National news
Open Water swimmers – Land Registry employees and CSSC members Anna Luff, Ellie Fretwell, John Moore & Ian Cable
It all started in 2018 when five swimmers met up at the CSSC National Swimming Competition and got to talking. Sharing a love of swimming, Anna Luff, Ellie Fretwell, John Moore, Ian Cable and Matthew Thomas, as these things tend to do, the conversation naturally went to “why don’t we swim the channel for charity?” Two years later and many hoops jumped through, the deposit was paid and the date set. At least, that’s what the swimmers thought. No one could have predicted the delay due to the pandemic and what other obstacles might lay ahead.
After finally getting the green light to slim, in the build-up to the big day after months and months of practice, Ian was sadly unable to take part in medical advice and with just one week to go, Matt also had to pull out due to injury, leaving Anna, Ellie and John with a very difficult decision.
But decided they did and went for it they emphatically did.
From Channel no. 5 to Channel no. 3
Despite being down to just three swimmers, on the day of the 23rd of June, the team began their epic relay at 5.28 am from Samphire Hoe just outside Dover. Ellie led the team out and was first to dip her toe in the water.
In order to make your crossing officially recognised you need to abide by several rules. In a relay, such as this, each swimmer must swim for 1 hr at a time, covering as much distance as possible. The team must keep the same rotation of swimmers throughout the crossing, with the next swimmer only commencing their leg once the previous swimmer had exited the water. All teams must be accompanied by a member of the Channel Swimming and Pilot Federation on a specially chartered Pilot boat.
Other seemingly specific rules include: swimmers must wear one swimming cap, goggles, and standard issue swimsuit. Wetsuits aren’t allowed, although you are permitted to baste yourself with duck or goose fat. Although the jury is still out as to whether this has any effect, our swimmers declined to turn themselves into a roast dinner. Swimmers aren’t allowed to touch the boat during their swim and the challenge must start and end on dry land.
The shortest route is not always in a straight line
Miraculously, our swimmers averaged between 2.2 and 2.8 miles per hour. Sustaining this pace throughout the challenge would be a remarkable achievement in just a swimming pool, let alone open water swimming, but sustain it, they did.
The shortest straight-line distance between England and France is 21 miles, however thanks to tides and currents, the ‘easiest’ way to swim the channel is to ‘go with the tides’ and let them propel you. Much like a salmon swimming against the current is much harder than going downstream. So, the actual distance covered is closer to 32 miles.
From the original team of five, our intrepid trio or heroes, ably supported by Ian, Anna successfully touched down at the Cap Gris Nez in just 13 hrs 54 minutes. Despite the sheer scale and distance swam, the challenge ended with a flourish in a sprint finish, just to make sure the team arrived at the correct destination.
Congratulations to the Land Registry Swimmers
To achieve this remarkable feat, the team had to endure many challenges and obstacles along the way, with the complications beginning before they even touched water. Not only did the team have to overcome the reduction from five members to three, but they also had to contend with training during a pandemic, with two members living about as far away from the sea as it’s possible to get in Britain. Add into the mix the challenges of seasickness, salt irritations, a phobia of deep waters, tidal shifts and dolphins and it makes the achievement that much more inspiring.
To help document the Channel swimmers’ journey, CSSC brought the team a Go Pro camera. Not the most obviously helpful bit of kit when taking the plunge, you might think. However, by capturing not only parts of the swim, but both the mental and physical stories of Anna, Ellie, John and Ian, it serves as both a wonderful inspiration to others and preserves a lasting legacy for the team.
All for a good cause
When asked why you would want to attempt such a remarkable undertaking, the whole team were keen to say it provided a unique opportunity to challenge themselves. They all find open swimming incredibly invigorating, and real help in improving their mental and physical health. But, as if that wasn’t enough, they were all incredibly focused on others benefiting too, which is why they choose the mental health charity ‘Mind’ to raise money for.
Undertaking a Channel swim is not a cheap enterprise. Paying for the Pilot boat, official, accommodation and food, cost the team several thousand pounds, but they were keen to ensure this was not funded by their charity donations, so paid for it themselves. They set themselves the target of raising £5,000 for Mind, which they smashed, with the total now standing at over £6,000 and growing.
Their just giving page is still open, so if you’d like to donate, please do so here:
If you’ve been inspired to take on a unique challenge like Anna, Ellie, John and Ian, please let us know how CSSC can help.
Not only might we be able to help you with funding, but with our unique blend of experience, contacts, partners and opportunities, we might just be able to lighten your load.
Further reading
Read about how Anna has taken up open water swimming, and the effect it has had on her body and spirituality.
Read more
