Dover Souls Team Golf 2019

Dover Souls Team Golf 2019

By Karen Quartermain

September 21, 2019

The wait was over and after 3 days we had the go ahead from our Pilot. Team Golf were a GO GO GO. Delivering the news is always so exciting. As their coach and someone who has also been there waiting several times herself, its a super charged release of everything.

Nervous for their nerves, Anxious about their anxieties but most of all totally excited that they would be getting the chance to swim The English Channel. This team had been extremely patient whilst waiting in Folkestone; usually there are several weather app watchers amongst the team, but these guys knew it was out of their hands and left the weather watching to the Pilot.

Team Golf had embraced the full channel training plan which had ensured they had all experienced the varied considerations that the channel can offer: Night swimming, jellyfish, currents, pace work, jumping off boats, relay practice, sea sickness, team work, self management and most of all fun. The team had battled their individual demons and each and every one were ready.

At 5pm we met at Folkestone Harbour, boxes packed with essentials, and waited for the Harbour to fill with enough water to be able to get the boat out. I carry out a kit check several hours pre boat to check passports and ensure the boxes aren't full of rubbish. This team of delightfuls pulled a corker and had fake eyelashes, water pistols, and armbands. It really lightened the nerves that were brewing.

The team order had been chosen: Ben, Neill, Su, Rebecca and Deborah. All were to do 1-hour swims until they landed in France as per Channel Swimming Association Rules. Non-wetsuit and 1 swimming cap only.

Ben was the first swimmer in, getting the honour of swimming to Shakespeare's Beach and setting the team off. He stood on the beach, the horn blew, and the swim began. The team shouted words of encouragement as we all found our place on the boat.

As the team settled down it became clear that 2 of those onboard were not feeling tip top. Despite taking precaution for sea sickness it can still creep up on you; we had Deborah and Dave fixed on the horizon. Deborah was the 5th swimmer and had a long time on the boat to manage the nausea.

2nd swimmer in was Neill, full of energy and raring to go. His swim would be ending as the night was drawing in so goggle lights were on and glowsticks in place. 3rd Swimmer was Su, focused and totally determined to get us nearer to France with every stroke. At this point Deborah was a very nice shade of green, her eyes fixed on one spot.

Waiting patiently was Rebecca, who launched herself into the darkness without a care in the world. The time finally came for the sickest team member, Deborah. I gave her as little time as possible to get ready as I knew she would feel better in the sea. She put her race face on and tentatively jumped off the boat.

The team continued to relay overnight with a "can do" approach. Before we knew it, dawn broke and the sandy beaches of France were clear. Our Pilot updated me that the hour stints were going to have to be strong in order to avoid the tide change. The team gave it 110%.

Neill and Su had two tough hours and then the news you want to hear: the next swimmer, Rebecca, would take the team to France. 33 minutes later they had landed.

Total Time: 13 hours and 33 minutes.

This team did everything that was asked of them on this incredible journey and they got the result, raising excellent amounts of money for their charities.