![\"Big](\"http:\/\/perrybeechesswimming.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Big-Ricks.jpg\")
<\/a>But that\u2019s not all \u2013 as well as swimming all the way to France, they will then turn around and swim all the way back England \u00a0!\u00a0 The team are Paul Bates, Ross Emery, Stuart Fuller, Rob Small, Claire Thorn and Charlie Wheadon \u2013 collectively known as Big Rick\u2019s Swim Team<\/b> \u2013 and they will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, which is a charity close to their heart.<\/p>\nJust Few TASTY details about the English channel<\/p>\n
More people have successfully climbed Mount Everest than have <\/a>swum the English Channel. It is considered one of the world\u2019s hardest swims, not least because it:<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Has an average water temperature of 14-16C<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Has a variety of jellyfish which sting<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Contains some of the most difficult tides in the world<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is 21 miles across at its shortest point, but the team will swim a lot further each way<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Takes most swimmers 10-20 hours just to complete a single crossing<\/p>\n And to make matters worse, there are strict rules in place which mean that wetsuits are not allowed, so it’s trunks or swimming costumes all the way! And off course with this being a two swim we will have to swim throughout the night to complete it.<\/p>\n The team has spent the last two years preparing for this challenge, taking part in a number of open water swimming and endurance events (including getting into lakes with sub 10 degree water temperatures at 7am on a Saturday morning!).<\/p>\n Our Double Channel window is from 27th<\/sup> July to 31st<\/sup> July..we have to be ready and waiting \u00a0in Dover, waiting for the call \u00a0from our channel pilot Lance Oram to go…we can start almost at any time night or day…the swim itself can take anywhere from 20hrs to 30hrs …all depends on the weather in the channel ..<\/p>\n (with this link you can \u00a0live track our swim when we go , our boat for the trip is Sea satin http:\/\/cspf.co.uk\/tracking<\/a> )<\/p>\n Should you wish to sponsor Big Rick\u2019s Swim Team on this extremely tough challenge, please visit their sponsorship page and donate what you can: https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/teams\/bigricks<\/a><\/p>\n To see Pictures & Videos of just how hard we have been training check our team \u00a0blog page https:\/\/bigrickchannelswimteam.blogspot.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n \n Kind regards<\/p>\n Paul Bates<\/strong><\/p>\n Big Ricks Swim Team<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In just 14 days time\u00a0\u00a0 6 swimmers from\u00a0 Sutton Coldfield\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0are taking on the ultimate open water swimming\u00a0 challenge \u2013 The 6 plan to swim across the most ionic stretch of open water in the world . The\u00a0 English Channel. But that\u2019s not all \u2013 as well as swimming all the way to France, they … Continue reading It\u2019s Not Over Until Dover .!!<\/span>