They did it!

On 11th July 2007, the team completed its relay across the English Channel in 12 hours 27 minutes. After missing the scheduled tide between the 1st-6th July due to inclement weather, they were offered a last minute opportunity on the 10th instead, and quickly grasped the opportunity.

The entire day, from 6am until 1am was full of pain, nausea, joy, exhilaration, cold and finally satisfaction with their efforts, as they were lucky enough to land on an open beach as the sun set on the horizon at 9pm!

Pauline staff Channel swim attempt - 11/05/07

A team of staff members from St Paul's and Colet Court is making an attempt on the English Channel to raise money for charity. The group, comprising Tom Dean, Anna Hillyer (who has already completed a solo crossing), Eugene du Toit, Ian Bester, Tony Pearce and Lucy Barber, has reserved a window in the first week of July. Conditions allowing, they will aim to swim from Dover to Cap Griz Nez.

Training has been going well with lots of lengths being swum in the school pool and a few dips in the Serpentine to start acclimatising to cold water. A big test will be on May 6th when they leave the warm, smooth waters of the pool and get into the cold, choppy waters of Dover!

The format of the swim will see the team of six swimming one hour slots in strict rotation under the watchful eye of a Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation official. They won't be allowed to swap slots and, when in the water, any contact with their boat or any other member of the team will see them being disqualified. They will not be permitted to wear wetsuits or use any flotation device.

So exactly why are they braving jelly fish, ships (the English Channel is one of the busiest shipping channels in the world), flotsam and very, very cold water? The swim is aiming to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Friends of Tafo - charities which the schools support.

To find out more about the attempt, the team and the charities they're swimming for, please visit the website (www.stpaulsswimmers.com). If you'd like to donate to the charities, please follow the links on the site. They'd be very grateful for your support.