Entering the chilly 13.6 degree water at Dover Harbour yesterday morning was not for the faint-hearted!
The wind was howling at Force 5, white horses danced on the waves and the swells were smashing against the harbour walls.
Undeterred the team stripped off to their Speedos and swim suits and plunged into the dark, angry water. All I kept thinking was that the sea can indeed be cruel and savage!
Some waves were so big they smashed into the side of your head and left your ears ringing. Salty water became the drink of the day and the wind whistled and drowned out the sound of our voices.
Its very hard to find your rhythm in such rough water and its important to bury your head deep into the waves and to breathe right into the armpit to avoid swallowing water, however most of us drunk several pints i think!
After half hours rest, we were back in for another hour and this time the wind had whipped up to a Force 6 and the sea was truly a boiling mass of spray, swells and howling gusts. It literally was a case of "Who Dares Swims"!
Trying to avoid the other Channel swimmers became a game of chance, as the large swells made it impossible to see who or what was in front or to the side of you. Several times I ended up almost colliding with another swimmer.
The team swam strong and hard and no one was shivering when we eventually washed up with a large wave on the pebbly beach.
A great day of training in brutal conditions and I feel certain that if the weather & tides are kind to us, then Force 6 will succeed in getting to France!
The wind was howling at Force 5, white horses danced on the waves and the swells were smashing against the harbour walls.
Undeterred the team stripped off to their Speedos and swim suits and plunged into the dark, angry water. All I kept thinking was that the sea can indeed be cruel and savage!
Some waves were so big they smashed into the side of your head and left your ears ringing. Salty water became the drink of the day and the wind whistled and drowned out the sound of our voices.
Its very hard to find your rhythm in such rough water and its important to bury your head deep into the waves and to breathe right into the armpit to avoid swallowing water, however most of us drunk several pints i think!
After half hours rest, we were back in for another hour and this time the wind had whipped up to a Force 6 and the sea was truly a boiling mass of spray, swells and howling gusts. It literally was a case of "Who Dares Swims"!
Trying to avoid the other Channel swimmers became a game of chance, as the large swells made it impossible to see who or what was in front or to the side of you. Several times I ended up almost colliding with another swimmer.
The team swam strong and hard and no one was shivering when we eventually washed up with a large wave on the pebbly beach.
A great day of training in brutal conditions and I feel certain that if the weather & tides are kind to us, then Force 6 will succeed in getting to France!