Copywriting - Berkshire journalist swims English Channel a second time

Berkshire-based freelance journalist and copywriter Nicola Joyce has successfully swum the English Channel for the second time.

Nicola (who swims under her married name of Nicola Millichip) became the 83rd person to swim the Channel two times when she stood up on Wissant beach on Wednesday 6 August after 14 hours 27 minutes of swimming.

She left Samphire Hoe (between Folkestone and Dover) at 2:15am and finished the swim on a beach near Wissant at 4:42pm. She swam with the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation (CS&PF), one of two official bodies who ratify cross-Channel swims.

Nicola first swam the English Channel in 2004 on 24 July, in a time of 14 hours 15 minutes under her maiden name of Nicola Joyce. Both swims were carried out with no wetsuit or external assistance (other than a pilot boat to lead the way) and Nicola wore just a standard swimsuit, cap and goggles.

"One of the first things everyone has asked is "how long did it take; did you beat your first time?" Nicola says, "but every Channel swim is different and each one takes a different route due to the movement of the tides. I took a longer route this time (and started from a different place), so I am quite happy with the fact that I was in the water for 12 minutes more than the first time. I am sure I swam faster on this occasion, and I know I couldn't have swum faster!"

Nicola was delighted to swim with the same pilot boat (Sea Satin) and skipper (Lance Oram) as her first swim. "That made it extra special!" she said. In addition to the boat's own crew were her personal crew of husband Mark Millichip, training partner and friend Rob Telford and friend Mike Cross. Both Rob and Mike are successful Channel swimmers themselves. As Nicola says, "When I finished my swim it meant that all three of us had successfully completed solo Channel swims this year: all within a 25 day period!"

Nicola is delighted to have swum the English Channel twice. "It was never a one-off thing for me," she admitted. "I always knew I'd do it at least one more time. I had fantastic conditions and loved every minute of the swim."

Nicola's next planned swim is from Jersey to France, a distance of some 18 miles. She hopes to complete the swim in early September but, like all sea swims, it will be governed by the weather.

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