Channel Swim Update - 20th July '26
Good news! We have secured slots in swim windows for two Winsford English Channel relays on Spring Tides:
- 2027: August 2nd - 8th on Pathfinder (Channel Swimming Association)
- 2028: July 21st - 28th on Anastasia (Channel Swimming and Piloting Association)
Most importantly we hold position #1 (the first to get the option to swim) in each of these windows, which means we won't be waiting around for any slow non-Winsford swimmers. Fun fact: Anastasia was Coach Andy's boat for his successful solo English Channel swim in 2017, also on a Spring Tide.
If anyone else would like to be considered and hasn't registered their interest (or hasn't seen the first communication) please email Jacqui on clubsecwasc@gmail.com as soon as possible. If any of our younger swimmers are interested but wondering how old a relay swimmer needs to be? You need to be 12 years old at the time of the relay to participate and must have completed a Qualifying Swim beforehand.
Our plan is to create a virtual squad of interested swimmers (who will remain based in their Juggernaut and Development Squads) where we will increase our open water practice time and add a couple of classroom sessions to help prepare. Membership to this squad will require a deposit of £150 to cover the reservation fees already paid to the pilots. If a swimmer needs to withdraw for any reason we will look to replace and refund you.
We can confirm there is space for all those who have registered interest so far to swim in one of two relays booked and 2029 can be booked in the future should interest warrant this.
Total relay swim costs per person will be around £800 to cover the fees for the pilot, observer and the registration with the licensing organization (precise costs for the 2028 swim have not been released by the 2028 pilot yet). This does not include travel to Dover, local open water training access, or Dover accommodation around the time of the swim. We will be looking into options to raise funds to support the swim as well.
Qualifying swims: to avoid exam season the training for the qualifying swim will be completed in the Autumn of the year prior to the swim (so this Autumn for the 2027 relay participants and reserves!).
Future communications will be just to the members of the Channel Relay Squad to avoid bombarding the rest of the club so please make sure you let us know if you want to be part of it!
If you missed Andy's original communication with all the details you can find it here.
Let's swim to France!
Kind Regards
Jacqui Jones
WASC Club Secretary
