31 July 2007

0945hrs

What a beautiful morning - well it is in Hampshire anyway. 

Rob phoned in to say everyone’s fine and raring to go. They’re going for a dip in the Harbour between 1030hrs and 1130hrs.

SHARK WATCH - Great White spotted off the Cornish Coast - all very well but I want to know WHERE’S ITS MUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All swimmers will be wearing Shark and Jellyfish repellant so that’s OK then!

I did wonder though, wearing the lightsticks, as they will do in the dark - are they likely to be attacked by the Lesser Spotted Lycra Eating Spiny Sea Moth!!!

A worrier? Me? Nah!

1230hrs

They’ve all had a good session in the water - as warm as the Med now - not! All teams were there and I understand the Navy fancy themselves as favourites - we’ll see about that then won’t we.

We’re doing our best to keep up with your messages but as we have to manually upload each one it’s a fair old task, especially when we’ve been inundated as we were this morning. Please bear with us. We are all grateful though for your good wishes and messages so do keep them coming.

I’m leaving to go down to Dover shortly - and the driving seat here will be occupied by my Dad - Geoff.

I know all the teams are really appreciating your support - pleeeaase don’t forget to sponsor us, it would be fantastic if we can hit the targets - and if you’ve already sponsored us - thank you ...and do you want to do it again (cheeky I know...but if you don’t ask!)

1400hrs

Hi, everyone - Geoff here. Helen’s on her way to Dover to give her personal support and to take one or two snapshots with her trusty Box Brownie. I’ve been left in charge of the desk, with written instructions on how to boil a kettle and operate a PC. I turned on the kettle and, blow me down, the Dover Webcam went u/s. That’s technology for you.

I’m hoping to get updates to pass on to you - so if anyone out there knows what’s going on, please let me know.

Once the guys and gals set off for the foreign shore (hopefully in about 10 hours from now) I’ll be adding progress reports as and when I get them from the boats. Please, boat people, keep me informed, too much rather than too little, ‘cos there will be folk all around the World watching and waiting, and one can only bate one’s breath for so long.

(Whoops - I’ve just realised I unplugged the Dover Webcam so that I could plug in the kettle - all sorted and back on line now)

1615hrs

Our on-the-spot reporter (aka Helen) has now arrived in Dover, (hopefully having dodged the speed cameras!!!) and says the final decision on whether we have a “GO” or not will be made in the next couple of hours. At the moment, things are looking good

Meanwhile, if you go to this site http://www.bbc.co.uk/southeasttoday/latest_stories/ and click on “First Channel Relay Race” you’ll see a clip of a recent interview with Rob Healey and Hamish McCarthy. BUT don’t forget to come back here, will you...

(Amendment 050807: The BBC no longer have the story on their website but are sending us a hard copy so hopefully there will be another link for you to use shortly.)

2000hrs

CHANNEL EAGLE IS GO!!! At the witching hour of midnight, the intrepid competitors will enter the water and strike out for the French coastline, carrying with them our thoughts and very best wishes (not to mention layers of goose fat - yuk!)

More mundanely, they dined on Ghurka Chicken Pasta, with roast potatoes and gravy, followed by Pineapple Fritters...yum,yum...and are now resting.

For the insomniacs among you (and that’s going to have to include me, ‘cos I’ll be here taking calls from the pilot boats throughout the night), or those in a more reasonable time zone, BFBS hope to be talking to the swimmers during the late night show between midnight and 0100hrs, and again during the Breakfast Show from 0600hrs.

(Amendment 050807: BFBS are sending a copy of the interview to us so hoefully you’ll be able to hear it son.)

BBC TV also hope to be able to include an item during SouthEast Today at 0630hrs.

Subject to mobile phone tranmission/reception being favourable from the other side (I’m talking Channel here, not supernatural) I will post messages from the swimmers to their loved ones.

Wednesday 01 August 2007

0001hrs

Toc follows tic follows toc follows tic...what is happening? I don’t know. I’m waiting for the phone call that tells me the race is on - but, so far, SILENCE. Hmmmm...

0015hrs

Yes, we’re still OK to go. Just had a report that the pilot boats are bobbing around off the beach...the first swimmers have to swim to the beach and stand on it, then get back in the water and head for France. It’s a beautiful moonlit night (almost a full moon) and the sea is flat calm (in the harbour, anyway). The first swimmers for the Army A and Army B teams are Ian Coles and Kevin Hutson respectively. The Navy and RAF are playing it close to their chests - they’re not telling me anything ... yet.

0030hrs

HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE. The swimmers are all in the water and, for the first time ever, four boats/teams have set off together for the Channel swim.

0130hrs

The first hour has passed without incident. The order at the moment is Navy, RAF, Army A, Army B. Ian Coles (Army) is out now (he says “You can go to bed now, Mum”) to be replaced by Hamish McCarthy. For the Army B, Kevin Hutson has been replaced by Kevin Galbraith. Still no word from the other two teams.

0200hrs

At last, news from the Navy and the RAF teams.

First in for the Navy was Mark Franklin and he has now been replaced by Alister Witt. These two have edged their team a few metres (or yards, for us oldies) ahead of the RAF. I’ve spoken to the RAF’s first swimmer, Spike Buchan, who was back in the boat enjoying a warming cuppa. He described the conditions as good, the water as warm (about 15 degrees he reckons - that’s about 15 degrees below my idea of warm, though) and a slight chop developing, but little or no swell (and it’s the swell that tends to get the tummies turning). He handed over to Teresa Walsh after his stint. Sarah Buck on the Navy’s boat agrees that the going is good, but thinks there is a bit more chop than they had expected.

Only a couple of jellyfish have been sighted so far - Dr Foster’s Patent Jellyfish Repellent seems to be very effective. It also appears to repel ships, ‘cos the waters around them are devoid of any other traffic at present.

0245hrs

Hamish has “done his bit” for now and to his wife sends the message “I enjoyed it - sort of” Sian Edwards is now in. For the RAF, Simon Almond has replaced Teresa and for the Army B, Big Kev is out, replaced by Suzanne Anderson. The Navy isn’t taking calls at the moment (?) but are still in the lead.

Spike offered me the information that the sea state is about 2. Yeah, and? Silly me, I’ve just “googled” it and it means “Wind: 4-6 Knots Light breeze Small wavelets, crests glassy, no breaking.  Wind felt on face, leaves rustle, vanes begin to move” So now we all know...

0335hrs

Another change-over completed. Rob Healey in for the Army A, Suzy Holmes for the Army B and Brian Beaton for the RAF. The Navy’s still not taking calls. The order is still unchanged

(Amendment 050807: The reason the Navy were a bit quiet on the phone front was that Sarah was having a well deserved kip!)

It seems that some of the competitors might be wishing they were swimming all the way. Although the sea state is slight, because the boats are moving so slowly they are rolling quite a bit and there are one or two green faces.

Some dark silhouettes can now be seen as the teams start to cross the shipping lanes, but they are keeping their distance.

0445hrs

What a tussle is going on out there. The Army A, Navy and Air Force are neck and neck, with the Army B still in sight. It’s estimated they’ve covered about 7 miles so far. Dawn is about 15 minutes away and it looks like being a beautiful sight that will lift the spirits, I’m sure. Shipping is keeping well clear, they’ve obviously had their instructions.

Rob, Suzy and Brian are getting warm again and Catherine Jardine, Michelle Whalley and Shona Cowan are now fighting through the plankton (at least, I hope it’s only plankton).

I’m sorry I can’t bring you any news of the Navy team. Perhaps whichever mobile phone service provider they are using doesn’t give a strong enough signal, but I just can’t get a response.

0545hrs

Catherine is out now and would like to tell her dad “I didn’t like the seaweed very much”. I know what she means, I don’t like it either, even when it’s been cooked.

Anyway, David Gagen is now chopping his way through the underwater garden, ably assisted by Aaron Giles and Esther Haselwood.

It does seem that the Navy’s communication device is not working too well - you could say it’s a bit moby dickie (Yup, I think I’ll leave that one in)

0600hrs

Good news - I’ve just had a call from Sarah Buck on the Navy boat, so I can update you on their running order. Steve Berry went in after Ali, then Caroline Smart, followed by Sarah herself and currently Gemma Howells is in, being encouraged very vocally, if the noises I could hear in the background were anything to go by. They are in high spirits and Sarah can’t wait to get back in (she said!)

They’ve just reached the halfway mark.

0700hrs

Each team member has now completed one swim and the ones who started off are now halfway through their second swim. Everyone is confident that they will stay the course.

It’s still pretty much neck and neck, with the Navy just a tad in front (tad = Old Saxon measurement equivalent to 2.849 chains or 27 hexidecimal sproggles [q.v]) and the Army Band RAF about level.

The Army B dropped back slightly (probably to give the others a false sense of security - good tactics, eh?) and are now beginning to make up ground (or should it be water). Whichever, their morale remains high.

0800hrs

The Navy is still in the lead and about 8 miles from the French coast - a ferry was mentioned but reception wasn’t too good and I’m not sure whether it overtook them or they overtook it. The Army A and RAF are still in contention and there is no doubt that the Army B is relying on the tortoise and hare strategy. There have even been suggestions of sun-bathing taking place. Now there’s relaxed for you.

0930hrs

This is one that is really going to go down to the wire. The Navy are still ahead, but appear to be making a tactical move by taking a course round a sandbank different from that being taken by the Army and RAF boats. This could work in their favour and increase their slender lead or it could all end in tears.

The two following boats are literally metres apart, with the Army A just edging ahead of the RAF. I haven’t been able to connect with the Army B boat, but they appear to be some distance back, but still making progress.

HAZARD WATCH - it has been reported that gannets have been circling over the swimmers (better than vultures, I suppose). According to the pilots, they are attracted by the splashing and are fooled into thinking there are fish for the taking. They have been known to dive down beside swimmers. Let’s hope their dives are accurate, or else there may be some embarrassing injuries to report and I’m sure a gannet beak in the bottom is no laughing matter (or it might be, tee,hee)

1030hrs

This is really getting to the nail-biting stage. The Navy are definitely heading for a different landing spot to the Army A and RAF. According to the plotter on the Army boat, the Navy are one and a half miles away, but that does not mean in the lead. It now all depends on who gets the more favourable tide.

It’s still a three-horse race. The RAF are only 800 metres behind the Army A. A race that has been going on for more than ten hours could be decided on a sprint finish. Don’t you just wish you were there on the beach/rocks/cliffs, shouting yourself hoarse for your team? I know I do, but I mustn’t be partisan must I.

Any one of these boats could finish within the next hour - or be held off by an unfavourable tide.

It looks like the Army B team are well out of the running, but I haven’t got their exact location at present.

1100hrs

I’ve just had a call from Suzy on the Army B boat. They are all safe and well, just taking their time and enjoying the sunshine. Little Kev is actually doing a spot of fishing!!!

Michelle is coming to the end of her second stint, then Esther will take over. After which, they all start the rota again and do a third stint. They all sounded very happy and I’ve now got another number on which to call them.

1120hrs

NEWSFLASH I’ve just been told that the Navy expect to land within the next 5-10 minutes. The Army and RAF are close, but not that close.

1210hrs

THE CHANNEL EAGLE HAS LANDED (well, someone had to say it, so it might as well be me)

Subject to official confirmation, the Navy team completed the crossing in 11hrs 06mins. The Army A team completed the crossing in 11hrs 42mins. The RAF should finish shortly and I’ll keep you posted on the progress of the Army B team.

Many congratulations to the Navy team for their success. Congratulations, too, to all the swimmers who took part in this gruelling event. You’re all winners in my book.

1245hrs

The Army B is about 3 miles out. Depending on the tide, they could get in within a couple of hours.

1415hrs

The Army B is battling an unfavourable tide at the moment (or at least Big Kev is). They’re still about two and a half miles out, now heading for the bay, rather than the lighthouse. Their pilot reckons that in about half an hour they should be out of the tidal stream and the going should be easier. I’m pretty certain that’s a relative expression - less difficult might be more accurate.

Unless they got hit by a freak storm or earthquake, the RAF must have finished by now, but they haven’t let me know their time and no-one answers the phone, so that up-date will have to wait a while.

1500hrs

Good news from Suzy (Army B) - they’ve put on a good spurt and can see the people waiting on the beach. They hope to be ashore in about 20 minutes. What a great bunch - they’ve had to spend more time swimming than the others, but they’ve dug deep and kept going to the end.

When you realise that something like 1 in 3 attempts fail, to get four teams across in one go is a fantastic achievement.

In fact, I’ve just had another call from Suzy - they must have come in like surf boarders at the last. They finished in a time of 14hrs 42mins.

1530hrs

BBC SouthEast Today at 1830hrs this evening hopes to put out an article about today’s event, using video footage shot from one of the pilot boats during the crossing and a live interview of the teams on Dover beach. If you are not in range of the broadcast, it may well be on their web-site later on today or tomorrow.

1600hrs

And finally, well not really, but as we come to the end of a truly magnificent day, I can tell you the RAF team came in with a time of 12hrs 05mins. To save you looking back, the times were:

1. Navy - 11hrs 06mins

2. Army A - 11hrs 42mins

3. RAF - 12hrs 05mins

4. Army B - 14hrs 42mins

And let us not forget that this was not just about Inter-Services rivalry - although that gave it a bit of an edge. Due to the generosity of our sponsors and donors thousands of pounds will have been raised for two very worthwhile charities. These swimmers and their supporters have put in a tremendous amount of effort to make this a memorable event.

So I make no apology for saying that if you’ve enjoyed following the race and you’ve got a few coins rattling around in your pocket or purse, why not click on one of the orange buttons on the Home page and show your appreciation for the entertainment you’ve had. Go on, you know you want to...

Thursday 02 Aug 07

1500hrs

There is a short video clip about the event on the BBC SouthEast Today website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/southeasttoday/latest_stories/index.shtml - just click on the Navy win cross-Channel relay link.

(Amendment 050807: The story is no longer on the BBC site but they will be sending us a copy so hopefully you will be able to link to it soon.)