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. | 
