The Channel - England to France

LATEST NEWS FROM ANNA'S SOLO CHANNEL BID

Mon 28 - 0700 - She has done it! Please text Anna directly with congratulations. I know it'll mean a lot to her to have them personally from you all.

Mon 28 - 0644 - In the boat on the way back. Swim complete. Total of 27nm in a time of 21 hours, 20 minutes. Landed slightly east of Cape Griz Nez. Anna is, in her own words 'exhausted, but delighted'.

Sun 27 - 2235 - Still going with just over a mile to go. She's exhausted, but still pushing hard!

Sun 27 - 2229 - Position update 50'54,687n 001'37,036e. Less thsn two miles to go!

Sun 27 - 2152 - Tidehas droppped to nearly nothing at all meaning we should strike land a little sooner. Now aiming for Cape Blanc - approxiamately three miles away, Yay! Position 50'55,30n 001'37,13e.

Sun 27 - 2002 - It's now over 15 hours of swimming for Anna, as we set up deck lights and put on extra layers for the cold, she continues her constant sroke just a couple of metres alongside us. We are now nearly a mile past Zulu Charlie 2 - the three mile buoy off Cape Griz Nez and slowly working out of the tide and onto the French coast.

Sun 27 - 1919 - Sun is setting, weather is sweet. Anna's great and so is our progress. New position 50'53,75n 001'30,25e.

Sun 27 - 1748 - How does she do it? 13 hours in the water so far, battling the memories of defeat in her last attempt and she still drives on desperate to reach her own personal everest. The tide has finally turned and is now pushing us east towards the cape, or past it - that is the question! All the support you guys have given spur Anna on further to achieve what many fail! She can do it. She will do it. Hopefully we'll be home for last orders! 50'52,53n 001'28,07e.

Sun 27 - 1638 - 11 hours and 30 minutes in and Anna is still going strong. With Cape Griz Nez in clear sight. The tide, which had been sweeping us south westerly, is slack but soon to turn and Anna is trying her best to make use of the calm water to get ever closer. Anna loves jellyfish, not, and has kept close count of every one (about six) compared to the support crew count of about 46, we can't possibly tell her yet! Shaun has managed to eat nearly every scrap of food on the boat whilst Mich - the ever attentive - has kept watch. Nathan the usual food Hoover hasn't done so well, having an afternoon snooze (can't keep up the pace). Our position, for those that want to check, is 50'53,22n 100'27,35e.

Sun 27 - 1256 - It's official. We are now over halfway at eight hours and Anna is doing great. The sun is shining and the weather is perfect. Shaun has eaten all the food, Michelle has smoked most of the captain's cigarette stash and Nathan has finally changed down to shorts. We are about to feed Anna and break the news that she has crossed the halfway line! Loving the messages. Thank you for all the support - it means the world to Anna.

Sun 27 - 0857 - Just hit the edge of the shipping channel. There's about eight knots of breeze. Three other boats around with swimmers. Shaun's on Pot Noddle number two. Nathan has cold feet as he's only got flip-flops. Anna is doing great laughing and smiling away in true Anna spirit. PS Mich forgot her cigarettes, so we're wondering how long it's going to be before she kills us!

Sun 27 - 0632 - It's six o'clock in the morning and Anna's been in the water for two hours 10 minutes and she's going well. As for the support crew, well that's a different story. Mich, after her night on the kitchen floor is complaining that she's tired. While Shaun is content to sit and shine some light on the situation. Nathan's been doing his best David Bailey impression, but don't expect a Walt Disney production from the camcorder footage!

Sun 27 - 0427 - 20 minutes in, and all is well. Anna seems happy to be in the water. Two other swimmers dropped in just minutes after us and the conditions couldn't be much better.

Sat 26 - 1805 - Pilot Eric called to say tomorrow's the day. We are meeting him at Dover Harbour at 0200 tomorrow morning and I will start the swim about an hour later from Samphire Hoe. Wish me luck! xx