Team ‘SwimyourChannelswim’ is ready to complete its charity relay across the English Channel after three cancellations due to covid and bad weather.
Friends Andrea Stark and Jacqui Hargrave decided to do the relay for charity but needed two more team members. They convinced Jonty Warneken and Richard Powell to join.
Each swimmer has chosen a separate charity to donate support.
Jacqui Hargrave is donating to Saint Michael’s Hospice, Andrea Stark is donating to the Samaritans, Richard Powell has chosen Combat Stress as his charity and Jonty Warneken is donating to Open Country.
After each cancellation a team is required to complete a qualifying exam in 16 degree waters for 2 hours. The team is determined, however, and has re-qualified for the relay after every cancellation.
The team gets ready in Whitby.
Swimming the English Channel requires great stamina, it can take the team 12 to 14 hours to complete the relay.
According to the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, keeping away from shipping lanes and strong waves can add hours and miles to the relay with the longest recorded time being 29 hours.
Other dangers of swimming across the English Channel include sewerage, changes in weather, strong waves, jellyfish stings and hypothermia.
Jacqui said “my biggest worry is seeing a shadow in the water and being like, ‘what is that!'”
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Jonty preparing for the English Channel
Team leader Andrea Stark said how the team came together:
“Jacqui and I committed ourselves to taking on the Channel Challenge before we got any older and bits of us start falling off. We managed to persuade Jonty and Richard to make up a team – it’s now or never!”
Jonty Warneken said why he is donating to Open Country:
“As a disabled person myself (left leg amputee below the knee, with other restrictions in my remaining leg and other injuries) I just couldn’t imagine not being able to get out in the country side to swim or ride my bike. It’s good for the body and the mind so being able to help Open Country help others to get out into the countryside, to me, is the least I can do.”
