When Mr. Jean Francois BOULOY brought some celebratory champagne to the swimmers who landed at his restaurant doorstep on successful completion of the English Channel relay, little did he realise just how much the Medecins Sans Frontieres relay squad deserved the plaudits. How was the proprietor of La Sirene restaurant on Cap Gris Nez to know that the team endured four attempts dating back to June in their efforts to swim to France across the English Channel?
Two teams were prepared and waiting for their 'tide' to attempt the crossing in June. Both MSF1 and 2 failed to make it across due to the conditions presented to them in June. A summer of frustrations and maintenance of fitness followed with an MSF 3 being called to Dover for a 4am start on the 20th September. This team was made up of swimmers from both teams who were available on the day. Combining available swimmers from both teams to create MSF 3, fog struck before Eddie Spelling could take ‘Anastasia’ out of harbour. And as the Channel swimming season drew to a close, there was a small window of hope for one final opportunity to gather the 'troops' in an attempt to reach their goal of swimming to France and raising funds for MSF.
“The failed one, the foggy one and now the successful one” was how Nick Adams summed up the fruits of their efforts. Specific congratulations to the squad who reached France and they were: Dr. Vanessa Impey, Dr. Stephanie Chapman-Sheath, Laure Latham, Dr. Andrew Robins, Boris Mavra and Dr. Robert Fisher.
The relay squad started at Samphire Hoe on Saturday 27 September at 23:42 and reached Cap Gris Nez, France in 15 hours and 45 minutes on Sunday 28 September.
ATTEMPT 2: Looking back to their previous preparation and efforts, 20 September was a tough outing, as all swimmers drove to Dover in the dark, only to return home again. Dr Sakura Adams, team organiser was philosophical in summing up what happened. “We were in Dover Marina ready to go at 4am this morning, however the fog and an impending force 6 weather front meant the relay swim was called off. All very disappointed however such is the nature of the English Channel. Eddie will give us another shot if there is a chance before early October. Alternatively Nick and I will think of a suitable 'challenge' for us to embark on for all the fundraising efforts you have put in. Today was not meant to be unfortunately.” The team who were set to swim on that occasion were: Vanessa Impey, Stephanie Chapman-Sheath, Laure Latham, Andrew Robins, Nick Adams, Robert Fisher. In retrospect, thankfully that challenge was the third and successful attempt.
ATTEMPT 1: In June, the first attempt for the MSF 5-person relay included Ange Johnson, Vanessa Impey and Robert Fisher (all Serpentine SC swimmers) who set off from Shakespeare beach at 9am on the morning of 23 June with pilot Eddie Spelling. They were close, but as Capt webb said once, “Nothing great is easy.”
THE CHARITY: The swimmers have raised a huge amount of funds for the Medecins Sans Frontieres charity. But is that enough? More information is at this link and it also contains some more personal profiles of all the swimmers.
Twitter page for MSF Relay 2014 :
Chapeau et salut à votre meilleur état de santé.
Yours swimmingly
[John Tierney @swimmingdragons]
