What is the 6-hour qualifier?

To be permitted to swim the English Channel, swimmers must demonstrate that they understand what they're getting into and that they can handle it. To establish this, both organizing bodies that observe and ratify Channel crossings and register swims with the English and French Coast Guards (the Channel Swimming Association (CSA), who I am swimming with, and the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (CS&PF), who Dori swam with) require that swimmers submit evidence of having completed a 6-hour swim in open water that is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler. This can be tricky for a number of reasons, not least of which is that 6 hours is a long time to swim (but probably less than half the time that it will take me to get to France). Finding water that is 60 degrees or less can be tricky this time of year, and picking a day with weather that will be good enough to last for 6 hours can also be difficult, especially with all the thunderstorms and downright lousy weather we've been having this summer.

The CS&PF has in the past waived the 6-hour requirement for swimmers who have done the Catalina Channel and the Manhattan Island Marathon. The CSA was willing to accept my Manhattan swim as proof that I can manage this task, but encouraged me to do the 6-hour swim anyway. So I did it last weekend. I met up with a group of hearty open water swimmers at Hammonassett State Park in Madison Connecticut on Long Island Sound. We had a great day and plenty of sunshine. Too much sun, in fact. I managed to keep my shoulders and back from getting too burned after learning the hard way at Manhattan. But my lower legs did not fare so well. I neglected to put the 40% zinc oxide ointment all the way down to my heels, as my lower legs rarely collect too much sun... in the lake. What I failed to realize was that with the high buoyancy from the salt water, my lower legs would be more exposed to the sun and so I did need the zinc down there. After a week of painful swelling, my legs are finally starting to return to normal, and I think the good news is that I've finally learned my lesson with the sun- 40% zinc oxide slathered on heavily from cap-line to heel, no exceptions, no matter what water I'm in anytime I'm swimming longer than 2-3 hours.

Here's some "sexy" shots of the zinc from last weekend.























In this photo, you can see where the zinc wears along skin creases during the course of the swim.