Al Gale
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Abandon swim! Abandon swim! 

21/8/2014

6 Comments

 
Picture
Friends, family, work colleagues and even complete strangers from across the world tracked my progress on line yesterday as I attempted to swim the infamous water's of the English Channel.

Those who did so will have seen the my pilot boat, Connemare, turned back slightly short of the French coast. 

Here is why:

We had been holed up in Folkestone, waiting for the wind to drop sufficiently to attempt a crossing. A narrow weather window of 18 hours was forecast, and we took the earliest possible start on Wednesday 20th August.  With my crew of Alistair MacLeod and son my Connagh, together with the film crew who have been following my preperative journey, we met at the harbour at 05:00.

Just over an hour later we arrived at our designated start point and I began my swim.

The seas were being blown by a fair-to-steady force 3. Aside from a few minor jellyfish stings and an encounter with a vast Maersk container ship, I made great process towards the French coast, arriving at this point within just 11hours.

With just 2.8 miles to go, I was within the zone that the majority of swims are abandoned. This infamous coastline has currents that push swimmers away from the coast, and all the skill of the safety pilot is brought to bear on getting the swimmer onto shore.

I was doing well, and success looked certain.

The Channel had other ideas.

Literally from nowhere, the storm that was predicted to arrive at midnight appeared early. The sea turned violent and angry, with swells of two meters making it impossible for me to see land - France or England. In these conditions, swimmers  quickly become disoriented.

I still had strength left, and without the change in conditions I'm convinced I would have made it. But the boat pilot is responsible for the safety of his crew, passengers and swimmer. After I'd disappeared under the waves several times, and even under the bow of the violently rocking boat, the captain had seen enough. I'd been pushed out to three miles from shore, and we'd made no progress for an hour.

At the pilot's say (which is final) the attempt was abandoned for safety concerns after swimming for just over 11 hours.

Disappointed though I was not to make land, the pilot assured me no one alive could have swim against those waves and a 3.5 knot tide. I had no reason to regret any lack of training or mental or physical resolve - the Channel had simply closed its doors to swimmers from that point.

Once on board and wrapped up in warm, dry clothes and a sleeping bag, I saw that I had four text messages and 54 emails confirming donations. My disappointment was eclipsed by the knowledge that my true goal, to raise £10,000 for Acorns, had been achieved. The swim was 'just' a means by which to do this, and unsuccessful though it was, that sum had been raised.

Many, many thanks to everyone who followed and supported me. I hope you can take comfort in knowing I did everything I possibly could to justify your donations and your belief in me.

Regards, 

All Gale
6 Comments
Mary Heaton
21/8/2014 02:23:09

Be proud of your achievement. As you say, if it hadn't been for the bad weather at the end you would have got there. You swum the distance just some of it was 'on the spot' as it were or even 'one stroke forward two strokes back'. But you met your total. Well done!

Reply
Patrick Laffargue
21/8/2014 06:25:47

Hi Alan,

Well done for almost making it to France.
It is difficult to image the conditions you experienced at the end of your swim yesterday from the comfort of our office chairs...
Bearing in mind that 3.5 knots is walking pace and that a 2 metre swell will have been rather significant for your support vessel (let alone you in the water) you can be very proud of your achievement.
I hope you have a well deserved rest back safely on shore.

Reply
Michael C
21/8/2014 07:06:18

Alan, Congratulations and Thanks for being an inspiration!

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Andy Nunney
21/8/2014 16:05:14

You have done more than anyone else here. Link to JustGiving please.

Reply
Steve Baker
22/8/2014 02:55:18

Al, you truly are a remarkable man with a beautiful family. Juliet had tears of joy and pride reading your outcome (I hid mine, grrrrrrrr and all that!). Well done!!

Reply
Anil Bellapukonda
25/8/2014 12:40:21

Hi Alan, Congratulations on your achievement and thanks for being inspiration for so many of us across the world. you are one of the role model for us now.

Regards
Anil

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    Alan Gale

    One time soldier, part-time author, full-time training manager, husband and father.

    Swam 21.8 miles of the English Channel in August 2014 for Acorns Children's Hospice, in memory of our son, Harry Gale, raising over £13,000

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