Article 033f (Page 6) c.1988
 
 
When Caroll first went down to Dover Harbour for a training session, she got no further than her waist before returning to shore, saying she wasn't sure she could stand water that cold. The next day, the family was very concerned about her participation in the relay. She was able to stay in for only 15 minutes before coming out and complaining of headaches.
This was an "all-or-nothing" event. If one member failed to enter the channel on time, or quit during his or her turn, the whole team would be disqualified. All the planning, time, effort and money would be forfeited if one person couldn't perform. Caroll's aversion to cold water (a fact she made known back in San Juan) caused great concern. After contracting a cold, she refused to practice altogether. 
"When it's time for me to swim the real thing, I'll do my share," was her final comment.
    3:30 p.m. Sixth swimmer: Caroll 

    Caroll is almost done with her hour. Everyone, including the official observer and the captain, has been shouting encouragement to her. She's doing very well, swimming freestyle at a nice, even pace. After relieving Harry, she swam breatstroke for a while. Tim is getting ready for his second turn, keeping his sweatsuit on until the last minute. It's late in the day, the sun's warmth is diminished and the air much cooler.
I set the relay swimming order based on two factors. By putting the faster family members first, theoretically they would swim more often than the slower swimmers. (Tim and Krista, first and second on the relay, have won most of Puerto Rico's premier open-water events.) If we could perform an eight-or-nine-hour crossing, the slower swimmers would only have to swim once. Secondly, I arranged to have the "questionable" members near the end of the relay order. In case the swim lasted 15 or 16 hours, they would only have to swim twice.
    4:30 p.m. First swimmer, second round: Timothy 

    Tim is swimming without goggles. He had trouble with them as soon as he relieved his mother. We threw him another pair, but he just now threw those back to me, and is proceeding without them. Caroll says she's okay, but hopes that she doesn't have to swim a second time. We're all relieved that she was able to do her segment. We're very proud of one another. When Harry Jr. got out, he informed us that he didn't think that he could make another hour. He said his asthma attack was very bad, and that he couldn't breathe. He's in the cabin down below, trying to get warm. He's wrapped up in all the heavy clothing we could find, but is still shaking badly.
I was told by the boat owners, the Brickell brothers, that although they had been guiding channel swimmers for 20 years, they themselves could not predict when the weather would change during an attempt, or where the cross currents would occur. In fact, the day I went to pay them the deposit for our attempts, I was amazed to find that there was no water in Folkestone Harbour. Twice a day the tides cause the water to rush out of the marina, leaving the fishing boats sitting on the muddy bottom! 
To my amazement, during the hour that I was negotiating guide fees with Reggie, the ocean returned to the port, and when I left Folkestone the boats were floating in 14 feet of sea water. Imagine the strength of the currents involved in a 14-foot tidal change. We were told that as we approached France we could get caught in a 180 degree current directional change. Many swimmers have been a mile from finishing when the tide switched, pushing them back into the channel for hours, eventually causing crossing failure.
    Krista is doubled up on the hatch cover, wrapped in all the extra clothing she brought along. She's due up next, but says she has stomach aches and nausea. She think it's food poisoning, possible from breakfast. She doesn't look good. Still getting negative comments from Harry Jr. about his next turn. (Page 7)

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