Swimming day 529 - Tuesday 31st July 2012

8 days to go…

The house last night was busier than the sea this morning; but only just.  I was bounced to the end of the bed by Mia, then bounced back to the middle of the bed by Jesse, then kicked to the bottom of the bed by Sharon and then eventually at 2am kicked out altogether by Asher.  By 2am I was alone in Mia’s room and whilst it is a kiddie bed it was a lot calmer than my room!

The sea was not much of a contrast to that.  Bob, Shoichi and I headed into quite a rough sea; wind blowing, rain dropping, waves rushing; but no tide movement – strange.  We headed to the Brighton Centre and then back again, about 40 minute swim I think and the temperature 15.5 degrees, but I thought felt warmer than that (others thought it felt colder though).  It was bumpy all the way there and even bumpier all the way back.  We didn’t go out too deep, just to the first buoy, but that makes it bumpier as the waves are heading in at a pace and really pick up speed at about that distance.  So you find that all of a sudden you are hit in the side and spun over and it takes all your strength to stop from completely rolling over and keeping your pace going forward.  It’s certainly great exercise and each day you learn something from it.

Back at the arch we found David with the largest bucket of mackerel I’ve seen in months, he must have caught 25, which in this sea is astonishing.  Also Yvo was there with her hand a bucket of boiling water and the kettle hotting up for the next; she’d been fishing with David and unknowingly had caught a weaver fish; she certainly new about it when she picked it up to remove the hook – yowch!!!  First time I’ve seen a weaver bite on a hand!  Leo was bitten on the foot at the weekend as well and was hobbling for days.  You don’t get these in hobbies such as cake making or sowing!

The swim is now just 8 days away, however there was talk of us possibly going early; even as early as this week, but the weather has now turned again.  Not a bad thing as we have all prepared next week with work and social diaries and it would be difficult for the majority of my team if it came early.  This from Fiona’s father, who apparently understands these things (it’s all gobbledegook to me to be honest)….

Weather update for your coming Channel relay if you went early.

Not very good at the moment.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

Strong winds are forecast

For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore from

1800 UTC Mon 30 July until 1800 UTC Tue 31 July

24 hour forecast:

Wind -- South-westerly, backing southerly for a time later, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in east, decreasing 4 for a time.

Sea State -- Slight or moderate.

Weather -- Showers, then occasional rain for a time.

Visibility -- Good, becoming moderate, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

1800 Tues 31str July to 1800 Wed 1st Aug

Wind -- Southerly or south-Westerly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time.

Sea State -- Slight or moderate.

Weather -- Mainly fair.

Visibility -- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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Dover

Shipping Forecast - Issued: 1625 UTC Mon 30 July

Wind -- South or south-west 5 to 7, decreasing 4 for a time.

Sea State -- Moderate.

Weather -- Rain for a time.

Visibility -- Good, occasionally poor

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Whatever that all means, it seems that up to next Monday it’ll be rather unpleasant.  Tuesday and Wednesday next week look good at the moment though and as such I remain very hopeful, and almost positive, that Wednesday 8^th August will be our day.