Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation - Swim Story

05 Jul 2013The Razorbacks

A team of four swam a 2-way Channel Relay in 21 hours and 56 minutes

You need a lot of planets to align to get a channel relay away successfully, and doubly so for a two-way relay.

Back in September 2012, the Tri-Nation Razorbacks comprised two Aussies, one Brit and a Finn. Poor late-season weather meant the swim could not go ahead as planned, so it was rearranged for the first week of July 2013. By this time, other commitments and injury had changed the make-up of the team to three Brits and one Australian, forcing a quick re-brand to ‘The Razorbacks’.

The relay was the brainchild of Regina Luxon, inspired both by two successful one-way relays with Aspire boats, and by her own solo swim preparations. A two-way with a team of four would mean that each swimmer would cover a distance equivalent to half of the channel in an envisaged 24-hour period – a significant challenge even for the most seasoned open water swimmers.

After a last-minute cancellation on the preceding Monday, the team assembled at Dover Marina early on the morning of Friday 5^th July. The weather gods were finally on our side; the sea was calm and the forecast clear. This would mean good swimming conditions and most importantly no problems with sea sickness. Nevertheless the channel was not letting us off that easily, with unseasonably cold water around 13-14 degrees and, as we would later find out, a spectacular jellyfish bloom mid-way through.

Against a backdrop of mist-covered cliffs, Nick Adams led us off from Samphire Hoe at 7.46am, to be followed by Grant Venner, Regina, and Alice Hubbard. Next to us, dauntingly, was a 6-man team of elite swimmers from the Dutch national squad, making an attempt on the world record for a two-way crossing. We settled into a good rhythm, and as the mist cleared and the sun broke through it made for some very enjoyable swimming, jellyfish notwithstanding. Paul Foreman steered the Optimist to perfection, and Regina swam us onto Cap Gris Nez 10 hours and 33 minutes later. This was a great first leg, and ordinarily would have been a cause for celebration, however the biggest challenges now lay ahead.

Three hours later darkness descended, and the night swimming began. This meant gritting our teeth to make our way through fields of now-invisible jellyfish, overcoming fits of post-swim shivering to get our bodies back up to temperature in time for our next swims, all the time dealing with the accumulating fatigue of four, then five, cold immersions. To those of us unused to night swimming this pushed us to physical and mental extremes we had never encountered before. As everyone focussed inwardly and dug deep into their reserves, the news reached us that the conditions had proved too challenging for the Dutch team, and they had aborted their relay 12 miles from home.

But we made it through the night, and as daylight revealed the cliffs of Dover some 5 miles in the distance and provided just a hint of extra warmth in the water, we could sense victory. The tide, however, had other plans, and Paul warned us that we would need to give it our all for the next two hours to avoid being swept westwards along the English coast. Nick duly entered the water and set out at a cracking rate while Grant stuffed down crumpets, tea and cake in a bid to maximise fuel for a final sprint. Somehow we held our line, and towards the end of Grant’s swim, Regina jumped in the water and swam him into shore to make land at 5.42am, to whoops of joy from both water and boat. The return leg had been swum in 11 hours and 23 minutes, making a total 2-way time of 21 hours and 56 minutes.

It only takes one slightly weak link to break a 22-piece chain. All four swimmers remained resolute and focussed throughout, and just got on with it quietly: if there were any doubts, they were not shared. But there was a lot more to it than this: Andrew Ogierman from Aspire looked after us wonderfully throughout the swim; Paul and his crew of Ray, Sam and Michelle were incredibly supportive and kept the good humour and precious hot tea flowing. And friends, family, and the channel swimming community kept morale high with texts and tweets of encouragement.

You need a lot of planets to align to get a channel relay away successfully and on this day, magically, they did. One day later, Andy Murray won Wimbledon. And we knew exactly how he felt.

The Razor Backs' 2-way EC relay

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27 Feb 2025
2025 Notice of CS&PF AGM & Motions
Notice of CS&PF AGMFor the year ended 31st December 2024To be held atThe Channel Suite, Leas Cliff HallThe Leas, FolkestoneCT20 2DZ1pm on the 15th March 2025 Officer and committee positions due for election in 2025 President: Mike Ball (nominated by the CS&PF committee)Vice-President: Michael Oram (nominated by the CS&PF committee) The ChairmanThe SecretaryTwo Committee member positionsNotices of Motion Motions:Motion 1) Proposed by Tony Kenyon; seconded by Eddie SpellingThe committee discussed the need to raise the swim administration fees to cover increasing costs. It was agreed to increase the administration fees by £30. A revised CS&PF rule is required to be ratified at the AGM.The following rule revision is proposed to reflect the increased administration fee.Revised RuleCS&PF fees:2026 Administration fees payable with all swim applications. Administration fees cover the costs of running the CS&PF Office and general CS&PF expenses. Applications submitted to the CS&PF Office before the deadline of 30 April will be charged a discounted administration fee of:Solo - £200Relay £240Applications received by the CS&PF Office after 30 April will be deemed to have exceeded the time allowed for postage and will be charged a full fee of:Solo £225Relay £265Motion 2) Proposed by Kevin Murphy; seconded by Tony KenyonThis AGM requests the committee to:i) Institute honorariums for the offices of CS&PF Secretary and CS&PF Treasurer;ii) Consider at what level these honorariums should be set.Motion 3) Proposed by Tony Kenyon, seconded by Kevin MurphyReplace the existing Clause “8 Management paragraph B” of the published CS&PF rules. The current wording was found to be unclear by the committee.Proposed wording:B. President and Vice PresidentThe positions of ‘President’ and ‘Vice President’ shall be nominated by the elected members of the CS&PF Committee. Only the committee nomination for the roles shall be put before the next AGM for ratification.Either or both positions can remain vacant if the committee does not make a nomination, or if a nomination is not ratified by the membership at the next AGM.The Vice President is expected to work in conjunction with the President. When the President completes their term, the Vice President is familiar with the role to step up. A former President is not permitted to be nominated for a future role as Vice President. If ratified at the AGM the appointment of these positions is for three years from the date of ratification. If they are not ratified, the committee will reconsider their nominations at the next committee meeting.The ‘President’ and the ‘Vice President’ shall be considered full members of the CS&PF Committee. They will receive notice and be invited to each committee meeting and be counted in the quorum with full voting rights.The maximum term for both of these positions is two consecutive appointments. Once this maximum term has been reached the incumbent must step aside from that role for at least three years, preferably six (equivalent to two consecutive terms). Eligibility to be considered for subsequent nomination for either role after the maximum term has been reached is at the discretion of the elected members of the CS&PF Committee.At the discretion of the elected members of the CS&PF Committee a retiring President may be given the honorary title of ‘President Emeritus’. This title is used to denote perpetual status of individuals who made significant contributions to the CS&PF.Motion 4) Proposed by Cliff Golding, seconded by Mike BallProposed amendments in red Assessment swims - (solos)All swimmers taking part in a solo swim must complete a self assessment swim of at least 6 hours in open water at a temperature of no more than 61F/16C. Such a swim should be carried out either as a training swim or as an organised event which the committee considers (in its discretion) to be a suitable alternative. In either case, the assessment swim should take place no more than 18 calendar months prior to the 1st June in the year of the application. Winter Swim Assessments. If a swim is registered to take place between 1 November and 30 April, the qualifying temperature for an assessment swim will be 12c or less, or as defined by the pilot.Assessment swims - (relays)All swimmers taking part in a relay swim must complete a self assessment swim of at least 1.5 hours then leave the water for a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 1.5 hours at a temperature of no more than 61°F / 16°C. They must then return to the water and swim for 1 more hour in open water also at a temperature of no more than 61°F / 16°C. These two swims should be carried out either as a training swim or as an organised event which the committee considers (in its discretion) to be a suitable alternative. In either case, the assessment swims should take place no more than 18 calendar months prior to the 1st June in the Year of application. If a relay swimmer carries out a training swim, or takes part in an event lasting 4 hours or more at a temperature of no more than 61°F / 61°C, the Committee will consider that a suitable assessment swim for a Channel relay swim.Winter Swim Assessments. If a swim is registered to take place between 1 November and 30 April, the qualifying temperature for an assessment swim will be 12c or less, or as defined by the pilot.Every application for a solo or relay swimmer must complete a Swim Assessment Form available for download from the CS&PF web site and submit this together with supporting proof/ratification of the self-assessment swim or (if an organised event wherein satisfactory participation is a matter of public online record) the website address at which such proof is evident. Voting will be by paper ballot for any contested positions or motions. Read more