Former UE swimming and diving assistant coach (and current Associate A.D. for Compliance & Student Services) Kim Smith was in England, supporting former Purple Ace Cari Kauffman ('07) in her attempt to swim the English Channel. Smith provides the third update, which follows the final part of the swim.
The Swim: Part II
The second half of Cari's swim was going to be a push and pull to the finish since she had already been swimming for six hours. As we moved through the space between the shipping channels (think a huge interstate of container ships), we hit the space that collects all the debris between the current and tides. The crew had a new job: warn of oncoming debris only when absolutely necessary. Mostly we saw cuttle fish, jellies and lots of feathers. Every so often there would be a stray plastic item, but overall nothing too challenging. The jellies were little and not a type that stings. They were mostly just annoying and likely something Cari did not want catch in her mouth.
While moving through to the second shipping channel, there was still no sign of France. We started entering in to hour nine and the mist and fog, even in the middle of the day and nothing could be seen except for the other boats helping other channel challengers. Cari was starting to fade physically. The air was warming things up and the sun was beginning to beat down on the crew. I had already taken an additional dose of anti-nausea medication, but even I was feeling exhausted as we pushed through what seemed like the middle of nowhere.
I began to notice that Cari's stroke was shortening and she seemed to start having some issues with her wrist and shoulder. Per the rules set out as a member of the crew, this was personally very difficult. Although I had considered that I was going to have some insight as a former coach for Cari, I do not know that I realized that I would have a hard time mentally working through the fact that I could not communicate with her in the way I was used to. I had to keep in mind that I wasn't allowed to ask Cari how she was feeling. I know that she was making adjustments on her own to help the pain, but we all needed to wait for her to decide what she needed.
Sarah, our on-board marathon swimmer was itching to get into the water with Cari. She really had a great eye for when Cari was going to need some in-water support, but truthfully I think she just wanted to cool off since the weather was so warm. We made contact with Cari and asked if she wanted a support swimmer, to which she said sure.
A support swimmer is available to channel swimmers as a way to help them mentally and to give a little boost during the long swim. As with all the other regulations for swimming, support swimmers have a set of rules they must follow. They can swim for no more than an hour at a time and cannot assist the swimmer through touch, nor can they go faster or ahead of the swimmer. Essentially, they can swim alongside. In talking with Cari later, she felt really supported and rejuvenated seeing a partner, even for a little while.
Sarah came back on to the boat and those of us on the crew were finally able to see the lighthouse at Cap Griz-Nez. Because of the position of the boat and Cari's location, she was unable to see what we saw, but we at least knew that the time was coming to make the final push. When coming into the shore at the cape, there is a section coming in called the shallows. This is area where the tide will allow a swimmer and any crafts to be pulled into shore. We were so close to the shallows, but were limited in time to arrive.
With about a mile left, which we signaled Cari was the distance left to give her the last push, a small fishing boat crossed our path. We were nearly to the part of the water that would essentially bring Cari in, but the fishing boat pushed us just enough to get us caught just short of our mark. This was incredibly disappointing as we were so close and had already signaled Cari that she was nearly done. Instead, Cari was stuck in a water treadmill trying to fight to move forward.
For about an hour Cari pumped to move. We all regretting telling her the distance and worried we as a crew had made a mistake. I was trying to communicate with Cari's former teammates and her mom about the progress. I had also told them it was going to be a mile so everyone was anticipating a finish fairly quickly. The treadmill kept going for an hour with more and more frustration growing.
Finally, the pilot gave the signal that his copilot needed to get out the dinghy so Cari could start her swim into shore. It all happened very quickly. Sarah jumped in to help lead, but as soon as Cari saw the small craft move to her side, she got a burst of power and outswam her support swimmer. The rest of the crew and I watched as Cari quickly made her way to the sharp rocks just south of the cape. Amazingly, she lifted herself up onto the slippery rock and declared herself a channel swimmer. Sarah had a surprise for her hidden in her suit: an American flag. Cari raised it up and turned toward the observation deck at the top of the cliff where a group of about thirty people cheered her accomplishment. Cari Kauffman swam the English Channel from Dover, England to Cap Griz Nes, France in 12 hours and 23 minutes.
The next step was getting her back to the boat and wrapped up in blankets to try and bring up her body temperature while we made our way quickly back to England. We were all emotionally and physically drained (although not like Cari) and made it back in about 45 minutes. Surprisingly, Cari was in great shape, although quite nauseous. We got some food and went back so everyone could get some sleep. Carol (Cari's coach), and Sarah were due to go out for another swimmer at 2:00am the next night because no marathon swimmer can waste the good conditions.
Although I wanted to share Cari's story so much more quickly than I have, it has taken me a full week to fully comprehend what I witnessed. When I tell people that my friend and former swimmer swam the English Channel, the response is typically that she is crazy. You hear about people doing extreme things with their bodies: 100-mile runs, Iron Man Triathlons and the Tour de France, but you rarely get to witness those things in-person so intimately. There is of course immense physical endurance that is needed for these types of limits, but I think that what many do not realize is that the difference between those who start and those who finish is the mental toughness they can muster to get through the long hours.
