Munster Express Online

After a nail biting wait of three days, due to poor weather conditions, Stiletto Swimmers eventually took to the sea at 10.35pm on Wednesday night on 11th August to swim The English Channel. After swimming through the night they reached Wissant Beach east of Cap Griz-Nez near Calais at 2.15pm the following day, all of 15hrs and 40mins later.

Ten months of planning and training have gone into this event. Clare Morrissey made 5 phone calls back in September, to Maeve Moran, Kolette Enright, Maura Murphy, Grainne Burke and Marie Barry, and within an hour had the team signed up for this mammoth challenge. Eilis Burns, Ireland’s top Open Water Coach was then contacted for advice on training schedules and she put together a very tough routine.

The training started straight away with 3000m five days a week, increasing to 5000m by the end of March, a total of 250 laps of a 20m pool. The training then moved to the sea and by the start of May wetsuits were abandoned and the six women spent between 2 and 3 hours a day in the sea, at Clonea, the Cunnigar and Ballinagaul in Ring. Very difficult seas, an overnight swim, jellyfish, powerful tides, sea sickness and hypothermia were all challenges awaiting these ladies, in the busiest shipping channel in the world, but they were determined to complete this challenge in support of the RNLI.

The swim started in the dark from Samphire Hoe beach just outside Dover and all swimmers had to swim an hour each until the next swimmer took over, every member of the team spent almost 3 hours in the water. The swim was monitored and verified by the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation (CS&PF) under very strict rules and guidelines. As the crow flies the Channel is 21 miles but the full distance can be several miles more due to tides and it is estimated that a full 30 miles were covered.

To date €6,000 has been raised for the RNLI with more money due in the next few days and hopefully the target of €10,000 will be surpassed. If you would like to support Stiletto Swimers you can log onto mycharity.ie – Stiletto Swimmers or lodge your donation into account number 17156556 Sort Code 99 06 34 at the TSB Bank in Dungarvan.

Stiletto Swimmers would like to thank so many people for all their support and patience during the last 10 months, including their families and friends, Eilis Burns, all the swimmers, kayakers and boats who offered their services and company during their training. Also congratulations to Donal Buckley on his successful Solo swim of the English Channel and thanks to him for his invaluable advice. Best wish also to Waterford’s other Channel swimmers, Elaine O’Grady, who is part of a four person team leaving for Dover next week and Alan Smyth on his Solo at the end of September.