11:09:08 Supporting Hoffy on his two way attempt.

Paul Hopfensperger is a fellow member of West Suffolk Masters Swimmig Club and I have known him for about 30 years. He swam across the English Channel last year in a time of 13 hours 52 mins. This year he was attempting a two way swim.

I allowed plenty of time to travel down to Dover to accompany Paul with his swim. However, I didn't count on there being a fire in the Channel Tunnel! I came to the 100 yard countdown marker for my turn off to Dover and the traffic came to a complete standstill! We were going nowhere! I felt helpless - so near but yet so far! I phoned Paul and explained the situation. He seemed to be calm about it all which made me feel calmer. To be honest I had been quite worried about supporting Paul on his swim in case I let him down at all. Eventually, after about 20 mins the traffic started to move slowly and before long I was driving into Dover.

I met with Paul at the hotel and we laughed and joked about the swim. This was all stress release as I knew Paul was very nervous about the task ahead, and rightly so!

When we got to the harbour we were met by someone looking very worried and saying they had better get some observers, before speeding off in a car! This really didn't help with Paul's mental preparation for his swim. Eventually, two observers were found and the boat set off.

It wasn't until now that I realised just how sea sick I get! Before the end of the short journey to Samphire Hoe, where the swim was to start, I was already leaning over the side preparing to feed the fish! Both Becky Hopfensperger (Paul's wife) and Chris Enyon (fellow support swimmer) were feeling ill but they soon got used to the swaying of the boat. I, however, spent the entire journey feeling like curling up in a ball and wishing the world would stop moving! The only time I didn't feel ill was when I was swimming.

At 08:25pm Paul set off into the darkness. The water was choppy and it was certainly not the best conditions to start a two way attempt! Chris and I discussed when we would enter the water to accompany Paul. Together, with Becky we decided to leave it a few hours. At five hours Paul reared his head and announced he wanted to get out! This shocked us all. It took much persuasion to convince him to continue.

Eventually Paul asked for someone to accompany him. As I was busy curled up on the top deck feeling really sorry for myself, Chris took it upon himself to enter the water first. He swam with Paul for the best part of an hour before getting out. An hour is the maximum time a support swimmer is allowed in the water before taking at least an hour out.

Next was my turn. I dived into the deep dark sea. I had never swum in the sea at night before. It was a very surreal experience. Breathe to the right to be faced with a bright spotlight and the vague image of shadowy figures on the boat. Then your head goes down into the water to a very spooky dark green void, before breathing to the left to see nothing but complete darkness! You really have to do it to understand what it feels like.

During my swim, my sickness went and I suddenly felt starving. All I could think about was food! However, within minutes of getting out the sickness returned and I was good for nothing!

We were all longing for the light. Paul kept reminding us how difficult this swim was. Although the sea had now calmed a lot, the first four hours had really taken it out of him.

Eventually daylight came and France was clearly in sight. Suddenly I spotted something in the distance. I pointed it out to Chris. We were both in no doubt - it was a dorsal fin! It was about half a mile away and kept going under water and then up again. I took no chances and spoke to Neil Streeter the pilot. (I don't know if anyone else has thought this but whenever I see Neil Streeter I think of Captain Jack Sparrow from 'Pirates of the Caribbean!) Anyway, Captain Sparrow shot out with his binoculars, only to announce that it was a lobster pot! Panic over!

France was almost within touching distance but the tide was so strong that it appeared Paul was getting nowhere. I remember the same scenario on my swim. Becky had been telling us how last year Paul was accompanied in by a seal. Soon after she told us this we spotted two seals towards the beach. Two black heads bobbing up and down waiting for Paul. I summoned Captian Sparrow and he shot out with his binoculars once again. Within a second he announced it was two lobster pots!! Damn those lobster pots I thought. Then I had this thought of a pot full of lobsters accompanying Paul to shore and I finally had to accept that sleep deprivation and sea sickness had definitely got the better of me!

The landing was going to be very difficult. There was a very small stoney beach with rocks for ages on both sides. The waves on the coast were so fierce that landing on them would not be an option - in fact it would be suicide! I was sent into the water to help guide Paul to the right landing place. It was a strange situation. If we headed for the beach the tide would take us onto the rocks. Instead, we had to head for the rocks and with Captain Sparrows expertise he would judge the tide just right and land us on the very small beach.

The landing was a complete nightmare. Suddenly the waves were huge and we were tossed around like rag dolls. Being smashed down on a stoney beach is no fun at all. We were both battered and bruised by the ordeal but eventually emerged onto the shore.

Paul wasted no time in telling me he was not going back! I suddenly felt a hugh responsibility on my shoulders to persuade him to continue. After a few minutes I realised that his mind was made up and now we had to be positive. We had to concentrate on the fact that, not only had Paul become the 84th person to ever swim the English Channel twice, but he had also smashed his time from last year by 49 mins. This was despite him setting off for a two way attempt and dealing with rough conditions!

Entering the sea was very difficult and were just knew what Captain Sparrow had in mind. As soon as we came close to the boat, he moved further away! He was determined the swim would continue. I remember thinking, this is all very well but at some point I'm going to have to get on board - or was he expecting me to swim all the way back as well! We finally convinced them it was all over. Finally we could get on board and congratulate Paul properly on his amazing achievement. He may have felt the swim was crap but we all knew it was legendary.

Well Done Paul!!