A GROUP of swimmers from Dorset have completed a sponsored relay swim of The English Channel, raising over £3,500 for charitable causes.

The Salty Seagals Channel Relay Team consists of Jo Graham, Suzanne Elam, Trudy Palmer, Claire Scott and Katy Jones, guided by coach Ali Bud, herself an experienced cross channel swimmer.

The swimmers left Shakespeare beach in Dover in the early hours of Friday morning in the direction of Cap Gris Nez on the French coast.

Each member of the group of five open water swimmers swam for one hour and completed their swim across the largest shipping channel in the world in a respectable 13 hours and 52 minutes.

Team member Jo Graham said: “We’d trained long and hard for this, but nothing truly prepares you for the fierce tides of the channel and strong swimming required.

“Tides dictated we set off from Dover at 2am so swimming darkness was required, alongside our pilot boat Sea Leopard.

“It really was a nail-biting adventure, particularly the latter part of the swim nearing the French coastline, but we’re absolutely elated to have succeeded in a very respectable time.”

The group also encountered interesting things whilst in the water, including jelly fish, huge containers ships and refugees fleeing in dinghies.

The shortest distance across The English Channel is 21 miles, however due to fierce currents, the group swam well over this distance to land on the French coast.

The group have raised money for four charitable causes: Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, disabilities charity Brainwave, Campaign Against Living Miserably, or CALM, and The Dart 10k open water swim.

Jo added: “As you can imagine we’ve been pretty exhausted. Some of us nursing the battle wounds of jellyfish stings, costume chaffing, fatigued arms and strained shoulders. It was however all worth it.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the love and support shown to us particularly on the day of the swim when people were able to follow our swim tracking and receive updates as to our progress.

“Tides are fierce in the channel and swims typically take on an S shaped course as a result, swimming considerable further than the straight 21 miles across.

“The drama on the day was incredible particularly approaching the French coast when a tidal change risked us being swept too far up the coast to land the swim.”

The five women had trained hard for several years leading up to their swim, pushing through cold winter seas and summer sunshine to get here.

Each member completed the two hour qualifying swim at sub 16 degrees as required by the Channel Swimming Association.