Meet the Channel swimmers – they’ve done it, could you do it too?

If you’re thinking of swimming the English Channel, then prepare to be inspired as we catch up with two relay swimmers who have recently completed the challenge for SwimTayka.

Back in June, we talked to Channel hopefuls Helen and Sarah, both in training to join relay teams crossing from Dover to Calais, in aid of the charity SwimTayka. We caught up with them after the event, to find out how they got on.

‘Euphoria’, ‘epic’, ‘camaraderie’, ‘amazing’ – these are just some of the words they used to describe their experience. So, if you’ve even an inkling that you might like to join a Channel relay team, read on and prepare to be inspired.

“I felt suddenly a little nervous as we headed to the start”

They may have been in different teams and swimming on different days, but Helen Forsyth and Sarah Donovan have a shared experience; they have challenged themselves and swum the English Channel, joining an elite group who have undertaken this feat.

Taking it in turns to swim, one hour at a time, Helen, from Devon, and her team completed the crossing in 15 hours, 52 minutes; Sarah’s took 15 hours 19 minutes.

Setting off at 1am, in the pitch dark, Helen said she felt tired and wired at the same time. “Having had a few false starts, it suddenly seemed very real. I had every confidence our team could, and would do the challenge but nonetheless, I felt suddenly a little nervous as we headed to the start.” Sarah’s team’s start-time was 5am, so had the benefit of swimming in daylight.

Sarah, from Kent, ended up completing three swims. The first was a bit choppy, and she had to battle with cramp, brought on by kicking out of the way of a large jellyfish. “During the second swim I was a bit worried about reacting to the jellyfish, so I tried to keep my eyes closed underwater. The third swim was just the best, as I could see France in the distance and picked up my pace to try to reach the shore. I didn’t quite get there, but my lovely swim teammate jumped in to complete the last 19 minutes of the swim.”

“Training in the run-up to the event really paid off”

Both dealt with challenges but found these only added to the experience. “The transfer from harbour to start was pretty rough and triggered some seasickness in the team,” said Helen. “One team member thought they may have to abandon and return to shore yet somehow managed to dig deep and push through – a total hero in my eyes.”

Training in the run-up to the event really paid off. “I had spent every weekend swimming in cold water, plus I had some swim coaching at the local lido to improve my speed and stamina,” said Sarah. “SwimTayka was great and arranged additional training events. I’m so pleased I took them up on the offer to have some boat practise. This allowed us to practise relay changeovers and get a good sense of what it’s like swimming alongside the boat and getting off and on. This really helped to put my mind at rest, as I felt well prepared on the big day.”

Key to success for both Sarah and Helen was teamwork. Both have made lifelong friends among their fellow swimmers, who have shared such an extraordinary experience.

“You cannot underestimate just how important team rapport is, in an event like this,” Helen told us. “The challenge brings out quite a few tough moments, but you know you have one another’s back. I didn’t really know the other members before this event. Now, I firmly feel I have five new friends and look forward to future adventures with them.”

Sarah echoed this. “It felt amazing to complete this challenge as part of a team. We had a real sense of support and camaraderie and all plan to stay in touch.”

“It was a feeling of pure euphoria when we reached France”

They both experienced ups and downs. For Helen, witnessing firsthand the problem of plastic pollution had a profound effect. Both felt at times tired, cold, hungry, and outside of their comfort zone.

“It was as if Mother Nature was giving us a thumbs up for completing such an epic adventure. We all had a celebratory hug, and it was just the best feeling.”

Sarah, SwimTayka relay swimmer 2024

But reaching France made it all worthwhile – plus a few glasses of champagne on the boat home! “It was a feeling of pure euphoria when we reached France. We were all committed to not letting the team down, and I’m so proud of that,” said Sarah. “When we got to France the sun had come out and we witnessed a beautiful sunset whilst celebrating on the boat. It was as if Mother Nature was giving us a thumbs up for completing such an epic adventure. We all had a celebratory hug, and it was just the best feeling.”

“Take one step at a time”

So, has this left you feeling inspired to join a SwimTayka Channel relay team for 2025? 

The charity organises all the logistics of the crossing, also running training events, information webinars and lots more. As Helen said, “Take one step at a time, sign up for a webinar, listen to the advice and jump into the Q&A. The SwimTayka team will happily take all questions and talk to everyone without any pressure at all to sign up. If you’re curious, you’ll be warmly welcomed to drop in and listen.”

All funds raised by the swimmers go to supporting the charity’s swimming programmes run in coastal locations in countries like Brazil and Peru, where children simply wouldn’t get the chance to learn to swim. Drowning is a real and ever-present risk.

If you ask Sarah and Helen, then they would – without hesitation – recommend the experience. And they have some practical advice too. Helen said: “Practise transitions on dry land as you can lose precious minutes with ‘laggy’ switchovers between swimmers.”

Sarah added: “Cold water acclimatisation is essential. If you can build up your tolerance to the cold it will stand you in good stead.”

“There were times while training, when all the speedy triathletes would come speeding past me and I’d question if I was really up it. But as long as you can build up to comfortably swimming for an hour at a time you will be just fine.”

Sarah, SwimTayka relay swimmer 2024

So… are you tempted? Perhaps this final word from Sarah will sway you: “100% just go for it. Please don’t worry about not being the fastest or strongest swimmer, I’m certainly not. There were times while training, when all the speedy triathletes would come speeding past me and I’d question if I was really up it. But as long as you can build up to comfortably swimming for an hour at a time you will be just fine. It really has been the most amazing adventure, and you won’t regret going for it!”

SwimTayka is now looking for swimmers to join teams for the 2025 English Channel Relay Swim. There is information on the SwimTayka website, plus there is a training day in Dover on 7 September. Why not sign up, and go along? Register your interest by emailing info@swimtayka.org.