65 brave swimmers will set off from Hurst Castle to swim across the Solent to Colwell Bay this Saturday (5th July), to raise up to £30,000 for the charity that runs the West Wight Sports and Community Centre.
Now in its 15th year, the cross-Solent swim is the highlight of the Centre’s calendar and a major event for the West Wight community. Over the years, the swim has helped more than 400 people complete the challenge and has raised over £300,000 for the Centre.
The swimmers will be supported by 40 volunteer kayakers, 7 RIBs, Freshwater Lifeboat and Needles Coastwatch. Family and friends are expected to cheer them ashore at Colwell Bay from around 06:30 on Saturday morning. The Needles Pleasure Cruiser, Yarmouth Rose, will transport swimmers to Hurst Castle, where a team of volunteers will help oversee the safe departure and arrival of everyone taking part.
Back at Colwell, Captains Cabin will open early to serve teas, coffees and bacon rolls for swimmers and spectators as they emerge from the sea.
Clare Griffin, Centre Manager, has said:
“We are so excited and proud to be running our 15th Cross Solent Swim, raising much-needed funds for our Centre. We are a community hub providing essential services supporting the mental and physical well-being of everyone in our community. Providing this challenge means so much to us as we see so many swimmers training for the event and eventually achieving the feat of swimming across the Solent.”
This year Clare will also be taking on the swim herself as part of her preparation for an even bigger challenge – a 33.3 km swim in Montenegro later this year.
UPDATE FRIDAY – Sadly, organisers have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s annual West Wight Sports & Community Centre Cross Solent Swim.
The decision is based on the wind forecast for the weekend.
It’s said that there are no more suitable tidal conditions on any weekends for the rest of the summer. Organisers are looking at possible weekdays which would be a similar early morning start. Details will be circulated to swimmers as soon as confirmation of sufficient safety cover is in place.
Clare Griffin, Event organiser, has said:
“We are heartbroken to have had to cancel this years swim due to the weather. Not only is this an incredibly inspiring event, it also raises much needed funds for our Centre.
“We are so devasted for the 63 swimmers who have been training so hard. However, we are looking at the possibility of an alternative mid-week event as long as we can make this viable and safe”
This is the perfect location for a Bridge or Tunnel
being the shortest crossing point.