Swimming the channel – Alumni stories, Vikki Wright

We were delighted to recently hear from 1998 alumna, Vikki Wright, who last month completed a lifetime ambition of swimming across the English Channel. Our latest blog shares Vikki’s journey and experiences as she completed the gruelling challenge.

Swimming the channel had always been a childhood dream. But as life got more complicated with age and responsibility, I never thought there would be a right time to do it. In 2016 I completed an Ironman and during the race I partially ruptured my achilles. I managed to finish just under the 17 hour cut off time. After the event I was unable to undertake any land based training and my only option was to take to the lake and swim. I needed a goal to keep me motivated and realised I could build my mileage quite quickly with a series of open water events. There had never been a better time to decide to make an attempt.

I knew there was a lot of learning to do. I also needed to build up my cold tolerance and put on some weight so I set myself a 2 year target. Before long I had booked a pilot for June 2018. Not knowing much except what I had read, I opted for the long days around the end of June even though the sea temperature may be a little colder. I tried to simulate all the conditions I would be likely to face. Long distances, cold, salty, sea weedy water, and night swims. I even placed myself in the position where I could be stung by jellyfish to know what it would feel like. Over the next 2 years I have met many swimmers. They are the friendliest people you would ever hope to meet and everyone is happy to share their knowledge and experience. Before long I had a better idea of exactly what I had taken on.

When we arrived in Folkstone I was number 2 on the tide with my pilot Fred Mardle. We had met Fred and Harry on a previous trip to Folkstone and were really looking forward to having them as our crew. Number 1 on the tide had to cancel their swim so I was going to be first up. There was a spell of really good conditions coming up and I was confident I would be able to make an attempt during the neap tide. Then engine trouble struck Fred’s boat and we needed to make alternative arrangements. Kevin Sherman stepped in and agreed to pilot my swim and soon we were back on track. Fred was with us in spirit and Harry joined Kevin as crew. No matter how much planning you do it pays never to take anything for granted, change is constant when swimming the channel.

We set off around 6am on Saturday 23rd June on the Connemara. The sun was set to shine all day, conditions were good and there would be a typical south westerly wind (not the northern one I was hoping for). My partner Adrian was my support team, my feeder and my communications director. Without a doubt the support team works just as hard as the swimmers.

Tracy Clark was observing on Stuart Gleeson’s boat (Sea Leopard) and managed to take this picture. It was really motivating to have Tracy and Stuart close at hand and in contact with us during the swim. Using Facebook to relay messages back to me was a real motivator and made me feel a little less alone.

We seemed to progress well and when the tide started to turn my crew asked me to put a sprint on to take advantage of the slack water. The tide pulled us westward against the south westerly winds and it was quite choppy. Progress looked good until it looked like the tide would turn earlier than expected. There was no way I was going to make it to the Cap and suddenly the tone of my support team changed. For the first time I started to doubt I would make it to France and the thought of failure was terrifying.

My crew asked me to dig deep and sprint to get out of the second shipping lane. If I could not make it to calmer waters by the time the tide turned I would be swept eastwards. If I ended up near the ferry traffic, by Calais, the Coast Guard would abort my swim. I am a swimmer who only has one gear so the concept of ‘sprinting’ is a bit alien. After 10/11 hours of swimming I surprised myself with what I had left in the tank. I did exactly as I was told and swam as hard as I could for the next 2 hours and managed to get to more sheltered water just north of the cap. The wind died down and the chop got easier but I was tired. I could see France but it never seemed to get any closer.

My support team and crew were faultless and capably managed every twist and turn. There was not long to feed or ask questions, all I could do is put my faith in my team and follow every instruction no matter how impossible it seemed.

From then on in it was just a case of putting one arm in front of the other. Night was starting to fall and Harry escorted me by small boat towards the shore. The loud cheers of around 10 french people greeted me as I made it ashore. After 15 hours and 17 minutes I had made it to France. It was surreal and I felt like I was in a dream like state. Then survival kicks in and all you want to do is get warm and fed.

My family, friends, and colleagues have followed me every step of the way and invested heavily. For that I will be eternally grateful. Swimming the channel not only felt like a big achievement it also felt like a great privilege. I feel I am part of something so much bigger than just my journey.

Thank you Vikki for sharing this story with us, and congratulations on your achievement! Do you have a story to share? get in touch by e-mailing alumni@yorksj.ac.uk