Girls complete Swim2Skye

Looking at a flat calm bay on Friday afternoon, we were wishing the
girls were swimming, but instead we are glued to the internet watching
the ever changing weather patterns. Saturday is not looking the best,
but there is a window of opportunity in the morning. Arriving down the
pier the next morning it is obvious that its a go, and the conditions
are not even discussed. Both girls jump aboard MV Stardust and make
the 4.2 mile passage over to the Isle of Raasay and into Inver.Pam gets
into the water first. At this point she may be wonder, the next time I’m
sitting in Ross’s house and looking out over the bay, I may keep my
mouth shut. But here she is, somebody that only took up swimming
12months ago to undertake the challenge. In that time she has trained
hard and had a focus on wait awaits her in deep water of the Raasay
sound. She starts the swim to cheers from family and friends and the
click of Willie Urquharts press camera.

 Making here way out of the calm waters of Inver and into the sound
where the choppy seas await her. Her escort boat sits in behind her and
it not long before she gets her rhythm and eases through the water.
Making her way out in to the sound, Inver is soon left behind. Only the
odd scream at the sight of jelly fish is heard, but a slight change in
coarse and she is on her way again. Back on Raasay Megan waits to enter
the water. She plans to leave later, and hopes that her faster pace will
have her catching up with Pam by the time she reaches the refuge of
Portree harbour. Megan a accomplished swimmer but new to swimming in the
sea. She sets of an hour a twenty minutes after and the chase is on. By
this time Pam is about 1.5mile in. As we approach her we stop her to
give her some fluids and a little food. My choice is appreciated, but is
not the same reaction from Megan. Once she has been going for an hour
we stop and give her the same. “That’s disgusting” is the cry from the
water! Half way across Megan is slowly closing the gap, but Pam has a
good rhythm and going is to make it difficult for Megan. On the boat
bets are placed on when she will catch up.

One says the green marked buoy, another thinks the fish farm. Pam goes
past both and it becomes obvious that she is not going to get caught. As
she enters the harbour, with quarter of a mile to go she stops and
waits for Megan to catch up. It’s not long before Megan powers up to
Pam. They embrace and embark on the last push for home. As they head for
the crowded shore where family and friends are waiting Stornoway
Coastguard helicopter roars round the headland to escort them home.
Portree lifeboat sounds its horn and the piper perched on her foredeck
belts out a tune to fill the morning air.  The escort boats let of their
flares and Pam sheds a tear at the reception. They reach the shore and
take a seat on the water’s edge to get there balance back. Then its
congratulations all round and time for a well earned glass of champagne.
Well done to both of them. A great swim on the day and a positive
attitude from day one when it came to training.

     

In the photo, Donnie Nicolson,Dr Julian Toms.Maggie and Willie Cowie.Megan Cowie.Pam Smith. Douglas Smith. Davie Urquhart. Ross Cowie.