Hi Everyone..
Good news - I crossed the English channel on a SUP on Monday 9th of June 2014.
Below is a short summary and some photos/videos which i shared with people who sponsored me ( PS I raised over 2,000GBP for charity )
Short summary of trip:
Got off on time - around 8am . Got taken to the start point which is Dungeness. Weather report was for no wind but that didn't happen. At the start it was very choppy and difficult - i remember thinking this looks like a washing machine. Over the duration ( 6.5hrs ) of the crossing the weather generally got better and the water became much more flat. There were a few minor rain squalls in the middle of the UK shipping lane and then a thunder storm at the end. I had planned to put in the headphones and listen to some tunes... that didn't happen either ... out in the Channel there is always some sort of cross swell / current which is trying to toss you off the board. I honestly couldn't stop concentrating for the whole journey or i would be off. I proved this theory at least 6 times. The water wasn't cold and to be honest the break from standing in that position was welcomed by my back. The mental process around having absolutely ZERO idea where i was in relation to anything really took its tole mentally - its hard to explain how much i needed to concentrate. There were no points of reference until right at the end when I got closer the French coast. I just had to follow the pilot boat. The Cpt ( Will ) had set GPS way points which we needed to get to at specific times to ensure we weren't going to be taken backwards by the tides as they run very fast and to ensure that i paddled the distance ( 19 nautical miles / 35k / 21miles ) This explains why my personal GPS map shows a type of banana shaped looking track . I saw one dolphin , but he didn't hang around long and I kept a look out for MH370 - but didn't spot that either. I saw some very large cargo ships ( Will said the radar indicated one was over 400m long ). We kept our distance and obviously gave them right of way so were never in any danger. I eventually got to Boulogne and finished! We then parked up in the Harbour with no one evening batting an eye lid or asking for a passport. Had a shower at the Yacht club ( 6 euors ) and walked into town for a well deserved beer. A few hours/beers later i happily got back on the boat and we powered home into beautiful clear weather - stopping off at a few of the channel markers for a few photos . The trip back took about 60 mins.
1 years worth of training culminating in a day ill never forget.
Thanks for everyone's support - especially my wife Amy and my Dad Alan
Everyone has been requesting some photos /videos -- so here you go. Not in any type of order..
drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B9FsyB9MU21XSFJteVhOQW1zOFE?usp=drive_web
