Updated 24th Nov 2007 RETURN TO HOME PAGE
Standard letter & information for 2008 onwards
NEAP TIDES -- WEB SITES -- PILOTS CONTACTS -- OFFICE -- SWIM PERIOD
"English" Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
Below is the standard letter we send out to all new enquiries to get
them started on their search for information reference swimming the
English Channel. It is fairly comprehensive and laid out to give you
most of the answers that someone seriously contemplating swimming
the English Channel ask for.
There is a lot more information within the site pages.
The office e-mail link is ------------ michael.oram@btinternet.com
NOTE- Please make sure any e-mails sent to us in the office have
"Channel swimming" in the subject line
(with team or persons name or initials for identification).
We have 400+ e-mails per day to sort through and as most is Spam
anything not clearly mark might be eliminated by mistake.
The CS&PF is a Governing body for English Channel swimming that is officially recognised by both the British and French authorities.
We are a member of the ASA, CCPR (Central Council Physical Recreation), UK Sport and registered with them, and with other sporting organisations worldwide as a Governing Body of English Channel Swimming.
We are the biggest organisation reference English Channel Swimming. Our office database holds a comprehensive list of all English Channel swims the have been ratified by a recognised organisation. It includes the latest list of the swimming records for all the swim attempts since Captain Webb in August 1875.
We are also a Federation run by volunteers - not paid staff - to help swimmers realise their dreams of attempting to swim the English Channel. While we do our best to manage things efficiently, please remember that we all have other things to do and full time businesses to run or jobs to go to.
If the CS&PF were run on paid staff and with its own office premises and equipment the fees it would have to charge to survive would have to be much higher and Channel swimming would become "out of reach" for the majority of its participants.
Please also understand that Channel Swimming is an “extreme” sport and as such safety has to come first, second and third. There is a reason for the rules we work under and the paperwork we request to make your swim attempt as safe as possible. You have a "Duty of Care" to yourself and your team to be as best prepared as possible and understand the task you are taking on.
If you need help and information setting up your swim, training or general advise the best way to get it after reading through the web pages is to become a member of the "swimmers chat site". That way you can ask questions, add your comments, and get a lot of help and advice from other swimmers and trainers. You can also find out if anyone local to you is training for a swim or has tried one. The "Chat site" is a free site that any open water swimmers and interested persons can join. It is not a CAS&PF chat site and membership is by invitation only. We just need the e-mail address you wish to use if you want to be invited.
We are taking bookings for 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011 and the pilots already have quite a few places reserved. You can check the availability of CS&PF pilots and reserve places through the pilots direct (see nearer the bottom of this page and the web sites for links to their e-mail addresses) or through us at the office. The information reference the pilots and their vessels is in the "ESCORT BOATS" file link on this page and can also be found on the other web sites associated with us.
We keep a list of the pilots bookings already confirmed and the places that are still available in the office. If you enquire through the us about available places, we can reserve you any place that we have shown as free. We will reply to both you and the pilot reference the reservation. The pilot will then get in touch, confirm the place is still available, confirm the reservation and let you know how their contracts work. They will also inform you of their fees, payments methods and when the deposits need to be paid. Your pilots swim contract is an agreement between you and the pilot - they are all running the own businesses.
The CS&PF registration and swim fees are a separate item sent out by the office at the end of December onwards once you and your pilot have registered your swim booking with us.
The Channel Swimming season is usually from late June to the end of September/ beginning of October. ------
SWIM PERIODS We often get asked, "When is the best time to swim"? This is a hard one to answer. The English Channel Swimming season usually runs from late June to early October. -----
In June and early July the water is still warming up and can be anything around the 15°C to 16°C (59 to 61°F) mark - but the days are longer and the air temperature usually a lot warmer.
At the end of July beginning of August the water is warming up - around the 17°C (62°F) and the air temperature is still good but the weather can be unsettled.
End of August and beginning of September the water is at 18°C to 19°C but the days are getting shorter and the air temperature is dropping.
At the end of September the water is usually at its warmest but the days are short and the air temperature often around the same as the water temperature or lower.
A quick summery is that --- No time is a good time and you cannot predict what is going to happen with the weather much more than a couple of days in advance at any time.
Just -- "Hope for best and expect the worst." – That’s Channel swimming.
NEAP TIDES TOP OF PAGE Approximate 2008 tides --- mid June to 1st July --- 9th to 19th July 25th to 31st July --- 7th to 16th August --- 24th to 29th August --- 6th to 13th September --- 21st to 27th September
Approximate 2009 tides are --- last week of June to 20th July --- 28th July to 6th August --- 13th August to 18th August --- 26th August to 3rd September --- 11th September to 16th September 24th September to first week October
Approximate 2010 neap tides - 19th to 30th June -- 1st to 10th July 19th to 27th July ----- 1st to 8th August ------ 17th to 24th August 30th to 6th September --- 14th to 22nd September ---- 29th September to 1st week October The tides for 2011 are Last week of June to 1st July 7th to 18th July 21st to 29th July 7th to 12th August 20th to 27th August 5th to 10th September 18th to 24th September
TOP OF PAGE
Swimming on the spring tides has become more popular over the past few years if you want to talk about swimming on them then let your pilot or we know your thoughts. Spring tide swims are always more “weather critical” and need calmer weather conditions than the Neap tides.
WEB SITES The official CS&PF web sites are www.channelswimming.net and the www.channelswim.net (CS&PF backup site) these are both more or less the same official CS&PF site with our rules, pilot information and other information on it. We run the two sites so that we can update and we do not loose everything if there is a problem. www.channelswimming.net is always the first one to be updated or added to and will have more content etc as we progress with writing it.
Our personal sites are www.channelswimming.com - the main site - & www.channelswim.com our backup site. Both have lots of information, successful swim lists (to be updated), pilot and pilot boat certification, links etc on them.
There are many other sites full of information that are up and running - see the links on the chat site and web site pages.
As mentioned at the top of the page - there is a "chat" site which we can invite you to (it is totally free but by invitation only), just let us know if you want to join. You can use the chat site to ask questions, make connect with other swimmers and members and search the archives for information previously sent in reference the many questions that have been asked. The chat site web page has search facilities to help you find information in its vast collection of past e-mails and is easy to use.
The pilots swim fees are usually set by them in the month of October the year before your swim season. This is because this is usually the earliest period when the pilots can assess their expenses for the coming year. As a guide, most of the pilot/escort boat fees for the 2008 season are being set at around £1950 to £2000 in total for a 1-way crossing - with a non-returnable deposit of either £850 or £950. Each pilot sets his/her own fees. These are not controlled by the CS&PF in any way.
We do hold the pilots booking lists in the office and can usually tell you what and who is available, although we cannot guarantee the list is fully up to date. When you tell the office the tide and the pilot you want to book with we will reserve the position (if one is available) and send you and the pilot an e-mail so that you can arrange deposits and contracts between you and confirm the place. The pilots e-mail addresses are --
PILOTS INFORMATION Eddie Spelling -- esdrain@aol.com
Mike & Lance Oram -- michael.oram@btinternet.com use this e-mail for bookings -- Lance's e-mail is lance.oram@btinternet.com
Neil Streeter ---- Engchannelqueen@aol.com or Channelcharter@aol.com
Alison streeter -- Engchannelqueen@aol.com (Alison is planning to have her own escort boat up and running for 2008 season).
Paul Foreman -- paul-foreman@lycos.co.uk (new pilot for 2008).
Chris Osmond -- seafarer@ntlworld.com (see note below)
Dave Whyte -- d.whyte@rya-online.net (see note below) TOP OF PAGE
For the pilots Chris Osmond & Dave Whyte you may need to contact them direct, as we do not always have their up to date booking information in the office.
From June 2007 onwards the pilots have decided that bookings that are more than 12 months away will require a non-returnable £250 booking fee. This will be counted as part of the swim fee deposit for the swim you book but paid when you confirm you want to have a position reserved. Sorry but we have had to do this as so many swimmers were booking places years in advance then dropping out and not saying anything until the last moment. (42 swims cancelled in December 2006 & 43 in 2007).
Places are at a premium and prime positions sought after years in advance. It is unfair to both the pilots and serious swimmers to book in advance and then decide not to swim - and not tell the pilot of any change in circumstance. Please remember that the pilot will be loosing the balance of any swim fee if you cancel at a late date. Please keep him informed of any problems that may arise.
Once you have sorted out your pilot's deposit and contract you should contact the office so that they can add you to the list for sending out the CS&PF application and medical forms. These CS&PF forms are not sent out until the end of December in the year before your swim (at the earliest) as they have to be completed after the 1st January in the year of the swim. The forms are updated yearly to keep in pace with new requirements and only the current forms for the year can be used. Old forms from prior years will not be accepted.
Reference the pilot contracts All the pilots have slightly different systems of payment. Some ask for a booking fee of £250 then the balance of the deposit by a set date depending on when you confirm you want to reserve the swim place. Check with your pilot as to their terms before you commit as the booking fees and deposits are all non- returnable if you cancel after payment. Some of them send out the pilot contracts at the end of November when they know the expenses and have set the fees. Some send out the contracts as they receive the bookings.
You - the swimmer - have until the 31st December to sign the pilots contracts and return it with your deposit. The deposit confirms your booking. The pilot has the right to re-book the place if deposits and contracts are not completed and returned by 31st December. Bookings after the 1st January are completed as they are made.
Reference the CS&PF application and medical forms. These are sent out at the end of December in the year before the swim season you are booked in. They have to be completed after the 1st Jan. in the year of your swim.
We like both forms back as soon as possible with the CS&PF fees. The application form needs to be with us by the 1st May - but this is at the latest . The medical forms need to be with us at the latest by the 1st June. (For your own peace of mind do it early so that you know where you stand).
The 6 hour swim for solo swimmers without ratified swim status can be done any time up to 14 days before your swim tide. Try to do it well in advance - the prior season might be a good idea - then you will have all the winter to concentrate on improving and training. The 2 hour qualifying swim for relay team members is the same - at the latest 14 days before your swim tide starts . (This will be introduced from 2008 onwards)
These qualifying swims are to make sure swimmers are aware of the challenge they are taking up and to give them a taste of what to expect. They are short swims compared to the actual crossing and should become a distance that is often exceeded while training. For your own benefit do not treat them as a target for a successful swim.
Note on Pilot bookings; The usual system for booking priority is that pilots book 4 places per set of neap tides. These are in priority of number 1 first then down to number 4 and it is the order in which the swimmers are "offered a chance to swim". The Swimmers ability and wishes are all different and Channel swimming is very dependant on the weather so if the first swimmer in line is offered the chance to swim and says “No” we will offer that place to the next in line - and so on until someone accepts the offer or everyone has turned it down. On the next good swim day we start with the 1st in line again offering the swim to the remaining swimmers in their priority. This system means that the number 1 person can choose the day they want to swim on but if they decline to swim other swimmers get the option offered to them. Check with your pilot for conformation as to the method he will be using when booking and arranging swims as they can vary.
The pilots swim contract is made directly with the pilot you choose and is between you and the pilot. The pilots are financially independent and businesses in their own rights. All the CS&PF pilots are qualified as required by the MCA to captain their vessels and hold commercial endorsements on their qualifications. All the pilot vessels are commercially certificated as required by law. They are registered with the British and French Coastguard's annually by the CS&PF.
The full list of the CS&PF registration fees and swim fees are in the rules o this site – PLEASE READ THE RULES CAREFULLY --- and make sure you understand them. If in any doubt ask for clarification.
As an example of the CS&PF registration fees - The 2008 CS&PF application and registration fees for a 1- way swim ( solo or relay) are £100 administration - plus - £100 swim fee - plus - membership of your choice – (The minimum full membership is £15 for 2 years). For relays you need at least 1 full member in the team - £15. Other team members can then be associate or full members. Associate membership is £10 per person.
This makes the total CS&PF fees for a --- Solo 1-way crossing in 2008 £215 - Including a standard 2 year full membership .
The total CS&PF fees for a --- 1-way 6 person relay in 2008 are about £265 (The example is for 1 full member at £15 and 5 associate members at £10 each). It depends on the memberships you choose.
A Guide to the successful booking procedure
1. Check with the pilots or office to see which pilots have places free.
Confirm the pilot and tidal period you want.
2. The pilot or office will then reserve the position (if it is available) and
e-mail you the booking request.
3. The pilot will confirm the place and send you instructions and a
contract for the reservation.
4. Sign and return your pilots contract with your deposit or booking
fee to confirm your booking.
5. Let us at the office know you have everything sorted with the pilot
and your swim position is confirmed.
6. The pilot will also tell the office when the booking is confirmed and
deposit received.
Note the deadline for paying the pilots deposits or any deposit balance is 31st December the year before you swim with most pilots. This is the deadline - earlier payment will give you peace of mind and conformation of your booking.
After the 1st January the pilots can re-book any places not confirmed with a signed contract and a full deposit. Should you cancel your place after you have confirmed it the deposit is non returnable.
Make sure you are definitely prepared to commit yourself to booking the place before confirming it. Please note the pilots deposits are non returnable and required to confirm the place bookings.
NOTE - When the office has conformation of your pilots booking we will then send you the CS&PF application and medical forms. These are available from the end of December in the year before you swim.
Both these forms must be completed in the year of your swim. (That's after 1st January) and before the deadlines below.
1st May for application - 1st June for Medical - 14 days before the swim tide for the qualifying swims).
If you have a problem with the deadlines talk to us - we can not guarantee to be able to solve your concerns but we will try. If we do not know of a problem we can not help. Applications and bookings made after the deadline can be processed by the office but only by arrangement and we can not guarantee they will be completed in time for the swim. Talk to us in the office first.
Please read the web sites - CS&PF rules - pilots escort contracts and the CS&PF forms fully and understand them before completing and signing them, they are binding and explain what you are committing to.
This is a "standard" letter set out to all swimmers that ask for information.
The main points are often repeated more than once above to try and make
sure you know exactly what you are contemplating and how the system works.
Anything else we can help with , let us know.
OFFICE
michael.oram@btinternet.com
The Hermitage Tele/fax ---- +441843852858
12 Vale Square Mobile ---- 07860812591
Ramsgate
Kent CT11 9BX
TOP OF PAGE