Swimming the Solent

12/08/2022

Time to reflect on the Ian Pratt MND Challenge 2022.

What a great year 2022 was. The weather was just so kind to us, giving us almost ideal conditions most of the time.

Personally I wasn’t able to swim, which was a little disappointing, due to a nagging shoulder injury. However, being part of the shore support crew, watching the swimmers come in, with massive smiles on their faces, is so very rewarding.

Thanks go to Richard Dawson, and his amazing kayaking team, who accompanied the swimmers over the water, Mat Randall and Rebel Marine who provide superb safety boat cover, to Adam Morse and Jordan, who ferry the shore support crew wherever they need to be, and to Sarah Lannie, who is our amazing shore support, giving each swimmer a massive welcoming hug as they come ashore.

Now for the facts and figures, over the last 9 years we have seen 319 swimmers cross the Solent, who between them have raised over £280,000.

Here’s signing off from 2022 and looking to 2023, which will be our 10th anniversary.

I hope we have made our great friend Ian Pratt, his wonderful wife Catherine and daughter Georgiana, proud.

www.swimmingthesolent4mnd.com

www.ianprattmndf.org.

🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️

07/08/2022

Hi all,

Just been down to the beach for one final look at the Solent before all the fun starts again tomorrow.

Stunning sunset.

Windy.com is predicting pretty good conditions for the swims. We have 23 swimmers swimming tomorrow and a further 11 on Tuesday

Looking forward to meeting everyone on Ryde Esplanade tomorrow morning.

🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️

06/08/2022

Arrived on the island to prepare for the Ian Pratt MND Challenge 2022. 🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️

Settled nicely into our AirB&B and looking forward to family time on the beach at Appley tomorrow before it all starts on Monday morning.

Solent looked calm on the way over and the weather forecast is looking favourable. 🤞🤞

First of 3 crossings leaves Players Beach in Ryde around 10am on Monday morning, crossing to Stokes Bay. Return swim, 2nd crossing leaves Stokes Bay around 16.00.

3rd crossing leaves Ryde at around 11am Tuesday.

Good luck to all the swimmers, kayakers, safety boats, shore support and everyone else involved.

Let’s have a great couple of days. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

www.swimmingthesolent4mnd.com

www.ianprattmndf.org

30/07/2022

What started as a small event, well just a personal challenge, that a couple of mates joined in on, has grown over the years into something quite big. We are due to go again on 8th and 9th August with 36 swimmers ready to take on the Solent for the Ian Pratt MND Challenge.

The risk assessment has been approved by the harbourmaster, all the relevant authorities have been informed and the safety boats and kayaking team are all assembled. We are good to go.

The swim raises funds for the Ian Pratt MND Foundation, www.ianprattmndf.org, which supports families living with MND and also vital research, that hopefully will eventually lead to a cure, as well as raising awareness.

Here are a selection of photos throughout the years that we have been running this event, with this year being the 9th year.

To date we have had 286 successful crossings of the Solent and raised £252,000 for charity. Who would have thought it on July 16th 2013, when just 4 swimmers took on the Solent for MND.

Thank you all those that have been involved over the years with special mentions to Richard N Dawson, who does an amazing job arranging the kayaking team, Mat Randall and Rebel Marine, who do a great job keeping everyone safe in the water, Adam Morse, who helps make sure the shore support team are where they need to be, and to to Sarah Lannie, who looks after everyone on shore.

I am sure our great friend Ian Pratt is looking down on us and approving. We miss you buddy.

Look us up on our website.

www.swimmingthesolent4mnd.com

Or better still, if you can come down and see us at Ryde or Stokes Bay on 8th and 9th August.

🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️

17/09/2021

Here is the vIdeo of this years swim.

Thank you to everyone involved, kayakers, safety boats, shore support and swimmers.

18/07/2021

Just on the red funnel ferry over to the island to prepare for The Ian Pratt MND Challenge Solent crossings, which are 2 tomorrow and 1 on Tuesday. (29 swimmers in total)

It’s looking like we are going to have pretty decent conditions with calm seas and light winds.

Looking forward to meeting up with Richard N Dawson and some of the kayak team tonight.

11/07/2021

The risk assessment has been approved by the harbourmaster, all the authorities have been informed and we are all set for the 2021 Ian Pratt MND Challenge.

We have 30 swimmers taking on the challenge, 12 will leave Ryde Sands at around 10am on 19th July, aiming for Stokes Bay. At around 3pm 11 swimmers will start the return leg. Then on the 20th 7 swimmers will leave Ryde Sands at around 11pm for the final leg of this year.

Richard Dawson has done a great job assembling a team of kayakers and Rebel Marine are providing the safety boats. Adam Morse is all set to assist the ‘Shore Support’. Good to go.

So exciting. 🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️

21/11/2020

The harbourmaster is updated their website and want some photos for the section on cross Solent swims. They are looking for ‘high res’. If you have anything suitable here is your chance. Let us know 👍👍👍🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️🏊‍♂️

25/05/2020

Hi Everyone,

For those that are able to please could you join us in raising a glass, or cup to Ian Pratt at 8.00 am on Tuesday 26th may and give him the most amazing send off.

This is the music that he wanted playing at that time.

Thank you

Somewhere over the rainbow Faith Hill Pictures from the internet