The weather gods shone kindly on the Samaritans’ Swim the Solent event last Sunday (14th August) so that the 42 swimmers and their 43 escorting kayakers crossed from Hurst Castle to Colwell Bay in ideal conditions.
This annual fundraising event is a crucial element in the funding of the Island’s branch of the Samaritans and Director John Trotman declared that he was ‘mightily cheered and hugely grateful’ to all concerned. John said:
“Even in the benign conditions, braving the strongly tidal waters of this iconic and internationally renowned waterway is a challenge not to be taken lightly by swimmers”.
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The arrival of a large dredger coming up the channel demonstrated that the tides and the weather are not the only potential hazards, so the escorting presence of both Freshwater Lifeboats was a reassuring element for all concerned, as has been the case since these swims first began.
Pausing mid-Solent and treading water while a ship passes is not an ideal situation for adrenaline-filled swimmers, but they were so well shepherded by kayaks, escorting RIBs and lifeboats that the delay passed without incident and all bar 1 still beat the tide to arrive in Colwell Bay as planned – and he was only slightly off track, coming ashore with his escorting kayaker only a couple of hundred yards West of the target.
Janie Martin of Freshwater, a member of the Samaritans organising committee spoke enthusiastically of the help and security providing by the Lifeboat coxswain, Tony Moore and his excellent crews…
“They really know what they are about and we have absolute confidence in them. They are such dependable supporters of this event”.
The timing of the tides determines the event timings and this year the movement of waters dictated a later than usual start. When swimmers arrived on the beach and slipway at Colwell Bay there was a large crowd of surprised and pleased holiday makers as well as friends, supporters and Samaritans shore staff to greet them with cheers.
Though it is not a race, swimmers and inevitably interested in their times. This year the impressive Luca Damiani, a native of the warmer waters of Sardinia, was the fastest swimmer across in 26 minutes 30 seconds, closely followed by Chris Shrubb of Woking and Geoff Hill of Horseham. First ashore though, having not had to pause for shipping, was Emily Purver of Pylmouth escorted by her kayaking friend Stuart Watson. Stuart gave early evidence of his strength and commitment the day before the event by wheeling his kayak from the fery terminal at Yarmouth to the safety briefing at West Wight Sports Centre in Freshwater.
