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FAQs Some of the frequently Asked Questions are listed below:
1. How far is it
across the Channel? 8. What do I have to
do to ensure my swim is Officially recognised? 9. What will I get
to prove my Swim? 10. Do I get a Certificate? 11. I have been given position 3 on the neap tide, what does
this mean? 12. What temperature is the water in the Channel? 13. Is there accommodation available locally? 14. Are there any Training Facilities available? 15. What about Feeding, during the Swim? 16. Do I need to use Grease? 17. Are all Swims done in daylight? 18. What should I bring with me? 19. What is a 'Standard' Swim Costume?.....Can I use the
modern Swimsuits? 20. Can I take my own assistants/friends/supporters with me?
21. Are there Sharks in the Channel? 22. Do I need my Passport? 23. Do I need sports insurance? 24. When are the presentations made? 25. How do I become a CSA Observer? 26. Where can I get help with training for a Channel swim? 27. Do you have any representatives in my area? Some answers to frequently Asked Questions are listed below: Approximately 21 miles (32 kilometres) 2. How is it that some people have had to swim for many more miles than that? Shortest distance is 21 miles - but on either side of Cap Gris Nez, the French Coastline drops away, so, if you do not reach land at the Cap you have further to go to make landfall. You will swim across the channel for 21 miles (or more) BUT the current moves you many miles from side to side as the Tide ebbs and flows. You may deduce from this that unless a miracle happens and there is no Tide (!!) on your Swim day(it does happen occasionally) the only way you could cross the Channel in a straight line would be if you could counteract the effect of the Tide by swimming against it. But this would be a waste of valuable energy, you will get tired - the Tide will not! 3. How long is it likely to take? Once you can provide a realistic report of your sustainable Swim-speed in cold, open water - then you, your Trainer and your Pilot will be ready to relate this information to the conditions you might expect to meet in the Channel! The fastest swim is a little over 7 hours and the slowest nearly 27 hours. 4. What sort of sea conditions should I expect? You should discuss your experience of Open-water swimming with your Pilot and agree on what is safe and reasonable. Sea-state can change very quickly in the Channel, with little warning (see Information/Registration Pack). The Pilots have considerable knowledge of the local waters and you will expect them to give you a fair chance of a successful swim without placing you at risk. The Pilot will retain the right to stop the swim if he considers it inadvisable/unsafe to continue. You should hope for Force 1/2 but be prepared for Force 4/5. 5. Where do Channel Swims take place? Swims usually start at or near Shakespeare's Cliff or Samphire Hoe (in between Folkestone and 6. What is special about the Channel? 7. What will it all cost? Information/Registration Pack costs £35.00 (£39:50 if you are outside Europe) which you can order from: Dr. Julie Bradshaw MBE, Channel Swimming Association Ltd. Secretary, Tel/Fax: + 44 (0)1509 554137 Email: swimsecretary@ntlworld.com The total payable to the Channel Swimming Association Ltd to register a One-Way Solo Swim is approximately £390.00. This covers: - one year's Associate Membership fee, all administration and liaison costs, the provision of the designated CSA Official Observer to accompany you on your swim irrespective of the time you set off and a copy of the Observer's Report if requested. Please Note; It does not include the CSA certificate. Relay Team members each pay a percentage of a Solo Fee (see Information/Registration Pack). The largest cost is the hiring of an officially Registered Pilot - (you will probably pay in the region of £2200.00 - £2400.00 but fees vary from Pilot to Pilot). You also need to budget for your accommodation while you wait to swim. On top of these figures you must also budget for your return flight to 8. What do I have to do to ensure my swim is Officially recognised? First, you must register your swim with the CSA and book one of our recognized Escort Pilots. Make sure that your swim costume is compliant with CSA rules. Make sure that you are at least 16 years old at the commencement of the solo swim. As soon as the CSA is informed by your pilot of your swim time, we will appoint an Observer to watch over your swim. After your Swim, the CSA Official Observer will send his report to the CSA Observer Liaison Officer. He will present the report together with the swim co-ordinates, plotting the progression of the Swim - for an independent scrutiny by members of the Committee at a Ratification Meeting. Your Swim will then be ratified and entered into the Official Record Books. In due course it will be added to the next reprint of the Handbook. 9. What will I get to prove my Swim? You will receive an official letter of acknowledgement once your Swim has been ratified. You may then, if you wish, buy an official CSA (man-made) 'Vellum' Certificate to commemorate the achievement. This is your personal decision. 10. Do I get a Certificate? Not everybody wants a certificate and because they are very personal and special, you will need to order/purchase your official CSA 'Vellum' (man-made) Certificate to commemorate your achievement after the event. You will be asked to confirm that the details to be added to your certificate are correct. When you have done this, the certificate will be sent to the calligrapher to be prepared. Certificates are, where possible, presented at the Annual Dinner, usually held early in November. The 2010 cost of an individual certificate will be £60. The 2010 cost for relay team certificates, ordered no later than the 30th September will be £50 each, providing each member of the team orders a certificate and they can be forwarded to one address or presented at the CSA Dinner. 11. I have been given position 3 on the neap tide, what does this mean? When you book a swim with a CSA escort pilot, you will be given a swim window, (which is the optimal window).......lets say the 12-17th September and you will be given a swim position......let’s say number 3. If the weather is good and swimmers get away as anticipated, you will get your turn (3rd swimmer) on the 14th or 15th September, but what if the weather is not suitable? You must understand that these dates and this position are flexible and not set in stone. It will be your pilots aim to give you the very best chance to get across and you in turn, will need to be flexible. It may be that the dates given to you turn out to be completely unsuitable for a safe swim and your best opportunity to swim could be outside of these dates. You need to be ready to swim BOTH before the 12th, or if conditions prevent swims taking place during the selected window, then after the 17th. You will need to be guided by your pilot, who will want to get you across, but only if there is a reasonable chance of achieving it. So arrive early and give yourself lots of time, do not arrive at the last minute and do not book your return ticket for the day after the dates you have been given. If you do, you could be going home on that perfect day for your swim. It is very much a question of waiting patiently for your good day. 12. What temperature is the water in the Channel? During the Swim season (July to September) you may expect the temperature to range from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius. July starts off cold..... August has the best of it..... September can cool off quickly if the air temperature drops! Additionally, the nights are noticeably longer in September. 13. Is there accommodation available locally? Yes, the Information Pack lists a number of useful addresses in Folkestone and 14. Are there any Training Facilities available? Most people make use of the Beaches at Folkestone and Hythe, or within 15. What about Feeding, during the Swim? Don't forget to bring adequate supplies of your preferred food and refreshment. You are advised to try out several different ways of taking refreshment from a helper - by cup .. by bottle/squeeze-pack etc. .. handed directly to you (without direct contact!) ..from a feeding-pole and cup .. by bottle on a line etc.,so that you are prepared for most eventualities. 16. Do I need to use Grease? Most Swimmers use Grease. Some cover themselves liberally to keep out the cold as much as possible ... others just apply Grease to the 'rubbing' areas (neck/shoulders, arm-pits, groin, etc). Grease ('Channel Swimmer's Grease') is now very difficult to obtain locally and you should experiment to find out what is most suitable for you and be prepared to make up your own blend. We know of one supplier, for further information contact - David Frantzeskou at: vrcp@varne-ridge.freeserve.co.uk 17. Are all Swims done in daylight? You should be prepared to swim in twilight, (or in the dark) for part of your swim. Some Swimmers will swim on a Night Tide. Bring (or arrange) a supply of 'Light-Sticks', we recommend at least 3, for further information, refer to the CSA web site/Regalia/Light sticks and devise a suitable method of attachment to you. Large nappy pins are useful. 18. What should I bring with me? Goggles, Spare Cap, Swimming Costume are handy, Spare Clothing, adequate Toweling, Blanket or Sleeping Bag, Food, Light Sticks, Grease... (This is by no means a complete list!!). Come well prepared, with plenty of old warm clothing and refer to the swimmers checklist. There is no shortage of space on the boat, but be prepared for things to get wet. 19. What is a 'Standard' Swim Costume? Can I use the modern Swimsuits? A Standard Channel Swim must be accomplished without assistance of any kind other than the provision of nourishment - and Pilotage! You are restricted to a 'Standard' Swim Costume, A 'Standard Swim Costume' (for both sexes) shall be of a material not offering Thermal Protection or Buoyancy and shall be Sleeveless and Legless: 'Sleeveless' shall mean the Costume must not extend beyond the end of the shoulder onto the Upper Arm; 'Legless' shall mean the Costume must not extend onto the Upper Leg below the level of the Crotch. If you have any doubt, refer to the CSA web site/Swim Advice/Swim Costumes/Approved costumes. It is your responsibility to ensure that your swim suit is legal according to CSA rules. If you are challenged by the Observer or Pilot you are strongly advised to change into something with is undisputedly compliant before commencing your swim. The cap, also, shall not offer thermal protection or buoyancy. 20. Can I take my own assistants/friends/supporters with me? Yes, by prior arrangement with your Pilot - according to his own discretion and the numbers permitted by his commercial license. However, be advised that few assistants/friends/supporters are good sailors and seasickness is very unpleasant. 21. Are there Sharks in the Channel? It is too cold for most sharks ... and sightings are so rare that you won't need a cage! 22. Do I need my Passport? If you intend to enter 23. Do I need sports insurance? You are strongly urged to get as much protection as possible. Accident, life, property and other insurance are your responsibility and are strongly recommended. A Channel swim is extremely demanding on your energy and your mental determination. The 24. When are the presentations made? The CSA Annual Dinner and Presentation Evening usually takes place on the first Saturday in November and for the last 10 years or so, has been held at the 25. How do I become a CSA Observer? If you like meeting new people, are fit and active, like fresh air and small boats and are prepared to write up exactly what you see, being a CSA Observer could be just the thing for you and we would like to hear from you. Do I get paid as a swim Observer? Yes, payment is based according to the number of hours you are out at sea. For further information please contact the Secretary, who will in turn put you in touch with the Observer Liaison Officer. 26. Where can I get help with training for a Channel swim? The Channel Swimming Association can put you in touch with known trainers of long distance swimmers; see our website, Swim Advice/Useful websites/Trainers. 27. Do you have any swimmers/representatives in my area? The Channel Swimming Association lists all our International Representatives and almost certainly there will be one in your area, see our website, Swim Advice/Representatives. Almost without exception, they are all very experienced long distance swimmers. Please feel free to contact them and they will help you as much as possible. These are SOME of the questions often asked! The Information Pack answers many more queries for you. . |
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