U Can't Touch This....!!

Its Ricks Time........

Shakespeare beech in Dover
The Start and Finish to so many channel swim since 1885
Big Ricks were only 300m away and could we touch it..!!NOOOOOO..;-))
  

Channel Swimming Association Ltd

CSA Swim No 485R     Date  26/06/2012

(To be completed in full by the CSA Official Observer)

Observer’s Log and Comment  

Big Ricks Swim Team 2 way Channel Swim

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This is it....the CSA`s official report on big ricks attemped 2 way swim of the English  Channel on the 26th June of 2012 ..for those of you planning on swimming the channel one day , well you might find it of some help we hope..Wonder why we have picked  MC Hammers U Can`t Touch This. as our read along song this week,....well after swimming for 22hrs and 35 minutes through every type of weather you could imagine, swimming over 60 miles in process to get within 300m of finishing...and be told you U Can`t Touch It...

( land that is) is kind of funny we thought ...(dig out your 80`s hammer trousers click on the arrow above, a dance along as you read...its Ricks time.......)

01:15 01:20 01:25 01:30 01:55 02:20 02:30 02:33 02:35 03:02 03:04 03:10 03:25 03:33 03:34 03:58 04:25 04:33 04:45 04:50 05:03 05:15 05:25 05:33 05:45 05:56 05:58 06:27 06:33 06:45 06:58 07:15 07:22 07:33 07:34 07:50 08:02 08:08 08:37 08.39 08:42 08:56 09:15	Arrived at Folkestone harbour – very quiet. Weather good – light south westerly winds, virtually clear sky and dry. High tide is at 03:57 hrs at a height of 6.02m. Big Rick’s Swim Team arrive – not so quiet now, they seem to be a lively group. Introduced to team members, Paul Bates, Stuart Dugmore, Darran Dyke, Gary Edgington, Richard Brownjohn and Robert Cash. As second Observer has not arrived, informed team of procedures and CSA guidance, together with main rules covering 2-Way Relay Swims. Met pilot and crew, Fred and Harry Mardle. Trainee Observer, Ben Terry, arrived and all transferred to ‘Masterpiece’ via punt. (Noted that Harry’s sculling skills haven’t improved much since last year!). Safety and ‘orientation’ talk given by Fred. Team members appear impressed with ‘ensuite’ facilities aboard ‘Masterpiece’!! Left Folkestone harbour to start swim from Samphire Hoe. Discussed observer responsibilities and guidelines with Ben. Paul preparing to swim. Light stick activated and attached to trunks, strobe light fitted to goggle straps. Arrived off Samphire Hoe. Paul enters water and swims to beach, where he stands clear of water. On sound of klaxon, Paul re-enters water to commence swim. Stop watches started and swim commenced at 02:33 hrs. Paul alongside ‘Masterpiece’, swimming strongly at 56 spm on starboard side. Weather – mainly clear skies, some low cloud, dark with no moon. Sea is a little more than ‘choppy’ with confused swell mainly due to structure of the ‘Hoe’. ‘Masterpiece’ is a little livelier than some would wish!! Harry calls Dover Coastguard and confirms start of swim. Very little inshore shipping visible except for a string of navigation lights stretching from Dover harbour western entrance to Samphire Hoe. It looks like the 2012 swim season is off to a busy start – 8 swim boats in total. Ben is not feeling well, pays visit to starboard side of ‘Masterpiece’. Darran is also not feeling well and the other members of the team are quieter. Stuart preparing to swim has light switch attached to trunks and strobe light attached to goggle straps. First change-over. Stuart enters water on time signal given by observer, approaches Paul from behind and correctly takes-over from Paul, who returns onboard via ladder assisted by Harry. Note : All subsequent change-overs are timed and observed to be correctly                 undertaken. (See separate sheet for further details, times, etc.)  Standard data taken and recorded. (See separate sheets for full details.) Standard details recorded at hourly intervals throughout the duration of the swim. Sky is beginning to lighten. Visibility is excellent – lights clearly visible on French coast. Shipping is quiet, one ferry to port bound for France, two vessels visible in South West Shipping Lane.  Darran preparing to swim – no light sticks required. Change-over. Darran in, Stuart back on board. Full daylight with wonderful sunrise but rainbow to south. Are we in for rain later? Flood tide is still fairly strong and taking us up the Channel towards the ferry lanes. 3 ferries astern including P&O ‘Spirit of Britain’ bound for Calais. Darran swimming strongly and consistently at 62 spm. Entered South West Shipping Lane. Very quiet – no visible shipping. Gary preparing to swim.  Change-over. Gary in, Darran back on board. Large Maersk Line container ship passes across bow going down Channel. P&O ferry ‘Spirit of France’ passing close on port side bound for Dover. Small coaster ‘Gouken’ passes close across bow, LD Lines ferry passing on port side bound for Dover. Flock of about 15 gannets approach and remain around ‘Masterpiece’ for about 5 minutes. Richard preparing to swim. Change-over. Richard in, Gary back on board. P&O ferry ‘Pride of Canterbury’ passing close on starboard side, bound for Dover. Bulk carrier ‘First Polar’ passing close across bow. Entered small area of weed - Richard swimming strongly at 65 spm – not affected by weed. Robert preparing to swim. Change-over. Robert in, Richard back on board ‘Masterpiece’. Note : Swimmers maintain order of rotation for duration of swim. (See attached sheet for times/details). No further notes made re change-overs. Robert changes to port-side swim. Enter Separation Zone. Large Evergreen Line container ship passing approx. ½ mile astern going down Channel. The sun is out. Team are in high spirits – no ill effects, all well. (Ben is now also feeling much better). Leave Separation Zone and enter North East Shipping Lane. Harry advises French Coastguard of our position. P&O ferry passing close on starboard side bound for Dover. DFDS ferry ‘Dunkerque Seaway’ passing close on port side bound for Dunkerque. Small coaster passing across bow – shipping a little busier now. Harry taking orders for fried bacon sandwiches – swimmers (& Ben) decline to place orders!! Large bulk carrier ‘Overseas Cathy’ (242m x 42m with draught of 10.6m) passes close astern going up Channel. Shipping in N E Lane is very quiet. No visible vessels coming up Channel. Visibility continues to be excellent. Calais harbour and town visible off port bow, Cap Blanc straight ahead (approx. 8 miles) and Cap Gris Nez in distance off starboard bow.
09:28 09:42 10:04 10:25 11:00 11:07 11:40 11:50 12:55 13:05 13:20 13:29 13:33 13:37 13:41 13:43 14:15 14:50 15:00 15:12 15:15 15:20 15:48 16:12 16:18 16:31 16:48 16:55 17:08 17:17 17:30 17:37 18:02 18:05 18:09 18:50 18:55 19:40 19:50 20:15 20:25 20:50 21:04 21:05 21:45	P&O ferry ‘Pride of Dover’ passing close on starboard side bound for Dover. P&O ferry ‘Pride of Calais’ passing close on port side bound for Dover. Other than large bulk carrier passing approx. ½ mile off port bow, shipping remains quiet. Weather remains good, light south westerly wind, sea relatively calm with slight swell. Very good visibility. P&O ferry ‘Spirit of Britain’ passing on port side on her return crossing to Dover. Tide starting to take ‘Masterpiece’ to south. French coast and beaches clearly visible at approx. 5 miles distance. P&O ferry passing on port side bound for Calais. Entered French Inshore Waters. Continues to be quiet. Car transporter approx. ¾ mile astern. 4 x yachts between ‘Masterpiece’ and coast. Cap Blanc is now off port bow, Cap Gris Nez is still off starboard bow. Robert giving vocal encouragement to Gary. All team remain in good spirits – all fit and healthy. Cap Gris Nez is now approx. 1 mile off starboard bow – tantalizingly close but the tide is still taking us south. Weather continues fine with virtually clear, blue sky with light south westerly wind. Harry preparing tender. Next change-over should be closer than is safe for ‘Masterpiece’ and will therefore be undertaken from tender if necessary. Problems with outboard motor, looks like Harry is going to get opportunity to further improve his sculling skills!! Tender away to accompany Richard to shore. Robert accompanying Harry in case change-over has to be undertaken from tender. ‘Masterpiece’ standing approx. 150m off shore. Fred holds position to enable finish of first leg to be observed. Richard out of water on rocks at base of Cap Gris Nez to correctly complete 1st leg of swim. Stop watch stopped at 13:29 hrs.                                    Time for 1st Leg  :  10 hrs 56 mins On sound of klaxon to notify correct completion of 1st leg, Richard re-enters water and starts return leg of swim. On sound of klaxon from ‘Masterpiece’, change-over correctly undertaken from tender. Tender returned, Richard and Harry safely back on board ‘Masterpiece’. Delay in securing tender to davits. ‘Masterpiece’ still at rest. Robert swimming strongly approx. 150m ahead of ‘Masterpiece’, luckily in the right direction!! ‘Masterpiece’ alongside Robert who is swimming on port side. Inshore traffic continues to be quiet. ‘Pathfinder’ passing on port side on return to Dover having successfully completed one-way relay swim. 4 Other swim boats at varying distances to south of ‘Masterpiece’, still to complete their swims. Weather continues fine with good visibility, light winds. Sea is relatively calm with slight swell. Entered N.E. Shipping Lane. French Coastguard advised. Shipping still relatively quiet. Large bulk carrier passing approx. ½ mile across bow going up Channel. Paul swimming consistently at 56 spm. Remainder of team are happy and relaxed – enjoying the afternoon sun. Small yacht passing on starboard side going across Channel. Two German naval vessels and large Eukor Line car transporter passing close across bow going up Channel. Quiet in shipping lane and on board ‘Masterpiece’ – 3 of team asleep, Paul tucking into pasta and Darran contemplating his next leg of the swim. ‘Sea Leopard’ passing approx. ½ mile to south of ‘Masterpiece’ on return to Dover after successfully completed one-way swim. Stuart stopped swimming for short period to adjust goggles. Large bulk carrier ‘Aligarte’ passing close astern going up Channel. P&O ferry passing on starboard side bound for Calais. ‘Masterpiece’ is gradually being taken back up the Channel – getting closer to the cross-channel ferry lanes again. Weather remains fine – light winds from south west, cloud cover gradually increasing. Visibility is beginning to reduce, especially to the west. Very large tanker passing approx. ¼ mile astern going up Channel. Further reduction in visibility to west and south – looks like the swimmers won’t be the only ones getting wet!! LD Lines ferry ‘Norman Spirit’ and P&O ferry ‘Spirit of Britain’ passing on starboard side, both bound for Calais. Entering Separation Zone – French Coastguard advised and thanked for assistance. P&O ferry ‘Pride of Canterbury’ passing close on port side bound for Calais. Leaving Separation Zone and entering S W Shipping Lane. Dover Coastguard advised. Gary stopped swimming momentarily – sea weed. Re-started and swimming consistently at 56 spm. P&O ferry ‘Pride of Kent’ passing close on port side bound for Dover. Further reduction in visibility, estimated at 1 mile and still deteriorating. Wind is increasing (estimated 10 to 12 knots), and sea state is also deteriorating. Wave height now 3 to 4 ft with moderate confused swell. Richard continues to swim strongly and consistently at 62 spm. Robert getting frustrated with conditions which are far from ideal. Started this leg with starboard side swim – now changed to port side where he appears to be more comfortable even though he is not in the lee of ‘Masterpiece’. Entered inshore waters – Dover Coastguard advised. Robert continues to swim strongly at 65 spm. Conditions continue to be challenging. Remainder of team are now much quieter and becoming a little apprehensive of the conditions. (Ben would certainly prefer to be on dry land!) Conditions remain unchanged – visibility is now less than ½ mile. Paul preparing to swim. Light stick attached to trunks and strobe light attached to goggle straps. (All swimmers wear ‘lights’ from now on.) Further slight deterioration in conditions. Paul stops swimming, changes to breast stroke for 4 strokes then reverts to front crawl. As above, Paul finding conditions difficult. Fred has requested that, for safety reasons, all swimmers swim on starboard side from now on. Conditions have not improved. Even though all team are swimming strongly, adverse tide and sea conditions have resulted in very little progress over past 2½ hours.
21:55 22:00 22:10 22:35 22:55 23:05 23:25 23:50 00:33 01:05 01:06 01:08 01:10 02:20 02:40	Robert expressing concern about apparent lack of progress – advised to talk to Fred. Visibility has improved and Dover harbour lights can now be seen, approx. 4 miles distant. Stuart veered off from ‘Masterpiece’ – called back. Getting increasingly difficult for swimmers to maintain distance and alignment with ‘Masterpiece’. Starting to make progress towards coast.    Darran having difficulty in remaining with/being guided by ‘Masterpiece’ – called back on three occasions. Estimated 2½ miles from Dover harbour. Swell and wave height appear to have increased. Visibility reducing again. Estimated 2 miles to coast. Concern again expressed by team members re lack of progress towards goal. Advised to discuss with Fred. Darran cut across bow and had to be called back to starboard side. Visibility down to less than 50 m. Gary also finding it difficult to keep safe distance from ‘Masterpiece’. Called back to boat on a number of occasions. Change-over undertaken. Richard in, Gary back on board. Fred confirmed that intended landing is Shakespeare beach, south of Dover harbour western entrance. Conditions remain very challenging with very poor visibility – less than 50 m. No chance of seeing the Dover harbour lights which are estimated at less than ½ mile distant. Team members again expressing concern and doubts about continuing/landing. Again advised to discuss with Fred. Pilot advised team that he was aborting swim for safety reasons – very poor visibility and sea state meant that tender could not be launched for landing. It would not be safe for swimmer to attempt landing. Swim terminated when Richard made contact with ‘Masterpiece’. Stop watch stopped at 01:06 hrs.                       Total swim time  :  22 hrs 33 mins Richard back onboard. Team very disappointed but appeared to appreciate reasons – having expressed some concerns themselves. Harry advised Dover Coastguard that swim had been aborted, swimmer safely onboard and returning to Folkestone harbour. Thanked Coastguard for assistance. Entered Folkestone harbour, after delay due to state of tide, and safely returned to mooring. Completed Incident Report form and returned to quay via punt. Wished team members a safe journey home and confirmed that I hoped to see them next season.