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 Geoff Evans |
When Oscar Hammerstein penned the famous line, Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly he would have needed to change only two words to describe my family. It would have then become, Geoff's gotta swim, Neil's gotta fly. I've written about Neil flying hang gliders under Hang Gliding, but what's to write about swimming?
Well . . .
When Geoff was in his early teens he asked if he could go to the beach with his mates. It seemed too risky and I said, "Only if you can swim a mile first." So he did. Thirty-two laps in Springwood Pool. (Springwood has since become a yuppie pool—twenty-five metres, heated, with a gymnasium added—and a price structure that keeps away all but the keenest patrons.) If you ask him about that swim today he'll be quick to tell you that he still wasn't allowed to go to the beach alone. I guess I was a bit of a worrier.
So about a year ago Geoff told me he was planning a holiday in France and that sounded really great. Then he said that to get there he was going to swim from England!
Theoretically, I suppose, there's nothing to stop anybody from wading into the water at Dover and striking out for Calais. In actual practise, however, there are lots of rules to be followed before the swim will be recognised. And there is a great deal of expense involved.
The Channel Swimming Association (CSA) website lists the regulations, answers many questions (see their FAQ) and provides contacts for pilots of escort boats.
How far is it?
This is a question everybody asks and there is no single answer. The shortest distance is between Dover and Cap Gris Nez, and that's 32 kms. However it isn't that simple. The following information is from CSA:
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The shortest distance is 21 miles - but on either side of Cap Gris Nez, the French Coastline drops away, so you have further to go to make landfall. You will swim across the channel for 21 miles (or more) BUT the current moves you many miles from side to side as the Tide ebbs and flows. You may deduce from this that unless a miracle happens and there is no Tide (!!) on your Swim day the only way you could cross the Channel in a straight line would be if you could counteract the effect of the Tide by swimming against it. But this would be a waste of valuable energy.....you will get tired - the Tide will not! |
 The English Channel |
Geoff is no stranger to endurance sport. He has completed many triathlons and marathons but has most recently concentrated on swimming, competing in both pool and ocean races. His son and daughter are keen swimmers. Brett (now aged 19) was a member of the Australian national distance squad. He also competed in New Zealand as a member of the NSW Touring Squad. Larissa (17) has competed in the Nationals and has won a number of other open water distance events. All three were members of the Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club. Brett and Larissa will accompany Geoff for part of the Channel crossing.
How it happened:
Three years ago, while Brett and Larissa were doing cold water training in the Nepean River at Penrith, they met a guy named Steve Payne who was doing much the same thing. The difference was that Steve was training to swim the English Channel.
When they got home Geoff told his wife, Annette, about it and she said, "I'd like to have a holiday in Europe." So the seed was planted and early last year (2006) Geoff decided to make it a reality.
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