Two teams of OCs and recent leavers took on the challenge to swim the Channel and raise money for local charity Maddy’s Mark. On Tuesday 30 July Team One set off just after midnight and on Monday 11 August, Team Two commenced their swim at 8.20am. The teams comprised six members each swimming for an hour in a set order that had to remain the same for the entire crossing. Changeovers happened exactly on the hour, and swimmers were not allowed to touch the boat during their turn. Both school teams completed the challenge alongside ‘Gallivant’, expertly skippered by Mike Oram and supported by his crew, who plotted the safest and fastest route. An official observer was also present to ensure every rule was followed and each stage of the crossing recorded. 

Cold training sessions in all weathers helped build strength and resilience which, by summer, meant that the swimmers were confidently leaping off the back of a boat in the middle of the Channel, powering through a full hour in open water before warming up and preparing for their next turn. Despite the previous year’s disappointment due to bad weather which prevented the attempted crossing, the teams returned with even more determination to fulfil their mission.

On Tuesday 30 July parents waved Team One off into the darkness as 'Gallivant' headed around to Shakespeare Beach, Dover where the first swimmer would begin. Lit with glow sticks, he jumped from the boat and swam to the shore, waiting in the still night for the starting klaxon. At 12:12 am, the horn sounded, and he was off – powering back towards the boat and into the English Channel which guided him towards France. 

It took a while to settle into a steady rhythm, keeping far enough from the boat so that the wake of the boat didn’t disturb his stroke, yet close enough for the pilot to keep him in sight under the bright beam of the spotlight not letting him drift into the darkness. With ten minutes left of his hour, swimmer 2 began her preparations: sipping water, fixing her glow sticks, and making her way to the back of the boat and down the steps. As the horn sounded, she jumped into the sea, swimming around the back of swimmer 1 and towards the front of the boat. Before she could begin her swim, she had to wait for swimmer 1 to quickly climb back aboard to safety. This same pattern was repeated by every swimmer during the changeovers, with the boat’s engine turned off each time to allow for a safe, smooth transition. Night turned into day and team one successfully reached Cap Gris-Nez, Pas-de-Calais, France in an incredible time of 11 hours and 37 minutes! 

On Monday 11 August, Team Two commenced their swim at 8.20am, building on the achievements of Team One and completing their crossing in 13 hours and 47 minutes. The team narrowly missed Cap Gris-Nez contending with the biggest tide of the year, which limited the distance they could cover. Instead, they made for Audingham Cove, but with only 200m to go the boat was forced to stop due to shallow waters. In the dark their whereabouts was marked only by the sight of fading glow sticks. As they disappeared into the distance they could no longer be seen from the boat. Upon reaching the shore everyone erupted in celebration! Their swim was not just about completing the crossing - it was the culmination of a two-year journey of training, dedication, and teamwork. The relay across the English Channel stood as a testament to their skill, courage, and camaraderie - an experience that will stay with them forever.  

Team 2: Felix Brockdorff, Alessandro Schmitt, Oliver Williams, Jack Steer, Oliver Sneath, Thomas Le Marchant