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Almudena Visser Velez, MPhil Planetary Science and Life in the Universe, is preparing to swim for the Cambridge University Open Water team in the bi-annual Varsity relay race against Oxford. Almost every other year since 1988, Cambridge and Oxford have raced across the English Channel. This year’s race will take place across the English Channel, from Dover to Calais, in the week of 11-17 July with a duration of 8 to 12 hours. Swimmers must take preparations seriously as they face the challenge of 15 degree water in only a swimming costume, swim hat and a pair of goggles. Both mental and physical resilience is essential.

Almudena said of the challenge:

“Part of our training has been to swim in cold water to acclimatise to the temperature. The team qualified following a 2h swim at Jesus Green lido in sub 16 degree water! Since then we’ve also started training at Milton lake, and will do our first sea swim in Felixstowe soon to get used to the sea conditions. The race will include swimming at night as well as during the day, in hour long rotations until the French coastline is reached, without wetsuits and possibly with jellyfish.”

Crossing the English Channel is quite a feat and the team need as much help as they can get to make sure that they can go ahead with their swim. To help raise some much-needed funds, they’ve set up a . This will cover the substantial costs of boat hire, registration with the Channel Swimming Association and transport to Dover. They are also raising money together with Oxford for  and will be donating at least 50 % of all donations to them.

Additionally, people can follow their efforts and their competition swim on their instagram page: