We were given the opportunity to go out with a pilot on one of the boats to do ‘a trial run’. As the rest of my Team (Hammerhead Sharks) weren’t doing it (some have done a relay before) I became an Honorary Sea Dragon for the day! This was especially nice because my swim buddy Ruth is one and we travel down together and share accommodation so it made it much easier. For me it was causing a lot of anxiety as to how I would manage getting on and off the boat, into and out of the water via a small ladder and especially in choppy seas. I’m sure it was also making the Aspire Organisers a little twitchy, as safety is of course paramount for them. On the day we were up early checking our kit lists and did remarkably well with the relatively small amount we had packed for the boat, considering it looked like Ruth and I had filled the car with everything but the kitchen sink! We had climbed aboard 'Anastasia' in Dover Marina by 10am and were briefed by our pilot Eddie and
