Andrew Crozier (@andrew_croz), as a Health and Wellness Coordinator at the Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre in Traralgon, Australia, wants to make sure that everyone feels safe and confident in the water.

As a lifelong swimmer, he is raising money to provide more children access to swimming lessons through the YMCA’s Open Doors program.

His immediate goal was to cross the English Channel.

Which he accomplished today in 10 hours 50 minutes in very difficult conditions, landing 800 meters south of Cap Gris Nez in France.

Coach Tim Denyer (@coachtimswim) was onboard the Viking Princess II his escort boat. “I knew Andrew was in excellent shape coming over to the UK from not only his training data, but also that he swam a 1500m [pool swim] in 17:10 a week before arrival.”

But…nothing can be assumed or expected in channel swimming.

Denyer continued, “Decent conditions so far this season in the English Channel have been very sparse and these tides were no exception.

There was the possibility of swimming on Monday, but in discussion with his pilot Reg Brickell, we decided it wouldn’t be fair to go that day. We deemed the swell would remain for too long as the wind had been from the southwest.”

Today’s conditions were initially looking to be bouncy for the first few hours and to then fall away more and more as the day progressed.

Because Andrew could also breathe to both sides, we determined that a port side swim would be a fair and swimmable day for him to attempt the crossing. The day’s weather and conditions panned out exactly as predicted and with an excellent nutrition plan, Andrew made very fast progress.

He kept a consistent 2-3 meter distance from the side of the boat and responded to instructions, data, and geographical information as expected. A solid ebb tide dropped him down past the Capp Gris Nez. As we turned onto the second flood tide of the day, he could clearly see the French coastline.

I asked him to keep his focus and remain mentally in tune with his position and just stay next to the boat. He did exactly that and we landed with a lumpy swell pushing Andrew into the rocks. It was a job well done with all credit to Andrew for trusting the process and remaining calm when frustration could easily have crept done.”

After he was finished, Crozier said, “All the hard work is done before the swim day. So hopefully we can enjoy and take in the day, but this would not be achievable without an unbelievable pilot crew as well as a support crew. As much as it is a solo swim, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the entire crew.”

To learn more and to donate to YMCA Open Doors, visit here.

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