Perfect conditions met the 51 swimmers fundraisers for West Wight Sports and Community Centre on Saturday 14th September; all of whom successfully conquered the challenge of swimming across the Solent.
Swimmers set off from Hurst Castle at 7.45am, arriving on the slipway at Colwell Bay from 8.10am, escorted by volunteers kayakers and flotilla of small boats creating a swim corridor, alongside the Freshwater Bay lifeboat crews ensuring the safety of everyone in the water.
A crowd of family, friends and supporters gathered on the beach at Colwell Bay to congratulate the swimmers as they arrived on the slipway.
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John Beavis, from Yarmouth learned to scuba dive at the Centre, leading to a career as a military diver protecting the 2012 Olympics, and took part in the Solent Swim for the first time,
“It was such a fantastic experience and so well organised…thank you for letting me participate”
Griffin: We couldn’t do it without you
Centre Manager Clare Griffin thanked everyone who made the swim possible,
“Thank you to the 34 kayakers, nine boat crews, Freshwater Lifeboat, Captain’s Cabin, Yarmouth Harbour, Needles Pleasure Cruises, IDML and all the volunteer beach crews – we couldn’t do it without you.”
Main fundraiser
The Solent Swim event is the main fundraiser for West Wight Sports and Community Centre, which relies on grants, donations and fundraising to provide sport, wellbeing and social activities for the community.
Now in its twelfth year, over 450 people have swum the Solent, raising over £250,000 for the charity.
News shared by Rachel on behalf of West Wight Sports and Community Centre. Ed
