Anyone done an English Channel relay swim?

[Hellocatshome]

And can tell me all about it? Anything I need to know I might not have thought about?

How many in the team?
Who will be in your support boat?
How will you handle it if the weather in your tide window means you can't go?

Have you trained with whatever your food will be? I know a couple of people who couldn't tolerate the gels, for example.

Its not for me its potentially for my son who will be 15 by the time the swim goes ahead. It will be 6 on the team, support crew provided by the charity. The tide window is whats worrying me as we live far away from Dover. Will we need to decamp to Dover for an indefinite period of time?

Its my son who will be taking part. Its only 1 hrs swim at a time so will refuel on the boat with his chocolate spread sandwiches and rice crispy bars etc which he is used to.

I've met loads of Channel swimmers on the beach where I live including individuals and teams from all around the world.

Some excellent swimmers have not done well as they aren't used to the cold water temperature- so if he isn't spending time swimming in uk water already he should do that to build up acclimatisation.

Is he used to swimming in swell? Has he had jellyfish stings before. Has he experienced afterdrop? What long distance, cold water has he done before? Has he done any night swims? Is he cold water acclimatised with no neoprene? Does he get sea sick? These are all negative aspects that you can have happen. Presumably they have a coach though and a training plan. The weather thing, totally up to your Pilot.

Plenty of cold water swimming but always in a wetsuit so the skins swimming starts this weekend.

First night swim is this weekend. As well as starting to swim skins. He has experienced swells and jellyfish but probably not to the extent that is needed. Yet.