With all the drama you would expect from an event of such epic proportions, Charlie Pidcock finally set off on his attempt to swim the English Channel on 30 June 2024. Three days earlier, the team had assembled in Dover and were on standby for when the boat captain would make the call to leave. This time was filled with nervous energy as we rested, walked, talked and prepared for the final leg. We finally got the call that we would be departing at 3am Sunday morning, however this initial slot was cancelled due to poor weather. Finally, midday Sunday, we got the call that we were on at 5pm that day. The team headed down to Folkstone Harbour at 4.30pm with all the supplies and equipment needed to sustain Charlie for up to 17 hours of swimming. 

After loading the boat, we headed off to the starting point at Samphire Hoe, a small beach between Dover and Folkstone. After a quick coating of Vaseline from his brother, and a few backslaps from the rest of us, Charlie dove from the boat and swam to shore to begin his swim. Around 530pm, with his ankles above the water line, the skipper of 'Masterpiece' blew a horn to signal the start and the clock was running. The next twelve hours were characterised by the steady stroke of Charlie's swimming, interspersed with 30 second feeds scheduled every 30-40 minutes and regular messaging from the team to Charlie updating him on stroke rate and motivational messages from family and friends. Charlie's plan was to divide the swim into 3 phases. 

The first three hours he would focus on stroke rate and rhythm. During the second three hours he would focus on power and technique. In the final three hours he would focus on length and strength. He executed it perfectly, getting into his targeted rhythm and stroke rate right from the start which he held constantly throughout the swim. Conditions were favourable, with relatively calm seas, mostly clean water and few stingers. The crew, while always focused on Charlie, also enjoyed the spectacle that is the English channel. From the White Cliffs of Dover, to the frequently passing container ships travelling one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and the green shoreline of France. It was a truly amazing experience for us all. 

The toughest part of the swim came around 9pm, as Charlie was mid channel and the tide began to turn. How swimmers handle this section of the crossing determines whether it will be a relatively quick swim or a longer slog. For almost 2 hours, it seemed like Charlie was swimming in one spot as he worked to pass one of the Channel markers. He finally entered the currents on the French side of the Channel and we were moving forward again. The sun began to rise around 430am and the French coast was in clear view. 

There was less than two hours to go for Charlie to hit is target of 12 hours and 16 min but he had one last challenge to face. A southerly tide was running quickly around the headland that Charlie was approaching and the skipper needed him to swim a sweeping course against the current to avoid being swept south and possibly adding another hour to his swim. Charlie dug deep and pushed through the tide to land north of the headland. 

 After 12 hours and 21 minutes of swimming, Charlie climbed a rocky section of French shoreline at Gris-Nez and, with his ankles above the waterline, the skipper of 'Masterpiece' blew his horn to confirm the crossing was finished. Charlie had completed the journey that he started two years ago and had become a member of a select group of people who have completed this grueling event to become a Channel Swimmer. There have only been 2950 successful crossings since 1875 when records began. 

Approximately 1900 of these were solo swims. 

The Riverview community now has two members within this select group, Charlie Pidcock and Simon Dominguez who completed a solo crossing in 2014 in a time of 13 hours. Congratulations to both of them.