Good Morning from Dover! Marilyn is in the water and going strong. The weather is sunny with light winds and southern England is experiencing a heat wave (high of 24 today). Looks like a great day for swimming. Marilyn is about 6.5 miles out and the first pacer (Debbie) is about to enter the water. Feedings are going well and Marilyn passed on the first pacer because she didn't need it and to save them getting too cold. As you have probably figured out by now Marilyn is not doing this posting (hard to Blog and swim at the same time). My name is Steve and I am the husband of pacer Deb and will be keeping you updated on Marilyn's progress throughout the day. Here are some details about the beginning of the swim:
Captain Kevin asked us to be at the Harbour at 2:45 in hopes of leaving at 3:00. During a crossing yesterday the water pump on his engine blew and he limped back to Dover harbour. He arranged for a different boat for Marilyn however he was still going to be the pilot and his son, Adam, would be the official observer. When we got to the harbour around 2:45 Kevin was not to be found. Remembering back to the trial swim on August 15th when he was late we didn't worry figuring he would show up in a few minutes. After a half hour Marilyn tried phoning him with no luck and we did a walk-about the harbour where we found Captain Fred who, as it turned out, was the owner of our new boat (Magnificent). He was told by Kevin to be at the harbour at 2:00 which he had been and the boat was ready to go. We tried calling Kevin a few more times on his cell and at home and finally received word that he would be along by shortly (I think Marilyn woke him up). We loaded the boat with gear and were waiting for him when he showed up a bit glassy eyed and somewhat apologetic. The boat left the dock at 4:00 and after having a long talk with Captain Fred I am confident they are in good hands (Fred is driving and actually taught Kevin everything he knows, except how to be late). High tide was around 4:00 so Marilyn was able to leave while the tide was going out. She entered the water at the official starting point at 4:24 A.M. on Sunday August 21st.
If you are interested in tracking her progress on radar the boat is called Magnificent and this one is not operating in a stealth mode. More progress postings to come. P.S. Water temperature is around 64 F.
Marilyn's swim across the English Channel 2011
"For me, marathon swimming is the ultimate mental, physical and emotional challenge".
Diana Nyad, Other Shores, 1978
I've always loved swimming. I've been swimming since age 2, competitively since age 13. I'm now 54 and hoping to become the oldest Canadian female to swim the English channel; 33.2 kilometres from Samphire Hoe Beach, Dover, England to Cap Griz Nez, France. I swam Lake Ontario from Niagara on the Lake to Toronto in 1983 and from Toronto to Port Dalhousie (north to south against the powerful Niagara River current) in 1984. I was only the second person to swim Lake Ontario north to south, Diana Nyad being the first. The above quote is one of my favourites, especially since Diana at 61 was also recently trying to prove that older athletes can still achieve big goals.
Why the English Channel? I was quoted in the Toronto Star in 1984 saying my next big swim would be the English Channel. But then life happened, I got married, had 3 boys, but always kept swimming at least twice a week. Last summer, Debbie Bang challenged me to swim 26 kilometres in Muskoka. When I finished it, I felt I could have swum further. When Colleen Shields at 58 breezed across Lake Ontario last August (but was foiled by weather at the very end), I realized I could still do another big swim at my age. Swimmers in Dover say the Channel is the Everest of swims. I'm not so sure, people have accomplished longer and colder swims in other parts of the world. For me, there is something about ocean swimming that is the ultimate. The English Channel is part of world history and swimming tradition. My grandmother lived in England and took me to the beach on the channel, so it is also nostalgia and familiar. What really cemented the idea in my mind is pacing Kim Middleton across the channel in 1989. I just "woke up" last September and realized time was running out.
So I have been inspired and supported by a great many people. (Thank you!) In doing this swim I would like to inspire others to dream big and go out and achieve their goals. But, in this journey I have learned that reaching smaller training goals along the way has also inspired others. Swimming Lake Simcoe from Barrie to Orillia, 35 kilometres in 18 hours and 44 minutes is the biggest example of this, especially since the water was 13 degrees Celsius for the first 3 hours. Even if the channel weather foils me on August 21, 22, or 23, it was worth doing.
I am also pleased to be able to use this opportunity to raise money for the Good Shepherd Centres in Hamilton. They run a network of shelters and services for troubled youth, abused women and children, the dying, the mentally and physically challenged, the hungry and the homeless. They strive to support people through crisis and help them re-establish healthy and productive lives. They have been very good to my patients over the years and for this I am grateful. Please support my swim by donating to the Good Shepherd centres. Thank you. http://www.goodshepherdcentres.ca/News/events.htm
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