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Charlie Pidcock (OR87) to Swim Across The English Channel
Tuesday, 4 June 2024
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Mid-life crisis? Madness? or just ticking off the bucket list? Who knows what motivates a person to do crazy challenges that most of us only experience by watching documentaries on TV while having a coffee on the comfort of our couch. Charlie Pidcock (OR87) and former OIU President is one of these unique people. Charlie is in the final weeks of preparation to undertake his dream of swimming the English Channel. After two years of training, including multiple 6-8 hour stints in Sydney Harbour with the bull sharks and swimming 6 hours in 14 degree water in Lake Lyell to qualify, Charlie heads off to the UK on June 24 for the swim of his lifetime. Swimming the English Channel is not for the faint hearted. More people have climbed Mt Everest than have swum the English Channel. A straight line distance of 32km, most swimmers actually travel further due to the tides changing through the channel, resulting in swim times ranging from 7 to 27 hours. Charlie hopes to complete the swim in 9-12 hours, but in weather conditions that can change rapidly and at water temperatures of 14-16 degrees he will be significantly challenged. We wish Charlie the best of luck and are all behind him in achieving his goal. If you would like to follow his swim and send messages of encouragement please follow 'Charlie's Channel Swim 2024' on Facebook |