Sextet will challenge the 'Channel'

Fewer people have successfully swam the English Channel than have conquered Mount Everest.

Photo: Contributed - Angelique Duffield at www.BrightSparkMedia.ca

(l to r) Brent Hobbs, Paul Duffield, Mike Stamhuis, Phred Martin, Leora Dahl, Denise Thompson, and Tracey Sutton. Back row, US swimmer Mike Humphries

Now, six members of the Okanagan Masters' Swim Club hope to join that exclusive club.

Leora Dahl, Paul Duffield, Phred Martin, Denise Thompson, Tracey Sutton and Mike Stamhuis will get that chance in the summer of 2013 after each survived two hours in Okanagan Lake Saturday.

They had to brave the chilly 14C water temperature without wetsuits, a condition of crossing the English Channel.

Dahl, who speaks for the group, says they will attempt the swim as a relay team.

"We rotate. We swim for an hour at a time and then once all six people have gone you rotate through again," says Dahl.

"If anyone can't complete their hour leg then the whole team is done. Everyone has to do their hour in the order that has been set prior to getting on the boat. We can't sub in someone for somebody else."

The idea to put the team together was the brainchild of Brent Hobbs, the only Kelowna resident to successfully complete a crossing of the English Channel.

Photo: Contributed - Angelique Duffield

Paul Duffield during his qualifying swim with team mate Phred Martin in the safety kayak

"He (Hobbs) was interested in getting a group of people together who he thought would be interested in doing it, would find it challenging and enjoy it," says Dahl who personally saw it as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"For myself, these opportunities come around very rarely in life -- to do something really exceptional. Why not try when the opportunity comes."

The team has been practicing in Okanagan Lake since April to get ready for the qualifying swim.

Dahl says the next challenge will be a planned crossing of Georgia Strait in August to replicate the currents, salt water and jellyfish they will encounter when crossing the English Channel.

She adds the publicity the team gains will hopefully motivate others to get into the water.

"Hopefully this will get some attention to open water swimming. We hope if people hear about us it might encourage people to get in the water themselves."

The team will have a 10 day window (July 29 to August 6, 2013) in which to complete the swim.