2026 Conference & Webinar

This is a once a year opportunity with real experts in their fields that you just won’t find elsewhere. If you have a swim planned you’ll want to grab your place before they’re all gone.

Welcome to our 2026 Conference. Our aim is to bring together a host of experts and experienced swimmers to answer all the questions that you have

(and all the questions you didn’t yet realise that you had!).

 

Webinar

Date: Saturday 7th February 2026
Location: Zoom
Time: 3pm UK time

Conference

Date: Saturday 31st January 2026
Location: Kent Association for the Blind, Maidstone, Kent, UK
Time: All Day

 
 

Conference

This year we will be hosting the seminars at the Kent Association for the Blind (KAB), in Maidstone. We have access to multiple presentation areas within this wonderful venue. The day will be packed full of content from multiple speakers, expects in their fields and all of whom have been where you are now.

KAB is situated near to the centre of Maidstone, close to amenities, hotels and parking. Address 72 College Road, Maidstone, Kent ME15 6SJ

If you’re planning on staying overnight, there is a Premier Inn and Travelodge close by.

Thank you as always to the team of people who make this possible.

Price: £100

Webinar

In order to share all the content we have planned we’re expanded the offering to also include a webinar.

Price: £25

Bundle offer: Join both the conference and the webinar for the discounted price of £110.

 
 

The agenda will be firmed up in the coming months, a draft is shown below.

There will also be a follow-up webinar on a date to be confirmed that will include a pilot’s view of the challenge, a great opportunity to ask questions from someone who has seen it all, many times.

Agenda

Registration open 8:15 for a 9am start. Tea, coffee & pastries will be available on arrival

  • We’ll introduce you to Dover Channel Training and will define what to expect for the weekend.

  • Focus on technique

  • As you plan your own training, what do you need to consider with regards to your own safety and well being?

  • Principles of training [Part 2]
    Steps 2-5 for training for a big event.
    [Emma France]

    Feeding in training & on the big day
    Some science behind feeding and the different feeding options provided by us. Do you need solids?
    [Dr Nick Murch]

  • Team building, training & what to expect on the big day
    Considerations when building your team. How we structure training: building up as the temperature increases, the qualifying swim, double dips. What do you really need to take on the day? What should you leave behind? What can you expect to be on the boat already? Find out what to expect on the day, not the rules, just the reality of getting from England to France. Recovering between swims and eating.
    [Mandi Bodemeaid]

  • Let’s start from the beginning.

    What is it really like from someone who was a self confessed rookie in 2019? What did he learn? What did he wish he'd known going into the season?

    What would he do differently now if he had the chance for a do-over?

    How do you take control of your own training and stay safe?

  • What it is? How you might find yourself on it? Strategies for managing the experience physically, mentally and emotionally.

  • If swimming the channel is 80% mental and 20% everything else, let’s talk about this 80%

  • Who do you need around you as you prepare for your big day? Whether it's a solo or a relay you will gain great support by having the right team around you.

  • What is hypothermia and how to balance your training in cooler water.

  • Discussion on key medical considerations. Introduce SIPE, how to identify it and what to do. Sea sickness. Pain relief. Jellyfish stings / anti-histamines etc.

    Recap training through injury & illness

  • Let's take your goals, your reasons why and identify all the big and little things that you're going to do in order to break through to succes

  • Item description

  • What are the key elements that you need to practice in training so that on the big day you can simply ‘follow the process?

  • You have a swim, you’ve learned a lot that may have made you think differently. Now to create your plan to take you from where you are now to where you want to be.

  • Bringing it all together and how one small thing can be the start of a chain reaction.

  • Ask all your questions about tides, weather, start times, life aboard or beside a channel boat.

    Stuart is one of the CSA pilots with more experience than a swimmer can ever have on topics like this.

Like what you see? Then make sure you register now to avoid disappointment, we cannot accept people on the day who have not registered as we need to control numbers around fire regulations.

All this for just £110!

Price includes breakfast pastries, teas, coffees and biscuits BUT does not include lunch, so please bring your own packed lunch

If you have any questions that need answering before booking, you can contact us via email.

 
Book here