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Wet 'Wimbledon' race turns into nightmare for Larder

13/ 9/2008

AQUABEAR Wilf Larder secured a place in the BLDSA Windermere Championship – in his first year of long-distance swimming.

The race started at 9am from Fell Foot Country Park at the south end of the lake, and involved taking as short a course as possible (approximately 10.5 miles) to the finish at Waterhead.

It is the longest annual race of its kind in the UK and is widely regarded as the ‘unofficial Wimbledon’ of long distance swimming.

This year’s event included competitors from Argentina and Malta.

Many use the race as part of their cold-water preparations for attempts to swim the English Channel (wet suits are not allowed to be worn), and swimming the Channel is the ultimate aim of Larder.

He was only accepted after successfully completing swims in Budworth Mere, Rivington Reservoir and Lake Bala.

For safety reasons each swimmer had to be accompanied by a support boat/crew who, as well as looking after themselves and rowing boat for the length of the course, were charged with navigation, warning off other vessels, feeding, and generally looking after the welfare of the swimmer.

Larder’s three-man crew of Fraser Bruce, Christopher Healey and Christopher Ashton had gained experience from the previous Lake Bala swim.

But that event seemed like having been a picnic in a boat as the briefing was held for the Windermere swim the night before the race.

Competitors were advised that conditions were not favourable. The water temperature was 16C, rain was heavy, and a strong, least favoured, south easterly headwind was forecast.

Despite a stormy night the conditions on the day, while challenging, were considered to be acceptable. But the deteriorating conditions which developed after the start resulted in a much stronger headwind, with breaking waves two to three feet high.

After an hour and a half the boat crew had rowed/battled three miles, with waves breaking over both the bow and crew.

From an onlookers point of view the conditions were likened to being in a "giant washing machine."

As conditions worsened the support boats were in danger of being swamped, and two of them either capsized or sank with their crews having to be rescued, while a commercial passenger ferry luckily missed one swimmer by about six feet.

Despite losing contact with his support boat, Larder was going well, feeling confident, and he had covered around three and a half miles when the race was abandoned on grounds of safety, with boats and swimmers strewn over the southern third of the lake.

This was the 52nd Annual Windermere Championship – and the first time it had ever had to be abandoned.

The boat crews, unable to row forward or back down the lake, abandoned their craft at various jetties and landing stages along the eastern bank of the lake, and from there they were left to make their own way to Bowness.

The swimmers were picked up by the rescue boats, loaded onto a passenger launch, and transported to Bowness to disembark in front of a gathering crowd of bewildered tourists.

Larder said he was disappointed not to have been able to swim the course, as it was part of his training and preparation for attempting to swim the English Channel.

But, undeterred, he still intends a channel attempt next year and is looking to book an escort boat and pilot over the next few weeks.

He also intends to return to Windermere, as he feels he has some "unfinished business" with the lake.

From his previous swims Larder is hoping to have raised more than £1,000 which will be distributed between a few local charities. He will continue his fundraising efforts with his Channel attempt.

Should you wish to sponsor him you can contact him directly on 07808 572963.

He is also still in need of canoes for use on escorted swims, and appeals to anyone who may be in a position to loan canoes and equipment.