DCT Week 17 - that blew out the cobwebs 💨
A windy weekend
It was great to be back in the harbour after our last minute DCT on tour last Sunday and a good job too as the forecast was for a lot of wind and on a spring tide. We’re really lucky with the harbour as there is pretty much always somewhere swimmable within it and some bumpy (but swimmable) water makes for great training.
Saturday was the worst of it and as the tide came in the more challenging the conditions became. Fortunately the torrential downpour finished just before we had to set up the beach for the day. The briefing asked swimmers to avoid the ferry wall end for safety and everyone did as asked, thank you.
As the water sports centre was not operating, we were able to use the water all the way up to the wall which was more sheltered.
It’s always good to challenge yourself as you never know what you will face on the big day. I personally really enjoy swimming in bumpy water, though wouldn’t choose it for a crossing. Some say ‘train for the worst and hope for the best’. I prefer to train in all sorts of conditions so that everything is familiar.
It never ceases to amaze me what you find washed up on the shore or in the water. I remember Julian finding a tube of primula, we’ve had takeaway boxes, cans, bottles and Mark & I even found an old bike in the water once. This weekend Paul found a large traffic cone and a single sandal, sometimes I’m simply curious as to how these things get there. I suspect it involved late night and alcohol!
DOVER SWIMS
Remember that the camera flattens the water
Saturday:
Swimmers: 8 (over 3 start times)
Water temperature: 19.6C
Air temperature: 19.1C
Conditions: Swell by swimmers beach and big rollers by ferry wall to start. Rough later. F5 W.
Sunday:
Swimmers: 8 (over 3 start times)
Water temperature: 19.1C
Air temperature: 19.8C
Conditions: Slight chop to start with some rolling waves by the ferry wall. Sunny to start. Wind picked up towards the end making it very lumpy.
Quick facts:
Philip looking strong after his back to back 6 & 7 in challenging conditions
With the busy tracking couple of weeks that we had, many of our regular faces have now swum
We had 11 swimmers join the long sessions
And just 4 swimmers swim both days
A particular well done to Philip Brice who completed a 6 and a 7 in challenging conditions.
It was lovely to Margaret & Vera visiting from the USA
And to see people in their final taper before their tide
Margaret & Vera after their dip
VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to Paul, Mandi, Keith and Jon for helping out this weekend.
Paul was able to feed all swimmers from the kayak, despite the bumpy conditions. He was able to tie off against a buoy meaning he didn’t move with the waves or wind. Feeding is more realistic this way and means that the swimmers are not exposed to wind at a beach feed or knocked about in the shallows by the waves.
Each week this process gets further refined. We’re even starting to chat about how we can offer deep water feeding when we are able to return to larger numbers of swimmers.
The use of the iPad for recording feeds and who is in and out of the water along with radio communication for kayak to beach communication works well, even if Mandi did mis-hear her code name of ‘Cat Lady’ for ‘Fat Lady’!!
If you’d like to sign-up to volunteer, please book in using the form below.
EMMA’S CORNER - A JOURNEY, NOT JUST A DESTINATION
If you’re reading these blogs as you start to pan your own adventure, you may think that France is just a destination. It is so much more than that. The experience of getting to the point when you feel ready to stand on Shakespeare beach or Samphire Hoe and raise you hand, ready to start the adventure of a lifetime is so much more than any other event you’ll train for.
When I started in the sport you could book a swim for the following year without too much trouble. That’s no longer the case. In many cases you have to plan 2-3 years ahead. That might sound like a problem, but I actually think it can also be an opportunity. Channel swims used to be undertaken by club level swimmers who worked their way up to a channel swim after doing other swims along the way, like some of the BLDSA events or Lake Zurich amongst many other swims. That’s not what we see today. For many a channel swim is the first big swim and we have more and more ‘adult onset’ swimmers attempting the channel now. So, with 2-3 years to train, why not take on some intermediary swims along the way?
At the end of the day, we will help you learn the ‘process’ of a swim. Intermediary solo and relay events can help you ensure you start your channel swim with experience of all elements of the swim already practiced.
If you want help identifying some useful stepping stones along the way, have a chat with one of your beach crew.
Enjoy the journey.
PHOTOS
A few photos from this weekend.
BOOKING SYSTEM
This year I have added a booking system to help you to take control of how you interact with us. You can book your weekend swims in advance (a necessity in this Covid-19 world), you can join a community call, book a one to one or sign-up for ur remote training support subscription packages.
If you want to use our booking system, it can be found below.