swim AV swim

Two men swim across bay for no apparent reason.

Mike Gregory's Facebook page post, Thursday 14th March 2013:

"My good mate Andrew Vidler asked me to join him for a swim a few weeks ago and I said ok: where and when?

He sent me this map and told me about the stingers, sharks, shipping tankers and the fact that only 5 people have successfully completed this swim to date.

As I contemplated the task, he grinned at me and said

"Oh by the way, we are going at night and aren't swimming in a cage".

"See you on the beach" I chimed.

That day has arrived and we start tomorrow at 0100.

Thanks to everyone who has offered encouragement, support, assistance and especially our boat, paddling and support crew . We couldn't dive in without you.

Since my English Channel swim in 2011 I was keen to undertake another long distance solo swim. I liked the idea of swimming Cook Strait in NZ (and it remains something I will attempt at some stage) but I wasn't keen on the whole travel, book a spot with a pilot and hope for good weather thing. I had read Des Renford's autobiography a few years back and I recalled his first marathon swim attempt was across Port Phillip Bay - right in my own back yard.

So it's was about a year ago that I decided that would be my next challenge. I spoke to only a few people about it including Gerard Demaine- my good mate with a boat big enough for the challenge and crew, and locked in a summer 2013 time (but no specific date).

As the year went by I progressively told more people and started to do some research. I found old newspaper reports of the cross bay swims in the late 60s, when the Truth newspaper ran a competition for swimmers to swim across the bay. It's was one of these races that Des Renford entered. I determined that to 2012, only five successful solo swims across Port Phillip Bay were recorded, although many had tried.

1968 Linda McGill
1968 Michael Kennedy
1977 Noel Truscott
1993 John Van Wisse
1993 Tammy Van Wisse

I hoped to be the 6th, but with one exception - no shark cage. This wasn't because I'm not worried about sharks (which I'm not as the last recorded fatal shark attack in Port Phillip Bay was in 1930) rather, it is because these days the use of cages in marathon open water swimming is frowned on. It provides enormous drafting benefit to the swimmer. I wanted this swim to be an authentic and pure solo swim - no wetsuit, no cage, leave from dry land and arrive on dry land and touch nothing in between.

The next matter was the route. What does across the bay actually mean? Looking at the bay on a chart a horizontal line across the middle pretty much lines up with Frankston on the east side and somewhere between Portarlington and Indented Head on the west side. Most of the newspaper reports refer to swims from Portarlington to Frankston, although I had spoken to people who did a relay across the bay and they left from Indented Head. I chose Indented Head as the start point mostly because it was inside the bay properly whereas Portarlington is set back a few kilometres into Corio Bay - which would make it a further swim. Also, a Portarlington start would have meant that the boat would have to navigate the commercial mussel beds in the dark on the way out. A straight line from Indented Head to Frankston is 35km (about the same as the English Channel)...although as you shall read we reckon the swim was much further than that.

Training during the year was going well, less volume than my Channel training, but with a good base and more squad intensity (thanks to Vicentre, John van Wisse and Robert Butcher (Butch) squads) I felt I was swimming as well as ever. I decided to have another go at the 20km Rottnest Channel in late Feb with the aim of crossing the bay in mid March.

Rotto went really well and I felt strong and fit the whole way. The highlight of that day was that 7 out of 7 of the Black Ice solo swimmers at Rotto made it across. It was a great moment together on the beach on the island when Dan Kennedy, the last of our group to make it, finished his swim and we all lined up for the photo.

I had kept doing research during this time and started telling a few more people about my plans. As I was trying to put together a crew it occurred to me that it would be very cool if a couple of my good mates from Black Ice actually swam solos on the same day. So I invited Paul Hoffman and Mike Gregory and they quickly joined the plan.

Paul and Mike are both faster swimmers than me so the only condition was that we swim at my pace (only one boat). This was now getting pretty exciting. Paul has done Rotto twice and nearly made it across the Channel in 2012 until feeding issues caused him to abandon the swim..but he has rebooked for next year. Mike has done the Channel, Manhattan Island and Rotto and is currently training for a double Channel attempt later this year (I will be crewing on his boat). If anything I was the weak link and to have two of my best mates on this adventure with me made it all the more fun.

I spoke with an old family friend who is a retired Port Phillip Bay sea pilot for some general advice on the bay. I contacted the Port of Melbourne to check on their requirements. I'm glad I did as there was a small amount of paperwork to get the event acknowledged by the Port and ensure that commercial vessels would be aware of us in the water. As it turned out the Port of Melbourne and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) at Point Lonsdale were simply brilliant and seriously helpful.

We set the date for the weekend of the 16 - 17 March, thereby giving ourselves a little bit of latitude to adjust timing based on weather. Victoria in early autumn usually has very stable high pressure systems overhead leading to calm seas. The Bay water is still warm from Summer and although the daylight hours are down to about 13 hours, it should have been a good time for the swim. In fact had we gone the week before (when Melbourne had a record breaking March heatwave of several days in row of over 30 degrees with not a breath of wind and a dead still bay) it would have been perfect.

By the Tuesday of the week of the swim, it became apparent that the record run of hot still days were coming to an end and right behind them was a strong southerly front. Our chosen weekend was going to be a blowout! After talking with the skipper and consulting all, we made the decision to pull the swim forward to Friday 15th March. The weather forecast was reasonable but not perfect. More importantly, if we didn't go then various factors would have meant a delay to next year.

The decision was made but with one devastating consequence. Paul was now unable to join us due to an important work commitment. I talked at length about alternatives but he steadfastly (and mighty graciously) supported the call to go in the short window we had. I knew it was a really tough call for him given his disappointment in the Channel several months prior. His support for us was amazing and on the day of the swim he picked my girls up from school and took them to Frankston beach where they all met us at the finish. He would have smashed this swim, he is the toughest swimmer, hardest trainer, best attitude swimmer I know. I thought about him a lot on the day.

The change of plans also meant that a bit of crew reworking had to occur. Gerard got the boat crew reorganised, Harry from Black Ice stepped up, Caren (my magnificent wife) and two of my lifelong mates, Costa and John were good to go. We lost our two paddlers, so I borrowed the kayak from my good mate Rob Tassie (who also had work commitments on the Friday) and Matt Harry a gun Melbourne based swimmer going for the Channel this year agreed to jump on board as did Mike's brother Luke. ...and what an unbelievable crew they turned out to be. We were good to go!

The plan was always to start the swim between around 1am on whichever day we chose to go. Not because of tides, rather to ensure we finished in daylight. I have a personal view that it is easier mentally to swim into light than to swim into dark - particularly as you are getting very weary.

A 1 or 2 am start would mean several hours of night swimming but, if things went well, an early afternoon finish with a nice buffer if a few more hours were needed.

The research I had done on tides and current in the bay was not concerning to me at all. The bay is almost a lagoon, a big mass of water held in by land with just a very small opening at the heads. Although the current, rips and tidal flow near the heads can be very strong, mid bay the tide is less than a meter. We were also swimming on the neap tide so the tide range on our swim date was closer to just 60cm. Tidal flow on the east side of the bay is rarely more than 1 knot and any influence of the tide should be reversed 6 hours later. I discussed this with Gerard our skipper and we agreed to just do our best to hold a true course to Frankston, crabbing along the run line if necessary. In hindsight I think we made the wrong call here, but more on that later.

Everyone (except Mike and his brother) met up with the boat at 5.30pm on the Thursday evening at Patterson Lakes marina. We boarded quickly for the cruise over to Portarlington. We were keen to be safely berthed at the jetty prior to night fall.

The trip over to Portarlington took about 70mins in Gerard's impressive 55ft Sea Ray cruiser called Indecision. Although uneventful, the trip across was through choppy seas and the wind was strong ...we all secretly hoped that the forecast for it to settle significantly was accurate.

Once the boat was tied up at the jetty several of us headed up to town for a quick feed at the local pizza & pasta shop. We returned at 9pm when I laid down for a few hours of shut eye. It had been a long day with work and getting organised and I knew the night and day ahead demanded some sleep now.

I awoke at just after midnight to the sounds of a car arriving on the jetty with Mike and his two brothers. Dom had driven Mike and Luke down from Melbourne (90 min drive) after Luke had just finished a double shift at his work as a chef. Massive effort from all.

We got organised quickly and motored around to Indented Head. It was a bit hard to find in the dark but fortunately Mike's brother had driven there to see us off so a few headlight flashes guided the boat in. Unfortunately the waters around Indented Head are a little shallow so the boat pulled up a few hundred meters short of the jetty. Mike and I greased up, pinned on our safety lights said goodbye to the team and jumped in for the swim to the beach to get this swim started. On swimming in I was delighted with how warm the water felt (about 22-23 degrees) and how clear it seemed in the dark. We swam to the boat ramp adjacent to the Indented Head jetty, cleared the water, I took the obligatory nervous pee, thanked and said goodbye to Mike's brother, shook hands with Mike and we wished each other well, and jumped in and started swimming. I didn't know then that I still had over 16 hours of swimming to go!

Harry was first on the kayak. I remember pulling up beside him on his left and seeing Mike parallel to the right. It was 1.38am, it was a dark night, the wind was still blowing firmly and the seas were lumpy but not rough. I settled into a rhythm quickly. One two three breathe, one two three breathe.

The most amazing thing about swimming at night is the phosphorescence in the water. Every stroke would set off the equivalent of a fireworks show or Christmas lights around my hand and arm. It kept me mesmerised for hours and the time went quickly.

The feed stops flew by during the night, every 30mins and I was feeling strong. Matt Harry joined us for some night swimming practice and before I knew it the sun was coming up and we were 6 hours in.

One small issue during the night was when John jumped on the kayak, in lumpy conditions, only to discover that it didn't quite manage his muscle laden weight. Matt was due to get out shortly so he quickly pulled on his wetsuit for warmth and took over the paddle. Guess we should have done some practice sessions before hand.

There was one patch at about 5.30 - 6am where I hit a bit of a wall. I needed to throw up from salt water mixing with my carbohydrate drinks and churning in my guts - but it wouldn't come out. I had experienced this in the Channel and I knew I would eventually feel better if I kept pushing through and had an obligatory vomit. At the next feed stop I took the whole feed and started swimming and as I swam, true to form it all just poured out....and some....instant relief. My mind wondered for a while then shortly thereafter I realised I felt good again. I was going to get this swim done.

At about 7am, Luke jumped on the kayak and told us that 3AW (a Melbourne radio station) had heard about the swim and were all over it. I later discovered that many people I know had heard it mentioned on the radio - I thought that was pretty cool. The radio host tried to talk to Caren but the phone kept cutting out as she was explaining the swim....hence the title of this report, and the headline on the 3AW website.."two middle age men swim across the bay for no apparent reason".

During the morning I felt we were making great progress, true to forecast the weather got calmer and calmer and by lunch time we were swimming in a the equivalent of a mill pond. I'm not exactly sure of the time but around 1pm the first of two news choppers flew over. The first one hung around for about 10mins doing some seriously entertaining manoeuvres whilst they filmed us swimming. What I didn't know is that my mate (using the term loosely now) Mike Gregory must have been doing it easy cause he started doing some butterfly for the cameras. At the next stop I told him if he kept that shit up he was sacked as my swimming mate...it wasn't good for my ego.

A second chopper turned up shortly after and did the same thing. I have to say this made the thing a bit more exciting. At this point I believed we were on track and going to finish in a few hours. I could see land clearly ahead and was looking forward to a 12ish hour swim....but I didn't know what was coming.

At the next feed stop I realised that we hadn't moved much. Then again at the next stop. At the next stop the crew started yelling to feed quickly (I knew what that meant). At the next stop still no evidence of progress. The wind and tide was now increasing the wave height. At the next stop it was rough and still no evidence of progress. I could sense tension on the boat and I was apparently becoming quiet. I started to feel very fatigued and the crew were no longer telling me my stroke rate....I knew that mean it had slowed.

At the next stop still no progress and rough conditions. The crew yelled to swim hard. I responded "what do you think I've been f@#king doing for the last few hours", they laughed, they knew I was still with it and despite some doubts I figured we had hit tidal currents and eventually it would turn and progress would be made.

Mike seemed to be swimming well at this stage. I yelled to him “are we making progress”..he lied.."yes!"

I learned later that we effectively swam on the spot for 4 hours. Each time we stopped for a feed we drifted back 50 metres. Like many open water swims this is how it goes. Eventually I could tell we had started to progress to toward Olivers Hill (a distinctive big hill near Frankston) and despite some earlier doubts I was confident I could go the distance. It was a tense few hours.

Interesting how sometimes mother nature almost chooses to play with you - tide, wind and waves all at the same time. However, as she takes with one hand, she gives with the other. It was during this rough period a couple of dolphins turned up to play with us. Bit of a treat that.

It was also during this period that I swear I saw a shark swim past me about 10 meters down. I watched as he swam past paying no attention to me. I briefly questioned the no cage decision. Mike didn't see it, but he reckons it was a dolphin. We'll never know, but I don't think I'd mistake the up down tail action of a dolphin for the side ways motion of a shark.

The beach off Frankston was now in view and the lifesaving club house we were aiming for was easy to spot as I lifted my head to sight. Caren yelled to me that the girls were on the beach waiting for me and lots of other friends. This was going to be a great finish.

The beach got closer and closer. Harry was on the kayak at this stage, and as weird as it sounds, I felt like Harry, Mike and I were all connected without having to talk. I had had this feeling when my brother has paddled for me twice across the Rotto channel. The bond brothers share. With Harry it was similar. We have swum together so often, in training and weekends. We swim at similar paces and we push each other along. It was very motivating.

Mike was cruising at this time. He is a magnificent swimmer. He would get slightly ahead then do some breaststroke whilst I caught up, over and over again. We were doing this thing together and we were going to finish together. It was getting exciting now.

With about 500 meters to go I could make out a small crowd on the beach. Then suddenly I looked up and there were swimmers around us. The Black Ice crew had all swam out to meet us. Brilliant. I knew them all, they are my friends, but who was this pretty girl smiling and swimming up to me in a blue swim cap. It took me a few seconds...it was my daughter Matilda. The best smile ever, I yelled hello and we started to swim in to shore, side by side. She couldn't see but as I swam to shore now the tears started flowing. The energy spent, the emotion, it's all so raw, honest, human! I think you learn a lot about yourself on these types of events; you learn what's important, you learn to find the energy to keep going. It's a test not of physical stamina, but of mental choice ...to keep going, to make yourself and others you care about proud. Swimming with one daughter and knowing another was waiting for me on the beach made the last 500 meters the easiest of the day.

Before I knew it my hand touched sand. Mike and I stood together and unlike my Channel swim no serious wobbles. Big smiles to an applauding crowd. Mike and I had the obligatory man hug moment, walked towards the television crews and Mike started talking...and talk he did. I saw Lucy (my other daughter) and we had a beautiful cuddle. I looked for and found Paul, it was great he was there. I saw so many friends (unexpected) on the beach. It was great to share the triumph with them all. 16 hours 20mins, it was a massive and at times, brutal swim. But we had done it. The 6th and 7th to cross the bay and the first to do so without a cage.

Interviews over, I was getting cold quickly. I did my best to acknowledge all but I had to get back to the boat and get warm. I walked back into the ocean and started swimming for the second time that day. However, this was going to be a much shorter swim. The boat was a few hundred meters off which went by quickly even with very sore arms. Unlike the Channel I could pull myself up the ladder and we quickly motored back to the marina about 30 mins away. I felt a tad sick but no vomiting.

Back at the marina is bit of blur ...a warm shower, pack the car, thank everyone and drive home for sleep. I recovered well on the Saturday but struggled on the Sunday. For me the swim was easier than the Channel, but the recovery was tougher.

The truth about open water swimming is that no one does it alone - a quote Mike Gregory always emphasises. It is so true. Gerard is one of my oldest mates and so generous with his boat and time. We have had some great swimming adventures together on that boat. It was so fitting that we did this one together. I am so thankful to him. His crew of Bob, Sam and Mark are the most genuine, enthusiastic, and supportive guys you could ever meet. They were brilliant. I can't thank them enough. Matt Harry is an open water swimmer I've known from squad for a few years now. He is going for the Channel this year and he will smash it . He stepped up at the last minute to help and I am so glad he did. He just gets it - he crewed, he swam, he paddled, he said all the right things at the right time. He was critical to our success. Mike's brother Luke was like a rock. He crewed, fed Mike, paddled without ever having done it before and didn't miss a beat all day despite having worked a double shift the day before. Harry is one of those bloke who just gives of himself to anyone who needs it. We have swum together so much we just click. Crewing, feeding, paddling, joking...he is part of the soul of the Black Ice swimming club and I loved having him on this adventure. John Whiting has been a mentor to me for over 20 years. I am just so pleased he could witness me do this. I have been in awe of his rowing triumphs for years..as a masters rower he competes and wins world class events regularly and every morning with few exceptions he is on the Yarra River training in the sport he loves. I get that! Costa is a lifelong friend, one of my very best friends. He came to Rotto this year to look after me on the boat with feeding and support (that was his training) and having him there was so motivating for me. He is cool in all situations and I trust him, his judgement and our friendship against anything.

Mike Gregory, my swimming mate on this adventure, I've only known for a few years. Over that time, he, Paul (I so wish Paul could have been there too) and I have become terrific friends. Our time together is spent training, laughing and eating. There is something special in a friendship when you have shared the pain of training and effort, and the triumph of success. Having Mike swim with me improved my chances of success by an immeasurable amount. It was brilliant doing this swim with him. I am so looking forward to his double swim of the Channel later this year, I will be on the boat crewing and I will do my best to return the support he gave me on this swim.

Most of all, I made it because of Caren. I've said it before...she gets me! I'm wired in a way that always wants to make her proud. I wasn't going to fail because she was willing me to succeed.

I love you Arrow and thanks to all. We couldn't have done it without you.