Four serving Royal Navy submariners successfully swam across the English Channel in -14 degrees celsius conditions to raise money for naval charity, Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity.
On 21st June 2022, Captain Elton Sharkey, Commander Richard Cragg, Lieutenant Commander Callum Fraser and Lieutenant Commander Hugo Mitchell-Heggs successfully swam across the channel, achieved an official Channel Swimming Association certification by adhering to the rules which restrict kit to swimming trunks, cap and goggles. With June being one of the colder months to attempt a channel swim at -14°C it was a challenge withstanding the waters, not to mention the 20 mile journey.
The team of 4 swam as a non-stop relay, consisting of 1-hour swimming, 3-hours resting. Cdr Cragg started the team off strong setting off from Samphire Hoe in Dover at 03:27 setting a cracking pace in pitch black and cold conditions. After his hour of swimming, Captain Elton Sharkey took over at Sunrise before handing over to Lt Cdr Hugo Mitchell-Heggs and Lt Cdr Callum Fraser to each complete their first round of 1 hour shifts each. The water temperature dropped as they ventured further into the channel, with constant winds and a stronger than expected current fighting each other and generating choppy and unfavourable conditions that didn’t help keeping a steady pace, in addition to a few thousand jelly fish and crossing one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world to really spice things up!
The team worked tirelessly, and by their 3rd hour-shift each they had good sight of the French coastline. A strong easterly current coming from the scheduled finish line, Cap Gris Nez point prevented them from touching distance of this peninsular. Lt Cdr Mitchell-Heggs and Lt Cdr Fraser both emptied the tank on their 4th shift to put Cdr Cragg and Capt Sharkey in a good position to break through the final stretch of choppy waves and a final push onto the Plage de Wissant, 17 hours and 11 minutes after leaving England.
A long and very hard day was reported by all but the experience worth every minute of the slog.
This team “Royal Navy Submariners” were one of 8 channel swim attempts setting off on the same morning with saw only 4 succeed the intensive challenge.
The team owe their success to their relentless teamwork and a robust process of self-care, helping each other out of the water between shifts, drying off, warming up and piling in the calories for their next hour long swim shift, 3 hours later. They were also very much motivated by the hundreds of messages of support from family, friends, colleagues and a much wider community that support the Royal Navy.
The team have successfully fundraised for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, where all funds raised will provide mental health and wellbeing support to serving personnel, veterans and their families.
