Still getting ready...

On the morning of a swim, I'm usually so nervous I can't eat a thing. I know I have to, so I try and force some food down. The morning of the 18th, though, and I was tucking into a massive bowl of hot porridge, courtesy of A-team support crew (who had already started excelling at such an early hour.) A glass of juice and cup of coffee and we set off down to the marina.

We met up with Jane Murphy, official observer for the swim and the other half of the A-team support crew. Also down at the marina were Sonia & Martin who run the Sandown Guest House, where I had stayed the previous week. They make it a habit to come down to the marina to see off their guests at the start of their swims, and one of their daughters (still in pyjamas and dressing-gown) came too. It was lovely to have friendly faces around, and to have their support, and I can highly recommend the Sandown if you're heading to Dover. What made the gesture so lovely was that they had already been down at the marina at 4am to see off another swimmer, Chantal, before coming back down to see me at 6am.

Just after 6 o'clock, my boat, Anastasia, pulled round to the dock. My first sighting of her!

Jane tells me Anastasia is the luxury vessel of the fleet. Only the very best for A-team support crew.

I was to spend many hours looking at that bow.

My fantastic crew: (l-r) Dave, Eddie (pilot), and Michael (Eddie's son.) Sonia, from Sandown Guest House is just visible in the background.


Happy the moment was finally here!