Masters Relay Team Updates
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Please join us in congratulating the YWCA Channel Challenge swimmers at their Welcome Home Party! The party will be held in conjuntion with our annual meeting on August 21 at the Midtown YWCA. The party will be from 5:00-6:30 p.m., with a brief program at 6:00 p.m. to hear their stories of this amazing journey.
It's not to late to make a donation in honor of these athletes for the YWCA Swim for Change Campaign. Donate Now!
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Masters Relay Completes Successful Channel Swim! |
 Time: 2:12 p.m. (8:12 p.m. London Time)Comments: Masters swimmer Ellen Cleary officially touched French soil at 2:12 p.m. to complete the Masters relay Channel swim! The relay swim took 12 hours and 10 minutes, and they covered a distance of approximately 22 miles. Byron remained in the water after his swim to accompany Ellen in to shore. Congratulations to the YWCA Masters Relay team on your amazing accomplishment! It will take the teams approximately 3-4 hours to travel back to Dover Harbor, unpack their boats and return to the hotel. Photos and videos will be avaiable on the YWCA Channel Challenge page within the next 24 hours. |
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Point 12. Swimmer: Byron Hompe. |
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Time: 1:45 p.m. (7:45 p.m. London Time) Comments: Byron started his last leg of the relay at 1:02 p.m. The shore is in sight, but unfortunately tidal conditions won't allow for the boat to pull into the spot the pilot was originally aiming for. The swimmers will continue down the coast to Cap Gris-Nez. It is nearly impossible to get updates through over the cheers of support coming from the boat to the swimmer in the water. |
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Point 11. Swimmer: Priscilla Zee. |
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Time: 12:50 p.m. (6:50 p.m. London Time) Comments: Priscilla started her third leg of the Masters relay at 12:02 p.m. The Masters swimmers are heading toward the French shore! The next batch of coordinates should show they are about 4 miles out from their landing spot - but when Dave made his solo swim in 2004, it took him several hours to complete those last few miles. It's still too hard to predict when they will reach shore, but the energy and cheering from the boat often drowns out Tim on the phone calls! |
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Point 10. Swimmer: Kathleen Shankwitz. |
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Time: 11:50 a.m. (5:50 p.m. London Time) Comments: Kathleen took her second turn in the Channel starting at 11:02 a.m. Tim reports that he has not been able to connect with Dave for their inter-boat communications, so we suspect cell phone reception is waning again, or is perhaps weaker where the Otters are. As we get further along in the swims, it is becoming more evident that each boat pilot has his own idea about the best route to Cap Gris-Nez. Again, there are infinite variables to navigate on this 20+ mile journey that a pilot has to take into consideration, and each pilot's route will be unique. |
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Point 9. Swimmer: Jordan Jelmeland. |
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Time: 10:50 a.m. (4:50 p.m. London Time) Comments: Jordan got in for her second turn at 10:02 a.m. The Masters are still hoping to reach the ocean current they've been in search of! This current should really help pull them into France. From the boat they can see Cap Gris-Nez and Calais (an alternate Channel swim landing). Water temperature is about 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and the air temperature fluctuates from "mid 60s to low 70s." |
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Point 8. Swimmer: Ellen Cleary. |
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Time: 9:30 a.m. (3:30 p.m. London Time) Comments: Byron passed the proverbial baton to Ellen at approximately 9:02 a.m. While it may seem like the swimmers are heading off course, remember, they are vying with enormous ships and barges while battling wind, currents and waves. They are also specifically trying to move themselves into a an ocean current that will help pull them towards France. Their pilot predicts they will be in that current within the next hour or two. |
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Point 7. Swimmer: Byron Hompe. |
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Time: 9:30 a.m. (3:30 p.m. London Time) Comments: Byron Hompe started his second leg of his relay at 8:02 a.m. The boat continued to guide the relay due East to get them safely out of the second shipping lane. |
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Update - Boats Appear to be Out of Communication |
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Time: 9:16 a.m. (3:16 p.m. London Time) Comments: We have just received a very broken call from Dave - mostly static with no intelligible information. It appears both boats are having a hard time getting cell phone reception from their current locations. More information will be posted as soon as we are back in contact with the boats. |
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Point 6. Swimmer: Priscilla Zee. |
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Time: 7:47 a.m. (1:47 p.m. London Time) Comments: Priscilla entered the water for her second swim at about 7:00 a.m. They are heading out of the first shipping lane, so it looks like "smooth swimming" for a while. |
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Point 5. Swimmer: Kathleen Shankwitz. |
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Time: 6:47 a.m. (12:47 p.m. London Time) Comments: Kathleen began her swim at 6:02 a.m. Tim says they are right in the middle of the shipping lane, and have had a "close encounter" with a large tanker ship - nothing serious, just some large waves to ride through. Weather from the boat deck is still great! |
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Point 4. Swimmer: Jordan Jelmeland. |
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Time: 5:47 a.m. (11:47 a.m. London Time) Comments: Jordan entered the water at 5:00 a.m. and is doing great. |
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Point 3. Swimmer: Ellen Cleary |
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Time: 4:47 a.m. (10:47 a.m. London Time) Comments: Ellen started her leg of the relay at 4:02 a.m. Tim Wilt reports they are about to head into a shipping lane. The winds have dropped to Force 1, from being Force2-3 earlier. |
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Point 2. Swimmer: Byron Hompe |
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Time: 3:47 a.m. GMT (9:47 a.m. CST) Comments: Tim Wilt reports the "weather is gorgeous, the water is calm, and the swimmers are strong!" |
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Masters Check-in |
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Time: 2:47 a.m. (8:47 a.m. London time) Comments: Priscilla is still in the water doing great! At about 29 minutes into her swim, she passed the harbor wall, which is approximately one mile out. Byron Hompe was getting ready for his swim, and the rest of the team was excited to begin Priscilla's 10-minute countdown. Next update expected at 3:47 a.m., when Byron will be in the water. |
Point 1. Swimmer: Priscilla Zee |
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Time: 2:02 a.m. (8:02 a.m. London time) Comments: The Masters relay team officially got in the water at 2:02 a.m. CST! Swimmer Priscilla Zee leads off. Ellen or one of the crew will be calling around 47 minutes after the start of the hour (e.g. 8:47, 9:47, 10:47 etc.) for Masters team updates. |
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