Birthday English Channel swim by York man for a good cause

Nick Boaz from Clifton Moor completed the 47km, tracking in an S-shape with the currents, from Samphire Hoe in Kent to a beach in Cap Griz-Nez in Pas-de-Calais on Friday (August 22) in 11 hours and 32 minutes.

The internal auditor at Aviva was swimming to raise funds for Accessible Arts and Media, a charity based in York which he said has offered support for his older sister Katie, who has Williams Syndrome.

Nick Boaz's training involved crossing Ullswater in the Lake District and 6-hour back to back swims on consecutive days (Image: Supplied) Nick's exploits as a water-polo player have featured in The York Press in the last decade or so, but in July his training involved open water swims in Ullswater in the Lake District and two stints of six hour swims back-to-back in the open water in Dover Harbour.

Nick said: "I've got a decent background in swimming, but the biggest change was getting ready for the open water.

"I was still doing lots of pool swimming but it's getting used to spending a lot of time in water which is half the temperature of a pool, along with the rough seas and saltwater."

Nick's support crew included his wife Louise, long-distance swimmer Wen Erh Hsu from Taiwan, and his friend Oli Micklethwait-Howe.

They were piloted by Fred and Harry Mardle from Masterpiece Charters.

As well as giving encouragement, Nick said the support vessel is essential for directional awareness in the absence of a 'light of sight' on the open expanse of water.

The rules say you must not touch the boat or have any assistance apart from being passed the fuel and drink needed for the Herculean task.

Nick said: "For the entire time, all you're doing is looking at the boat next to you.

"When I was about seven hours in, I had a look up towards France, it seemed close but I didn't know at that point that I was still four-and-a-half hours off the coast."

To keep the mind occupied, Nick said he would trace the steps of his 20-minute cycle commute to work in his head, and he also remembered scenes from film trilogy The Lord of The Rings, and planned holidays.

Nick's support crew on board included Oli Micklethwaite-Howe, his wife Louise Boaz and renowned long-distance swimmer Wen Erh Hsu (Image: Supplied) He said: "These little half-hour-or-so trips were great - you could drop them out of your mind and move on to the next one.

"I landed on the beach at 9.15pm, and it was about 30 seconds before I waded back to the boat and made the journey back.

"I was a bit unceremonious in terms of a celebration but at that point I didn't really feel like it.

"We celebrated last night when I got home to York."

Nick said older sister Katie Douglas was born with the learning disability Williams Syndrome, and Accessible Arts and Media is a charity which runs arts and creative media learning projects in and around York since 1982, with those who take part in the activities often facing difficulties with everyday activities.

He said Katie has been helped by them for 25 years, adding that they help people learn and use sign language, including his big sister, so it felt right for him to swim in support of the charity.

Nick said Aviva will match up to £1,000 any funds he raises.

Anyone wishing to support Nick can visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/nick-boaz-1727345898697