Saturday, July 5, 2008

Bowen or Bust

June 28th 2008

I am 3-4 weeks away from my Channel attempt. Today marks the culmination of my endurance training...a 33 KM swim around Bowen Island. If I can accomplish this feat, I am ready for the Channel.

Bowen Island is situated in Howe Sound between West Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast. It is easily accessible via 20 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay. Shane Collins (1st British Columbian to swim the Channel) recommended Bowen for its similarities to the waters between Dover and Calais. The water temperature and distance is comparable; there are strong tidal currents; and rough water conditions prevail on the Georgia Strait side of the island. I also have fond memories of Bowen dating back to the 90's when I served the community as an ambulance paramedic. A swim around Bowen Island seemed perfect. In many respects, it was a "home-coming."

Joining me for this trip was my support crew for England--wife Joanne and my brother-in-law (Mark Stahl). Swimming with me for 1/2 the distance was Rod "the Rocket" Craig from the GooeyTube Masters Swim Club. Escorting us for the entire journey was a new face that none of us had met until this day--Mike Lightbody. Mike's mother (Marietta) is a neighbour of ours in Kelowna. When she heard I was attempting to swim around Bowen, she immediately connected me with her son who lives on the island. Mike is an avid seafarer who has competed internationally as a wind-surfer and studied oceanography. We couldn't have been in better hands. More important than that, we made a new friend. It is the people that you meet along the way that makes this journey so special.

This swim was more than a training session: It was a transcendental experience in an idyllic setting. This was easily the most enjoyable swim of my life! I departed Snug Cove under clear skies and calm seas. Just as I departed, the sun was rising over the Coastal Mountain range to the east. Veering south with the ebb tide, I swam towards Georgia Strait. Turning my head to the left, I could make out the City of Vancouver in the distance; turning to the right, I took in the vast coniferous forest of Bowen. Rounding the south-west tip of the island (Cowan Point) locals who came out to cheer us on. Thanks to Mike for arranging the cheering section! Now we were swimming west toward Cape Roger Curtis on the Georgia Strait side of Bowen. From this vantage point, I could make out Vancouver Island. Looking more closely, I could even make out the Olympic Mountain range in Washington State! This was the roughest section of the swim. Cape Roger Curtis dished out wind waves and a "confused" sea state created when the ebb current from Howe Sound met the flood current of Georgia Strait. Turning north-west from the Cape, there were yet more mountains to take in--the Coastal Range that towers above the Sunshine Coast. Up to this point, I had been swimming for 3 hours. Honestly, it felt more like 30 minutes. Given these idyllic conditions, I had no problem occupying my mind for the 9.5 hr. swim. It was also at this point that my crew informed me that I was "not alone"...there were a few Harbour Seals swimming with us. There was also a large Bald Eagle who had swooped down for a fish right in front of us. I was stoked! Only a pod of Killer Whales swimming by could have topped this! After a couple more hours swimming north with the flood tide, we predicted that I would be done in about 7 hours. As it turned out, this was too good to be true. Our ETA changed drastically after we rounding the north-west corner of the island and began swimming east toward Hood Point. This is where I met the flood tide head-on from the other diretion. I was literally swimming upstream against a current. Up to this point, I had covered over 2/3rds of the island in 6 hrs. It took me another 2 hrs just to swim a 4 KM stretch toward Hood Point. If this is what the current is like off of the French coast, I can totally appreciate how some swimmers get swept back into the Channel. This was great experience. Finally at 9 hrs and 26 minutes, I was back in Snug Cove. Perfect strangers assisted me out of the water and wished me good luck with the Channel! Got to love Bowen Islanders!! Following the swim, we treated Mike to a delicious pasta sea food meal at one of the great restaurants in Snug Cove. Following that, I fell into a heavenly slumber in the comfort of being satisfied with today's accomplishment. I ready for the Channel.

Technical notes:
  • my stroke rate was consistent throughout the entire swim (50-56 for the 1st 3 hrs; and 60-62 for the remainder)
  • my nutrition was bang on--no cramping and complete satiation. I kept to q 30 minute feeds throughout
  • I did not feel cold for the entire duration--no evidence of even mild hypothermia
  • My only concern is the tendonitis in my right shoulder. This didn't affect me until hour 6. My taper and physio treatments should bring this discomfort under control.


2 comments:

M said...

brilliant effort brent
hope to see you soon in dover
almost there
I agree ...i reckon you are ready
Mark

Tuhneil said...

Congrats Brent!

I just learned about this blog and will be tuning in regularly until the swim report shortly after the big swim!!!

I read on Simon Whitfields blog something that hasn't failed me yet and seems to hold true for you... "If you prepare relentlessly, the outcome will take care of itself". Your dedication is allowing you to achieve amazing things and on a fantastic journey.


Tannille