Gibraltar Straits - 4-13 June 2010

The fifth swim of my Turning the Tide campaign will be the Gibraltar Straits.

My window to swim from Spain to Morocco is 4-13 June. It’ll be a nerve wracking time waiting for the right conditions to swim. The Gibraltar Straits are known for their strong currents, unpredictable weather and high winds. Every day 300+ commercial vessels pass through the narrow stretch of water which connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic, in addition to the dozens of passenger ferries passing back and forth between the neighbouring continents.

Swimmers normally cover a distance of 10-12 miles from Tarifa Island to the vicinity of Punta Cires in Morocco and often have close encounters with the marine life in the Straits.

LATEST NEWS FROM THE GIBRALTAR STRAITS

20:59hrs - Thank you so much for your messages of support today. Lots of big boats and big waves, but I made it in 5hrs 59mins. I'm now back from Africa, have scrubbed off the lanolin and have a glass of very cold white wine firmly in my hand next to the pool overlooking the straits (and Mich's pants are back on the right way round). Massive thanks to my support crew - amazing as always. Anna x x

13:16hrs - Anna and Mich both back on board. Six hour crossing. Don't know who enjoyed themselves the most! x

12:07hrs - One k to go!

10:43hrs - We have entered Marracon waters and apparently look dodgy as we have been boarded by the local police after they also ran Anna over! Anna in good spirits and the sun has come out too, so all good. x

08:54hrs - So, we are about three and a half hours in now. We have just seen Aviva sail past, which was quite exciting! The tides are starting to cause a bit of concern. We had to get Anna to swim mas rapido for the past hour and the pace can't change now! x

07:34hrs - Feed number one done! Just had our first meeting with a ship - they are huge! Anna is in good spirits still. The boat name is Columbus One. x

4 June 2010 - 06:26hrs
Good morning everyone. The swim is under way. Anna is in very good spirits. The luck duck food has been sprinkled and the team's nails are painted. Mich has put her knickers on sideways, but can't take them off due to it being bad luck - and I've been greasing Anna up. We will pass on messages at feeding time, so keep them coming. x