Douglas Ribeiro

Observers report:

After communication with Douglas in the days leading up to the event and agreeing logistics, we decided to meet at Swansea marina for 20:00. We arrived at Swansea Marina at 20:15 and was able to board the SheAnn with our equipment immediately. Ceri the Pilot carried out a Boat safety briefing and we left Swansea for Porthcawl on schedule.

We arrived at Porthcawl at around 22:50. Ceri gave Douglas the 30 min warning to get himself ready. Douglas and his team got him ready for the swim start promptly and was ready to go. Douglas  was wearing  funky trunks, goggles, ear plugs and swim hat. Douglas made it clear that he was nervous of the night swimming but soon settled down.

He left the boat and swam ashore clearing the water, re-entering and starting the swim at 23:48:00 He swam back past the boat, and we made our way out into a flat calm  sea in the Direction of Glenthorne. 

Douglas nutrition plan was to feed after the first hour then every 45 minutes using Water hot & Cold, supplements, sweet potatoes and jellybeans. This was delivered by Douglas team John and Corinna who were both experienced swimmers and very knowledgeable and understood and implanted the plan to perfection.  

The weather conditions at the start were good with water temperature at 19C with a 5Kts  wind from the East. Douglas soon got into a good strong rhythm and a consistent stroke rate (54). His feeding plan was very meticulous, and his support team was very well organised with feeding every 45 mins. Douglas Pace was very good averaging over 4.2K per hour. There were lots of Jellyfish in the water for several hours at the start of the swim but no issues to swimmer.

Douglas continued with a consistent powerful stroke and seemed in very good spirits feeding regularly and promptly. The channel was very quiet for the duration of the swim only passing two vessels during the crossing. Douglas was making very fast progress

The conditions changed dramatically after five hours in the middle of the swim with the wind picking up and the water very choppy. This did not seem affect Douglas as he maintained his pace and stroke count.

As we started to see the Glenthorne coastline and passing Copperas Rock Buoy the conditions were getting a lot worse and difficult in finding a safe place for him to come ashore. The tide kept pushing him west. During his last feed he was advised a mile to go and needed to push hard to the finish with the boat guiding him into a safe area.

Douglas exited the Water line after several attempts of getting onto the rocks due the swell knocking him back into the water. The skipper launched the dinghy to pick him up after he re-entered the water as it was felt unsafe for him to swim back to the boat.

Douglas’s  swim was very well executed, and his support team and feeding strategy was swift and precise. Well done Douglas that was an amazing swim, and you should be very proud of your performance. 

Thanks to the Crew for the support during the swim and keeping everybody safe.

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