Swimming Spurn Point to Cleethorpes (pics 8-1 top to bottom)
On Wednesday 9th Sept 09 we set off to Grimsby Docks to meet Pete our pilot to attempt the swim from Spurn to Cleethorpes, 4.25miles in a straight line. Several dates had come and gone during the summer. Problems due to weather and the fact that the Spurn Sanctuary would not allow water vessels of any type to launch from Spurn. This meant that all of the team had to approach from the south (Grimsby) using landing craft which could not be detected by Spurn radar (pic1). This also meant that 2 swimmers was the maximum with Pete’s boat.
The weather was near perfect, warm, sunny and a light to moderate northly wind. The water felt very warm>20oC. We attached the kayak behind Pete’s boat and set off out of the docks at about 10.45. It took over an hour to reach Spurn. We landed with our gear but nearly got the boat stuck as the tide went out (pic2). With everyone pushing we floated it again. After this Pete stayed in the boat while we had a picnic on the windswept sandy beach looking across to Cleethorpes (pic3), whistling the tune to ‘Robinson Crusoe’ who was of course came from Hull. Simon was keen and had his suit on early. The coastguard kept us waiting while large ships went by. I couldn’t quite believe that after so much planning we were actual going to swim. Suddenly Pete gave us the nod and we were off. The water was warm and salty as we swam along side the Spurn beach. As we rounded the point the current took hold and we started moving, out to sea! The northly meant that the waves were coming mostly from behind. The shipping lane and deep water channel is very close to Spurn we could see big ships passing very close (pic4) and the waves got quite choppy. Soon we left Spurn behind (pic5) and into the shipping lane (pic6). Pete steered us expertly across and we were soon amongst the ships at anchor(pic7). The first time we spoke to Pete we had been swimming for 28 minutes and were assured we were making good progress. We had no idea. Our first drink came at 1hr 15mins and we felt we had been swimming solidly and covering a lot of ground. We could see the southerly shore but did not know where exactly. Pete shouted us on there was no time to loose. Simon and I were swimming quite close. Simon occasionally slowing to let me catch-up which endeared him to Pete as he had been worried about taking more than one swimmer at a time. Pete’s anxiety was also allayed by having Miriam paddling well to support me for the whole crossing and having Elena in the boat to keep him company and take lots of photos.
We were well over half-way when our support crew started gesticulating wildly. We looked up to see seals, larger than us swimming alongside. Quickly Pete was shouting to keep going so we did. Just past the 2nd fort and 2 hrs into the swim we turned and started swimming against the waves. For the first time I started feeling tired. We both swam alongside the beach on instruction from Pete. Suddenly he shouted ‘stand-up!’ We had finished. Very satisfying and although we would have liked to go on the beach it was difficult to hold the boat with the currents. We were waist deep and about 20 yards from the beach but as we motored back we suddenly found ourselves aground and had to jump out to push the boat over the sand bar. After that we could relax (pic7) arriving at the dock gates as the sun set (pic8) only to be locked-out awaiting a ship on the inside to come out. Fortunately the dock team took pity on us cold, wet and hungry crew and invited us into their mess for a hot shower and tea. Finally we got through the gates and arrived back at the sailing club in near darkness but very pleased with the day.
Simon and I were extremely pleased with the opportunity to swim the estuary (time 2hr 22mins) and are very grateful to Pete Winchester for his expertise and boat, to my daughter Miriam for her paddling and Elena for being co-pilot, photographer and good company.
On Wednesday 9th Sept 09 we set off to Grimsby Docks to meet Pete our pilot to attempt the swim from Spurn to Cleethorpes, 4.25miles in a straight line. Several dates had come and gone during the summer. Problems due to weather and the fact that the Spurn Sanctuary would not allow water vessels of any type to launch from Spurn. This meant that all of the team had to approach from the south (Grimsby) using landing craft which could not be detected by Spurn radar (pic1). This also meant that 2 swimmers was the maximum with Pete’s boat.
The weather was near perfect, warm, sunny and a light to moderate northly wind. The water felt very warm>20oC. We attached the kayak behind Pete’s boat and set off out of the docks at about 10.45. It took over an hour to reach Spurn. We landed with our gear but nearly got the boat stuck as the tide went out (pic2). With everyone pushing we floated it again. After this Pete stayed in the boat while we had a picnic on the windswept sandy beach looking across to Cleethorpes (pic3), whistling the tune to ‘Robinson Crusoe’ who was of course came from Hull. Simon was keen and had his suit on early. The coastguard kept us waiting while large ships went by. I couldn’t quite believe that after so much planning we were actual going to swim. Suddenly Pete gave us the nod and we were off. The water was warm and salty as we swam along side the Spurn beach. As we rounded the point the current took hold and we started moving, out to sea! The northly meant that the waves were coming mostly from behind. The shipping lane and deep water channel is very close to Spurn we could see big ships passing very close (pic4) and the waves got quite choppy. Soon we left Spurn behind (pic5) and into the shipping lane (pic6). Pete steered us expertly across and we were soon amongst the ships at anchor(pic7). The first time we spoke to Pete we had been swimming for 28 minutes and were assured we were making good progress. We had no idea. Our first drink came at 1hr 15mins and we felt we had been swimming solidly and covering a lot of ground. We could see the southerly shore but did not know where exactly. Pete shouted us on there was no time to loose. Simon and I were swimming quite close. Simon occasionally slowing to let me catch-up which endeared him to Pete as he had been worried about taking more than one swimmer at a time. Pete’s anxiety was also allayed by having Miriam paddling well to support me for the whole crossing and having Elena in the boat to keep him company and take lots of photos.
We were well over half-way when our support crew started gesticulating wildly. We looked up to see seals, larger than us swimming alongside. Quickly Pete was shouting to keep going so we did. Just past the 2nd fort and 2 hrs into the swim we turned and started swimming against the waves. For the first time I started feeling tired. We both swam alongside the beach on instruction from Pete. Suddenly he shouted ‘stand-up!’ We had finished. Very satisfying and although we would have liked to go on the beach it was difficult to hold the boat with the currents. We were waist deep and about 20 yards from the beach but as we motored back we suddenly found ourselves aground and had to jump out to push the boat over the sand bar. After that we could relax (pic7) arriving at the dock gates as the sun set (pic8) only to be locked-out awaiting a ship on the inside to come out. Fortunately the dock team took pity on us cold, wet and hungry crew and invited us into their mess for a hot shower and tea. Finally we got through the gates and arrived back at the sailing club in near darkness but very pleased with the day.
Simon and I were extremely pleased with the opportunity to swim the estuary (time 2hr 22mins) and are very grateful to Pete Winchester for his expertise and boat, to my daughter Miriam for her paddling and Elena for being co-pilot, photographer and good company.
2 comments:
Congratulations, Sean - a truly Great East Swim! Is there a map you could upload showing the location and route?
Sean, another epic! Swimming with seals and ships adds a level of excitement that you don't get every day
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