Swimming the English Channel: how do you tackle the ‘Everest’ of swims

In a few weeks’ time, five relay teams will be setting off in the wee small hours to complete the epic challenge of swimming the English Channel. They will be undertaking the feat to raise funds for drowning prevention charity SwimTayka. But what exactly does it take to commit to the ‘Everest’ of swimming challenges and how can joining a relay team provide the support and logistics necessary to make the dream achievable?

Every year, teams take to the water at Dover with help from SwimTayka, to challenge themselves but also to support this charity which is helping to turn the tide against the shocking worldwide drowning statistics – 27 people die from drowning every hour; and they are often children.

We caught up with three members of this year’s SwimTayka relay teams, to see how training was going and how they were feeling about the challenge ahead, dubbed the ‘Everest’ of swims.

• Register your interest for 2025
  Join the swimmers who have conquered the English Channel by registering your interest for the 2025 SwimTayka relay. Register your interest here or email ash@swimtayka.org.

“My team will have my back”

“I am already a distance swimmer, so feel confident I can do the distance,” said Helen Forsyth, 50, who lives in Devon with her husband and two children and is a self-employed Head of Growth. “Swimming in the middle of the Channel feels a bit intimidating, but I have been talking a lot with my team, and I already know that if I am feeling anxious before my swim, my team will have my back, and vice versa.”

Also taking part is Henry Wilson, 34, who lives in Kent with his wife, Emily. “I feel excited!” he told us. “Since completing our assessment and qualifying swim in Dover, as well as having had the chance to swim alongside our boat, I feel fully ready for the challenge.”

“A sense of purpose, pride and achievement”

Another fellow swimmer is Sarah Donovan, 47, from Kent, who is an occupational therapist in the NHS, and is married with two children. She said she feels both nervous and excited. “Mostly I am just so very proud about going into this amazing swim challenge. Having the opportunity to swim the Channel has given me such a sense of purpose, pride and achievement. I have enjoyed the response of my friends and family, who think I am completely bonkers, but also have huge respect for what I am trying to achieve.”

“Once I signed up, I had a real goal to work towards, which has given me a real sense of purpose. I have been committed to my training, swimming two to four times a week, training with a swim coach to improve my stamina and spending increasing amounts of time in cold lakes and the sea to increase my cold water tolerance.”

Sarah, SwimTayka relay swimmer 2024

Like all the SwimTayka swimmers, the trio have put in many hours’ training, but found this to be a positive experience. “When I signed up to the swim challenge in September, my swimming experience was limited to bobbing about in the local lake,” said Sarah. However, once I signed up, I had a real goal to work towards, which has given me a real sense of purpose. I have been committed to my training, swimming two to four times a week, training with a swim coach to improve my stamina and spending increasing amounts of time in cold lakes and the sea to increase my cold water tolerance.”

Henry echoed this, “The training is the least of my worries! If you put the time in, you will get results out!”

“We’re all committed to completing the swim and supporting each other”

We asked the three if there were any particular concerns they had about the relay. “I am a bit nervous about how I will manage on the day, how will I cope if I have to swim in the dark? Will I get stung by the jellyfish? And how will I cope with potential sea sickness?” said Sarah. “But as well as having these anxieties I am also feeling really excited for the challenge. I feel quietly confident that our team will do well as we have been training together, have developed a bond and we’re all committed to completing the swim and supporting each other. It is such an amazing thing to be able to be a part of and I’m looking forward to embracing the huge sense of achievement when we touch the beach in France!”

Helen has slightly different worries. “Strangely, I feel a bit anxious in case I am the first or the last swimmer, but I also know I really don’t need to worry about this, because I know our pilot will advise on the best course of action.”

Logistics and the gift of experience

Worries about jellyfish aside, the three swimmers were full of praise for the exceptional levels of support from SwimTayka. “SwimTayka’s biggest gift is the experience of having done multiple crossings in the past and having knowledgeable volunteers who have been excellent at managing our expectations and answering questions,” said Henry.

Helen agreed. “There is an entire book, which has loads of detail we can refer to. There is lots of group communication. We have a real cheerleader in SwimTayka’s Scottie, who is so good in answering our questions and allaying any worries. There are organised training weekends, where we can meet the teams, and meet the experts and ask all of the questions and they even give feedback on your swimming style. There are no questions too silly to ask; our questions have ranged from ‘are there sharks?’ to ‘what can we wear’. We have even had detailed conversations about anti-chafing sticks!”

SwimTayka also provides all the logistics for the swim, as Henry said, “I am so grateful that they have experienced pilots and crews – I wouldn’t have known where to start.” Helen agrees. “They provide literally everything. All I have to think about is swimming and fundraising.”

“I think every child should be able to swim, not only is it an amazing activity to be able to do, it is also a life-saving skill that can save lives.”

Sarah, SwimTayka relay swimmer 2024

“Every child should be able to swim”

All the team members have committed to fundraising for SwimTayka, which saves the lives of children in underserved communities around the world by providing free swimming and drowning prevention lessons, because the charity has touched their hearts. Sarah summed it up: “I think every child should be able to swim, not only is it an amazing activity to be able to do, it is also a life-saving skill that can save lives.”

A final word from Henry, who is fulfilling a lifelong ambition. “I was recommended to reach out to SwimTayka by a friend who had completed a Channel relay swim. Not only was the knowledge and experience at SwimTayka evident, but the work the charity does really struck a chord with me and I knew I had found the group I would be completing this challenge with. The rest will (hopefully) be history.”

SwimTakya is already looking for swimmers to join teams for the 2025 English Channel Relay Swim. If Helen, Henry and Sarah have inspired you to take part, or you would just like to find out more, visit the SwimTayka website for more information or email info@swimtayka.org.

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