We did it!

Just a quick post to say that Kate and I completed our 2011 English Channel crossing on Monday 25th July in a time of 9 hours 58 minutes! We smashed it!!!!!!!!!!!

Our pilots, crew and supporters are simply the best in the world - FACT ; we are both overwhelmed but very proud. Kate and I will post a write up of the journey as there are some very humorous moments!

I intend to have some celebratory drinks at my favourite pub - The Lady Bay on Friday evening (29th July) from 4 ish......there's some serious catching up to do! Please come and join me and hopefully Kate will make an appearance too (unless she goes camping?)

Kate Vines - thank you from the deepest part of heart for making my dream come true!

Let the good times roll and bring on the next challenge!!! Just x

The Final Countdown

So it Sunday evening, it's 17.05pm and Kate and I are getting our thoughts together. We've just had a conversation with our fab pilot Fred and it seems that we depart from Folkestone harbour at 04.15 tomorrow morning and commence our swim from West Beach Samphire Hoe at approximately 05.00am. We'll have final confirmation by 19.30pm tonight.

Kate and I continue to be blown away by the messages of support and generosity from all our family and friends; it's means so much to us and I know that the Teenage Cancer Trust is equally grateful. We love you all x

Eeek... its getting closer

so... its just 5 days away now.. and the nerves are starting to kick in... my life has become one filled with obsessively checking the weather, and sea temps.. and wave heights.. all in a vain attempt to try and work out what's what and whether we'll get to go out on the 25th as planned.

Recent bad weather has meant that several other channel attempts by other swimmers have been postponed and moved to other dates.. so fingers crossed we get a nice little window of good weather to see us through!!

I have been frantically making lists and packing up boxes to put in the caravan ready for friday when we will take a slow and steady drive to dover. We have a few friends coming along to see us off (lets hope its not at too unearthly an hour!!) from Samphire Hoe which will be just amazing and will surely result in a very emotional first leg!!

The closer we get to the swim the more I realise what a great crew we have with us on the boat...We both have absolute faith in Emma, Dani, Tracey and Legs and I, for one am looking forward to spending a good few hours in their company!

Just one more pool session at Virgin and then thats it.. rest and eat our way through the weekend.... and (hopefully) then we're off...

Once again, thank you so much for reading our blog and supporting us on this journey... and MASSIVE thanks for every penny that has been donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust ... it really is an amazing charity!

Peace and love and nice calm seas,

Kate xx

Portland Swimming Club are channeling positivity!

So the swimmers at Portland SC couldn't get to the coast so instead they are swimming the English Channel distance during their pool training session on Wednesday night. In fact their goal is to exceed the distance and they may even knock up enough miles for a triple crossing! Each of the swimmers have pledge £1.00 to take part and have then collected sponsorship for every mile they clock-up. So big up and massive respect!

Kate and I will be joining the swimmers from 6-8pm and it will be the perfect preparation and motivation for the big crossing on Monday. Anyone is more than welcome to come to the pool and give their support and encourage the swimmers who are all under the age of 16 to swim that extra mile!

All of the money they raise from will go to Teenage Cancer Trust. So awesome effort Portland Swimming club and thank you for your support!

Monitor our channel swim progress

If you want to follow our progress next Monday then log onto:

www.shipais.com

http://www.shipais.com

then search for Masterpiece (our pilot boat) in the right hand corner or click on Thames/ Folkestone - English channel.

Then move your cursor to locate Masterpiece in yellow amongst the "lots of boats" that you'll see - it's a very crowded channel!

This is a pic of our lovely "Masterpiece" and she's going to get us to France without fail!

THANK YOU; DIOLCH; MERCI

Before the emotions completely overwhelm Kate and I we just have to say that the support from all of our family; friends; colleagues; coaches; crew and strangers has just blown us away. Kate is spending an hour on and an hour off crying and I'm reflecting on what has been the most amazing journey - believe it or not I've changed...........into something better I hope!

La Manche watch out 'cause we're ready!

Check out the new suits!

Name - MusucBag Black Large

Description - Bloody warm and so easy to put on

Use - 2 person relay channel swims with the CSA.........

Cost - £89.00 each and worth every penny

Sponsor - Cream Communications - thank you Carrie - you rock!

Owners - Just and Kate (but willing to share after the swim)