Grimsby & Cleethorpes Waterrats female Channel Swim relay team

Thank you for visiting our fundraising page to help raise funds for North East Lincolnshire Women's Aid.

We are a team of 6 female swimmers on a mission to swim across the English Channel during the week of the 21st-28th June 2024. “With no wet suits required”

Our Journey started well over a year ago swimming through the summer and the winter to acclimatise and gain confidence in the cold water in the surroundings of the Alexandra Dock Grimsby. With the help of fellow members of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Water rats we trained in water temperatures as high as 21 degrees in the summer, and of course the hardest part the winter months with temperatures below 5 degrees. Lobster bodies and frozen fingers and toes set the challenge of changing into warm clothing and trying to sip warm drinks while shivering trying not to spill a drop. Many sessions were spent laughing at this part and has set the memories for a long time I’m sure.

With only 11 weeks to go and lots more training to complete, including a 2hr qualifying swim under 15.5 degrees C. We would like to take this opportunity to help raise vital funds for North East Lincolnshire Women's Aid. A charity who’s aim is to improve the lives of women, men and children particularly those affected by domestic abuse. Please follow the link below to find out more about what this fantastic charity does to help many victims of domestic abuse in the North East Lincolnshire area.

Please help us raise funds for this fantastic charity by making a donation on this page.

https://www.womensaidnel.org

Many thanks for your support

To save your purchase against your account Sign in or Sign up to create a new account.

The finish line 

Our Channel swim journey 

We finally finished our journey of swimming the English channel on Monday 24th June 2024, and what an amazing time we had. We completed the swim in 13hours 56 minuets guided by pilot Stuart Gleeson Sea Leopard Charter and CSA observer Jon Miell.

The day began at 12.43am with our first swimmer starting on Sandettie beach in Dover. The horn from the boat sounded and we were off. The first three swims were completed in the dark, and then the fourth saw the light breaking through. However no sunrise to be seen as it was foggy as dawn broke. This didn’t clear till later in the morning so seemed to dampen our spirits for a while. Once everyone had completed their first swims we seemed to settle down a little more as the sunshine broke though the fog. The second swim for everyone went far better than the first. Some of us saw massive jellyfish as we swam and unfortunate for some received a little reminder that these beautiful sea creatures do have a nasty sing. We saw seals and porpoises on our journey too but fortunately not too close to worry about.

We finally finished our journey on strouanne beach on the French side 13hrs and 56mins later with only two of the relay team having to swim 3 time.

We all had an amazing time and absolutely enjoyed our journey of swimming the English Channel.

The Summer Solstice Silkies English Channel realy team would like to thank everyone who have supported us throughout our journey and made donations to such a fantastic cause. Your donations are very much appreciated.

Having a second attempt to get to the start line. Fingers X that the wind stays calm for tonight's crossing. Start time is 1am Monday morning 

Having a chilled out swim while we wait for the phone call. Its a little windy today

All the team in Dover ready and waiting for the wind to drop. Fingers X it looks like Sunday or Monday looks promising 

having a swimble

Finally our training journey has come to an end….

Its time to pack our swimming costumes caps and goggles and make our way to the start line……No wetsuits required!!

Sunday was the last day for our taper swim. It was lovely to spend the time having a swimble and catch up with fellow members of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Waterrats.

The next update will be from Dover harbor when we go to meet up with the pilot and have a briefing on our swim and what is expected during our swim….How exciting!!

Then we wait for the weather to be kind.....

WOW only 11 days to go….The days are still flying by..

“With no wetsuits required”

This week has been all about what food we will be eating, sea swimming and the taper time after such a long training programme for the last year and a half.

We’ve been trying out anything and everything ginger…baking ginger oat cookies, ginger flapjack and drinking lots of different ginger tea varieties, in hope to combat the seasickness wobbles.

It’s time to ban the family from watching river monsters on the TV so we can focus on the final days in preparation for our swim. I’m sure that Amazon will be on speed dial for the next couple of days….you can’t have enough goggles and swimming costumes.

There’s no more time to fit in any more sea swims so pleased we spent this last week in the sea. Saturday evening swim proved to be a challenging one as we battled with gusts up to 25mph, however the sun was beaming and we all enjoyed the challenge. It turned out to be a short swim but gave use more experience with battling against the waves and the swell of the sea.

Summer Solstice Silkies

glorious sunshine

WOW only 18 days to go

“No Wetsuits required”

The channel swim team enjoyed a full days training doing a triple swim day at Grimsby and Cleethorpes Water Rats Open water Swimming club This is the last of our long training days before our channel swim 21st-28th June. The team covered over 46000meters over 3 X 1 hour swims 2 hours apart. Starting at 10am Sunday morning through to 5pm. Mother Nature kindly blessed us with glorious sunshine all day…..lets hope this is a good omen for our channel swim.

The water temperature was a cool 14/15 degree with some chilly areas from the natural springs followed by a blast of chilly water once the dock gate opened at high tide. Throughout the day we had support by fellow water rats joining in the hour swims, and a visit from the Water Rats President Margaret smith to give us encouragement and wish us all good luck for our channel swim.

This next week we will be spending time getting some more sea swimming in, taking advantage of the high tides at the end of the week.

We would like to thank everyone who’s taken the time to make donations to this fantastic charity. Your donations are very much appreciated.

Many thanks

Summer Solstice Silkies

Cleethorpes sea swim

‘WOW’ 25 days to go….No wetsuits required

How fast are the days going by…we have only 25 days to left to go before our challenge to swim across the English Channel begins.

Once the whole team had completed the 2hr swim qualifier required to cross the channel the concentration then turned to completing multiple swims within a short space of time including swimming in the dark and early mornings. This is to help us get accustomed to being cold then having to get back into the water to repeat another hour swim. After all doing the swimming part is one thing but having to continue swimming after you’ve been out of the water and being cold to the core. Getting back into the water is both a physical and mental challenge.

Multiple swims have been completed by some of the team this weekend. Starting at 7am on Saturday morning through to 1pm. Repeating 1hr swim then 1 and half hours rest to them repeat the process over another 2 times. Then Sunday morning started with a 7.30am swim at Cleethorpes followed by the last swim of the weekend in Alexander Docks.

The laughing at each others inability to change into the next swimming costume while you’re shivering and still feeling sticky after swimming in the salt water made the task of multiple swims more enjoyable. Plus the reward of warm tea and food after each swim gave us something to look forward to.

A double dip today sea swim first followed by a swim in the dock 2hrs later. With some of the team. 

Channel swimming

39 days to go and we are good to go. "No wetsuits required"

After all the wind and rain we had to endure throughout April it has been a welcome relief that the sun has finally come out to play.

Thanks to mother nature nicely warming up the sea water. The whole team have now been successful in achieving their 2hr swim qualifier under 15.5°C. This took place in Grimsby Alexander Dock along side Grimsby & Cleethorpes Waterrats. With many thanks for their support we made it through with the water temperature between 13-14.5°C. The relief on all our faces once it had all been completed was evident through smiling faces once the verifiers of our swim, Tim Fletcher and Alex Martinelli indicated we could get out of the water. 🐟🐟🐟

Plenty of training has been completed throughout the last few weeks, in some cases achieving over 18,000 meters each in a week in water temperatures below 14°C. With sea swimming in the morning and back in the docks a couple of hours later. Next week it will be 3 swims in a day. Oops the team doesn't know that yet🙊 This will be alongside some night swims and more sea swims. 

Starting to get webbed hands and feet now 🦢🦆

 Any donations no matter how small is very much appreciate. 

Many thanks to all those who've taken the time donated so far🙏

April has been quite a challenge for the channel swim team. We've battle though a lot of wind and rain starting the month of April with storm Kathleen, making conditions very tricky with 40mph winds. Then with the addition of all the rain we've had over the last few weeks the water temperature has only reach a maximum of 10 degrees making the swim training a challenge on time spent in the water. At the moment we are managing 50-60 minutes swim time while the water is around 10 degree, however as the temperature drops to 9.3 degrees 40 minutes is about the average before the our teeth start to chatter and our fingers and feet start hurt telling us its time to get out of the water. Getting changed into warm clothing sets its own challenge when fingers and the body are very cold. Lots of huffing and puffing and the concentration required when trying to get wet gear off and warm clothes on before the shivers start has been absolutely hilarious. Lets hope the next few weeks the weather forecast picks up so we can get the 2 hour qualifying swim completed in more comfortable temperatures We would just like to take the time to thank everyone who has supported us so far with your donations it is very much appreciate for such a fantastic cause.

Domestic Abuse services are provided to victims, agencies, families and the community