CHANNEL SWIMMER: Chris Read
Massive DCT congratulations to Chris Read for your successful English Channel Solo
Date: 9th July 2023
Time: 11hours 43minutes
Pilot: Lance Oram
Chris trained diligently with us throughout. Patrick T crewed for him and kept us updated on how he was progressing, once again we had a window on a magical day….
This is what Chris had to say on Facebook after his swim….
I am not often on Facebook and I think my last post was about 8 years ago but yesterday felt worthy of a post as it closes a chapter for me. Yesterday I got to fulfil one of my life dreams - to swim the English Channel solo. A dream I have had for a long time and one that I started to explore just before our life turned on its head in 2014 with James' diagnosis. The English Channel swim is steeped in history and difficulty - first swim in 1875, 21 miles in length, changeable weather conditions, big tidal movement, cold water and one of the busiest shipping lanes in world. Some refer to it as the Everest of swimming. Yesterday I have had an experience better than any dream and I am now filled with rich images and anecdotes from my journey etched into my memory for a lifetime.
A couple standout in this moment. "Give me what is left in the box for the next hour" from an English boat pilot after 10 hours of swimming translated means "1hr and 40 mins of everything you got or the tide will give you another 3 hours of swimming" in South African terms.
For me, preparing for the channel swim was to forget about "the time".
French Champagne is a good alternative post recovery drink to a protein shake.
You can get natural hair highlights and an enviable tan in Dover, England.
It takes a team to make individual dreams come true and I have been blessed with an awesome team. Most importantly this was not possible without my Leanne - the generosity of spirit to give me the opportunity and the many sacrifices made over a significant period of time. Many people advised to not take your partner on the boat but there is nobody else I would entrust my life with if a worst case scenario had played out. Love you and thank you.
Thank you to my brilliant support crew on the day and to everyone who has contributed along the journey - too many to thank individually and some over many many years. I am very grateful.
The banner was made by my beautiful children :)
