Forgive me Julie for I have sinned. It had been 48 hrs since my last swim but I did go today so I am eligible to write the blog , here goes.
Chanel swim update: Iain’s conquered the channel – 15 hours and 14 minutes !!!!
Gaetan (token Frenchman, team coach, wingman and now bestist buddy to Iain) said
“He is totally spent, they had to pull him onto the boat, he’s not talking yet, but he did it !!!”
Iain you’re a legend – well done !! Gaetan you’re a good friend
A sterling effort and something to be proud of for the rest of your life. Your now in an elite group of swimmers who have truly put themselves to the test. See you back in the 4 Pines very soon to celebrate. It’s Nick’s round.
57 swimmers for this mornings swim. The waves were challenging, a lot of people swam from half way but a few went from Main Beach.
Fact of the day time: Amongst many other items, Benjamin Franklin (one of the Founding Fathers of the United States) invented swim-fins in 1717. Im sure many B&B are very grateful, Go Benji!
Odd image of the day: I had to do a double take this morning, look what I saw walking out of the surf club as we were going for coffee. SCUBA DOG. Looks like he has borrowed Nick’s video goggle mask.
Water Temperature – Warmer
Air Temperature – Not too bad
Garlic-ometer – Pretty bad considering lots of us had an Indian last night
Sunrise 6.28am.
Sunset 5.29pm.
Nanna nap: 3-5pm
High Tide: 1.06 am.
Low Tide: 7.34 pm.
Remember folks, all activities are undertaken at your own risk. You are responsible for your own safety at all times and you participate at your own risk; this is not an official event and there is no water safety.
35 comments
Collie Dog
August 21, 2011 at 10:03 am
Congratulations Iain
A real swim is the best swim, sounds like you had one
I think the first ever Channel swimmer Matthew Web said it well when he said
“Nothing great is easy.”
lesley
August 21, 2011 at 10:22 am
Yeah Iain you’re a legend! Major babe pulling power now huh! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear all about it… I hope there is film footage?? Did u know you’d arrived or did you just hit a rock?? 😉
jan
August 21, 2011 at 10:42 am
Ooh la la. go boy, amazing achievement, couldn’t wait to find out the news this morning.
see you on the bike soon to get rid of the tyre – you are allowed some celebratory liquid calories first.xxx
Anna Alvsdotter
August 21, 2011 at 10:48 am
Tremendous effort Iain, which of course we are all taking credit for.
Recover well, remember rehydration has nothing to do with beer, get plenty of rest, then hit the town with Sancho Panza – your best mate Gaetan.
Jenny Knapman
August 21, 2011 at 10:52 am
WOW…just a really big ‘WOW you did it’ to Iain. Congratulations from us all. See you soon.
John
August 21, 2011 at 11:17 am
Congratulations Iain – an superhuman achievement. Your completion was given recognition with hearty cheers at Shelly beach.
Nick
August 21, 2011 at 11:41 am
Yep, My shout for a pint ..
Peter Wood
August 21, 2011 at 11:47 am
Iain, you are a champion. Yes as lesley said “major babe pulling story”. I now go by “mate of mine Iain just swam the English Channel….want to hear all about it??….I can show you the stroke in the spa”…
Tacomajim
August 21, 2011 at 11:48 am
Congratulations, Iain!!
A thousand pavlovas!! Your achievement was very much the buzz this morning, so we etched out a memorial to you in the sand.
Look for the pic to come later. Well done
James and Nicolee
Tacomajim
August 21, 2011 at 11:56 am
Iain:
Congratulations and a thousand pavlovas!
Most of us awoke to hear this great news. A memorial was etched into the sand at the bottom of the ramp, to be sure you were with us today as we headed out into the sunrise.
Here’s to big celebrations. See you when you return.
Looking forward to seeing some great photos, Gaetan.
Nicolee and James
sue
August 21, 2011 at 12:00 pm
FANTASTIC effort Iain. We will need to have a B&B Channel Crossing evening so we can hear all about it…Well done to you and your crew.
Sherieli
August 21, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Iain, you are amazing!!! I went to bed last night thinking you poor bugger…
But, you have now completed a swim that some would only dream of doing, most would never consider.
Gaetan, you are a amazing too! You are a great friend.
Enjoy the celebrations, the both of you have definately deserved it.
Safe travel home 🙂 xx
Bowes
August 21, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Fantastic effort Iain!
I kept remembering you, throughout the day, repeatedly shaking my head and saying, “He’d still be swimming, you know.”
It really brought home to me, what a mammoth task you had undertaken.
I was so excited to learn that you had made it.
The absolute biggest ever congratulations!
Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Skulking Shark
August 21, 2011 at 12:46 pm
What a team! We did it. All that training paid off! Do we all get the Channel badge now?
Stephen Coulter
August 21, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Ripped Off! I’ve had a crack at drawing a little diagram on Google Maps showing what’s happening at the moment making it hard to get out or in near the point on bigger wave and lower tide days. Let me know what you think, http://www.google.com.au/maps/ms?msid=203326788748926049826.0004aafafe40f3b8e395f&msa=0&ll=-33.79797,151.291105&spn=0.002278,0.004823
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Thanks Collie,
Couldn’t of done it without your channel mentoring!
Looking forward to catching up in Sydney.
Iain
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Thanks Lesley,
I arrived on a small beach in front of a cliff managing to stand up on my third attempt.
Look forward to seeing you in Sydney.
Iain
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:10 pm
LOL
Thanks Jan,
After not drinking in 2 months i find it very funny that i now need to keep off it to lose my channel warmth belt. The warmth belt was actually very beneficial when the sun was still to rise and my body was feeling the pain and the cold.
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Thanks Anna,
Was thinking of everyone of you as a swam and imaging my fellow B&B’s in the water next to me. So please do take credit I could never of done this without you all.
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Thanks Jenny,
Look forward to swimming with you back in oz!
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Thanks John,
Your a man who pushes me to swim faster & stronger everyday I wanted to say thank you very much and see you far a lager.
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Done!
I just hope I remember how to drink.
Your homeland is treating me well mate.
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Careful Peter,
She might ask ” So where is this Iain guy?”
Hate to be pinching a possible lady friend of yours
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Thanks James & Nicolee,
The keyring was on the boat as a good luck charm and it obviously worked.
Pavlovas when I return
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Thanks Sue,
Glad to be doing the McGregor name proud!
I think that channel crossing evening could be a four pine or wine bar event.
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Thank you Sherieli,
On a massive buzz now!
Gaetan was an absolute deadest legend. With 18 hours notice, as the swim was brought forward, he traveled over 1000 miles only to have barely no sleep and then spend 15 hours looking after me on the ocean. Legend, Legend, Legend.
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Peter,
Remember when I first told you and then you shared with me your news of you to be wed to your wonderful wife.
Now I’ve completed the channel we can look forward to your next big event with jnr very close now.
Iain
Iain
August 21, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Definitely!
Linda
August 21, 2011 at 3:22 pm
WOW WOW WOW what more needs to be said? Well done mate a most awesome achievement.
Stephen Coulter
August 21, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Was it a Chanel swim update because it went to France?
Rob
August 21, 2011 at 5:21 pm
well done Iain. Fantastic effort!
CCD (Pommie Chris)
August 21, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Iain, tres bien joue mate, formidable!
Pacific Jules
August 21, 2011 at 7:55 pm
So Iain, no excuse not to join us for the Dardanelles now mate. A lovely little recovery swim in 8 days time will be high on your priority list I’m sure. It’s certainly high on ours as we can’t wait to celebrate with you !! 🙂 xx
charlie
August 23, 2011 at 8:09 am
mate what an awesome thing to accomplish. congrats. 🙂
adam
August 23, 2011 at 9:28 pm
great effort. well done.
cheers
adam