Swim the Skerries

Alison Read is organizing this fundraiser to benefit Friendly Access (SCIO).

In September I will swim 5km around the Halliman Skerries, just off Lossiemouth's West Beach.

It will take around 2.5 hours.

It's taken me nearly four years to reach this point.

In July 2019 I started dipping in the sea.

Not swimming, just dipping, maybe a bit of gentle heads up breaststroke while chatting, but not 'proper' swimming. I wasn't really very good at 'proper' swimming.

In Jan 2020, I decided to take my dipping to the next level.

I looked out at the Skerries and decided that I would set a goal to swim round them. At that time I had no idea how far it was. So we paddled out for a closer look.

It's a lot further than I thought.

The tiny speck you see from the shore is a 40ft beacon sat on at least 500m of shallow rocky reef. The water is around 12m deep behind the reef and there are hundreds of seals with sharp teeth, a few nasty jellies and regular basking sharks! It's about 1km offshore at the closest point, but my chosen route is nearer 5km.

I started training.

I got swimming lessons, an open water coach, bought a wetsuit, dug out some maps, even put it on Instagram. And of course, being 2020, it all got derailed. I put it to one side and got on with life.

Fast forward three years.

It wasn't until March this year that I finally felt ready to go for it, giving me six months to go from barely 25 lengths in the pool to the equivalent of 250 lengths in the open sea.

Trained by the best

My awesome swimpal, and superfit openwater swim champ, Louise, has been with me the whole way. She's been training me in every aspect of preparation, including technique, endurance, strength, nutrition, safety, kit, open water technique and more (cue Rocky training montage)!

Building up the mileage

Since March, I've been doing 6.30am pool sessions 2-3 times per week, focussing on technique, strength and stamina. My freestyle has gone from 21 strokes per length to 14! I'm not fast, but I am way more efficient.

In June we moved to the open water, I spluttered my way around Lochindorb castle (in ferocious choppy conditions). In July, I completed 16 lengths of Hopeman Harbour (one mile). In August I swam 2.7km from Burghead to Roseisle and back. And three weeks ago, I swam 3.7km in an event at Loch Tay. Only then did I believe I was going to be able to do this.

Saturday September 9th

The sea is at its warmest in September. I'll be wearing a wetsuit, it'll still be only about 13degC. For conditions to be right, I need to start about an hour before a neap high tide. It's better first thing as it tends to be calmer. So 7am September 9th is the optimal time. The wind needs to be minimal and sea swell slight or less.

If conditions aren't right, then the next opportunity may not be for another two weeks.

On the day

The swim starts at the Watersports Club on West Beach. Husband Al and Coach Louise will be in a small RIB and on a paddleboard alongside, for safety, energy gels, and encouragement!

We'll set off just after 7am, head to the back of the Skerries, go behind the beacon and cross the reef as close as I can without skinning my belly!

Then it's a direct route back to the bay to be back around 9.30am.

There will be hot drinks and cake on offer in the clubhouse for anyone who would like to come out and support. If you'd like to bring some baking along, that would be brilliant, thank you!

Please support me!

If you'd like to join me either in or on the water for the last 150m, from the rock back to the shore, I'd really appreciate the company!

Please encourage me with a donation to my chosen charity, SurfABLE.

Why SurfABLE?

I'm raising money for SurfABLE, under their parent charity, Friendly Access.

Based in Lossie, SurfABLE are Scotland’s first inclusive and fully adaptive surf therapy organisation. Kev and the team also run the local surf lifesaving club and are always happy to support the Cod Heids, so it's good to be able to give something back.