Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation "Nothing great is easy", Captain Matthew Webb

Tides 

Traditionally pilots have only booked swimmers onto neap tides.  It has now become common practice to head out on a spring tide if the conditions are propitious.  Spring tides are on the days inbetween the sets of neap tides.

Dover tidal heights are:

  • Neaps tides - approximately 5.3 - 6.1 metres HW
  • Spring tides - approximately 6.1 - 6.8 metres HW
Please be aware tide dates on the CS&PF website may not correspond with individual pilots

Approximate 2025 Tide DatesTide
1 to 10 JuneNeap
11 to 15 JuneSpring
16 to 22 JuneNeap
23 to 30 JuneSpring
1 to 10 JulyNeap
11 to 18 JulySpring
19 to 23 JulyNeap
24 to 30 JulySpring
31 July to 8 AugustNeap
9 to 16 AugustSpring
17 to 21 AugustNeap
22 to 28 AugustSpring
29 August to 5 SeptemberNeap
6 to 13 SeptemberSpring
14 to 18 SeptemberNeap
19 to 27 SeptemberSpring
28 September to 4 OctoberNeap
5 to 12 OctoberSpring
13 to 18 OctoberNeap
19 to 26 OctoberSpring

Approximate 2026 Tide DatesTide
3 to 11 JuneNeap
12 to 20 JuneSpring
21 to 30 JuneNeap
1 to 6 JulySpring
7 to 12 JulyNeap
13 to 20 JulySpring
21 to 28 JulyNeap
29 July to 5 AugustSpring
6 to 10 AugustNeap
11 to 18 AugustSpring
19 to 26 AugustNeap
27 August to 3 SeptemberSpring
4 to 8 SeptemberNeap
9 to 16 SeptemberSpring
17 to 24 SeptemberSpring
25 September to 2 OctoberNeap
3 to 8 OctoberSpring
TBCNeap
TBCSpring
TBCNeap

  • 24 Jan 2026RSS Feed

    CS&PF Annual Dinner 2026 - One week remaining

    Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation Annual Dinner 2026Saturday 14th March 2026Channel Suite - Leas Cliff Hall - FolkestoneHere we go again………………………………….This is your advance warning for the CS&PF Annual Dinner.Tickets will go on sale on the 2nd of January 2025.  Full details will be advertised at www.cspf.co.uk, this is just giving you the time to get organised.Tickets are £50 person.Tickets will remain on sale until the 31st of January unless they sell out sooner.  After that date I would only be able to refund any cancellations if I resell the ticket.To book your tickets please, for my sanity read the following carefully and only apply for tickets when you have ALL the information.Information required at the time of booking:The name of everyone in your party. If you wish to sit together, book together.Tables seat 10.If you are booking more than one table, please state who will be sat at which table.Dietary requirements – this cannot be accommodated on the night so must be supplied at the time of booking.Access requirements / special needs.The country you are travelling from if it is outside the UK.Swim stories to a maximum of 150 words for each 2025 season solo swimmer.Photos for each 2025 solo swimmer, and relay team in your party.Please name the file names the solo surname or relay name. ThanksMichelle Read more

CS&PF NEWS

Sandettie Lightship Observations

9am, 30th January 2026


Water: 48.4 °F (9.1 °C)

Air: 41.5 °F (5.3 °C)

Wind Speed: 20.0 kn (37.0 km/h)

Wind Direction: SSE (150°)

Channel Weather 

The CS&PF President, Mike Ball and all the committee are deeply saddened by the passing of Ady Brown.… https://t.co/E17pLxZwgw

3 years ago