GUIDE ON SWIM ESCORT BOATS & FEES
The CS&PF pilots escort fees for the 2008 season are approximately
£1950.00/£2000 for a 1-way crossing - £3650.00 for a 2-way crossing. The deposit requested is £950.
Multiple swim crossings of more than 2-way are by quotation.
You will also need to pay the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation fees.
For 2008 solo swim fees are about £215 including full CS&PF biennial membership.
Relay swims are about £265 including 1 full biennial membership and 5 associate memberships.
See www.channelswimming.net "rules" pages (4/5 for fees) for a full explanation
Pilot /escort fees for other types of permitted crossing such as rows are by quotation.
There is a non returnable deposit of £950.00 to be paid on conformation of booking. If you are booking seasons in advance you will possibly have to make a booking fee payment of £250 or more. This is non returnable but will be credited as part of you deposit. The problem is that over the past years swim mers has reserved the prime positions a long way in advance and them not taken up the booking. Talk to your selected pilot for their terms and conditions. All CS&PF pilots have a written contract giving these conditions. The balance can be paid at any time but it must be settled in full, usually 4 weeks before the start of the swim for cheques and bank payments, 7 days for credit card payments. Make sure you tell your credit card company that you will be making the payments so that they do not refuse the transactions.
All fees are paid in £ sterling. Payments to the pilots can be cash - some accept Visa or Mastercard credit cards (3% transaction fee is usually added) or- bank transfers - Sterling cheques - International money orders. Arrangements to pay the balance by a means other than cash must be made before the swim date and require enough time being allowed for bank clearance & conformation of balance clearance before the start of the swim.
Booking arrangments are usually initially made via the office then confirmed by the pilot. Enquiries can be made direct to the vessels owner/agent if you prefer. You can get contact information from this and the other various web sites or from the CS&PF Hon Sec. - e-mail michael.oram@btinternet.com or tel/fax; 0044 (0)1843852858.
Swim places are quickly reserved/booked seasons in advance. You should book your pilot as soon as you know you definatly want to swim. Some swims are booked 2/3/4 years plus ahead to get the pilot you want on the tide you want and with the right swim position.
The pilot booking arrangments can be initiated through the CS&PF office but they are a private arrangement between the swimmer and the owner/pilot over which the CS&PF have no control.
Bookings will be confirmed by the pilots you are going with and all deposits are paid direct to the pilot or managing agent. The swim agreement/contract is always made between the swimmer and the pilot. A written contract is the best way to confirm your position and agreement.
There are 9 registered pilots and 8 pilot boats working with the CS&PF at the moment plus an extra pilot boat for emergencies -
Dave Whyte with "Ocean Breeze" Chris Osmond with "Seafarer" joined the other registered CS&PF pilot's in December 2004.
The CS&PF registered pilots and their registered pilot boats---
Mike & Lance Oram plus their crews run the pilot boats "Sea Satin" -- "Aegean Blue" -- "Gallivant" -- "Deep Six Two"
Eddy Spelling runs the pilot boats "Anastasia"
Neil Streeter runs the pilot boat "Suva"
Alison streeter will be running her new boat "Roco" as of 2008 seasonPaul Foreman runs the pilot boat "Pace Arrow"
Dave Whyte runs the escort boat "Ocean Breeze"
Chris Osmond runs the pliot boat "Seafearer 11"
Brian Watts is also a registered pilot who usually runs as a 2nd skipper on the pilot boats above.
Registered Pilot boats
"Sea Satin"
"Sea Satin" 36ft Dutch Steel flybridge motor cruiser. She is an RYA sea school training vessel & skippered charter -- RYA / DOT Small commercial craft & commercial workboat registration class 2 (60 miles from safe port)
| Length overall 11.40 mtrs. | Beam 3.50 mtrs. | Draft 1.00 mtrs. | Engine 100hp Volvo |
| Licenced for 12 persons | Water tanks 500 litres | Fuel tank 500 litres | Hot & Cold water |
| Full safety equipment | GPS - Radar & Log | 2 x Echo Sounders | 2 x fixed VHF |
| 4 burner cooker hob & oven | Dinette Table & seating | Fridge & Storage | Hand held VHF |
| Bathroom with shower | Bathroom with sea toilet | Sleeping areas | Davits with Dinghy |
Skipper/pilots --Mike and/or Lance Oram and Graham Pique.
Telephone/fax number: 00 44 (0)1843 852858.
"Aegean Blue"
"Aegean Blue" 34ft Dutch Steel aft cockpit motor cruiser RYA sea school training vessel & skippered charter -- RYA / DOT Small commercial craft registration & commercial workboat. Class 2 (60 miles from safe port)
| Length overall 10 mtrs. | Beam 3.30 mtrs. | Draught 1.00 mtrs. | Engines 2x 62hp Volvo |
| Licenced for 12 persons | Fuel tanks 2x 300 litres | Water tank 500 ltrs | Hot & Cold water |
| Full safety equipment | GPS - Radar & Log | 2 x Echo Sounders | 2 x fixed VHF |
| 2 burner cooker with oven | Fridge & Storage | Mobile phone | Hand held VHF |
| Bathroom with shower | Sea toilet | Sleeping area in bows | Dinghy |
Skipper/pilots --Mike and/or Lance Oram and Graham Pique.
Telephone/fax number: 00 44 (0) 1843 852858
"Gallivant"
"Gallivant " 36ft Dutch Steel aft cabin motor cruiser RYA sea school training vessel & skippered charter -- RYA / DOT Small commercial craft registration & commercial workboat. Class 2 (60 miles from safe port)
| Length overall 11.4 mtrs. | Beam 3.50 mtrs. | Draught 1.10 mtrs. | Engines 2x 62hp Volvo |
| Licenced for 12 persons | Fuel tanks 2x 300 litres | Water tank 500 ltrs | Hot & Cold water |
| Full safety equipment | GPS - Radar & Log | 2 x Echo Sounders | 2 x fixed VHF |
| cooker with oven | Fridge & Storage | Mobile phone | Hand held VHF |
| Bathroom with shower | Sea toilet x 2 | Sleeping area in bows and aft cabin | Dinghy |
Skipper/pilots --Mike and/or Lance Oram and Graham Pique.
Telephone/fax number: 00 44 (0) 1843 852858
"SUVA"
"Suva" 37ft Steel Trawler yacht motor cruiser - escort vessel & skippered charter -- RYA / DOT Small commercial craft registration & commercial workboat. Class 2 (60 miles from safe port)
| Length overall 11.9 mtrs. | Beam 3.70 mtrs. | Draught 1.40 mtrs. | Engines 2x 75hp Ford |
| Licenced for 14 persons | Fuel tanks 2x 500 litres | Water tank 500 ltrs | Hot & Cold water |
| Full safety equipment | GPS - Radar & Log | 2 x Echo Sounders | 2 x fixed VHF |
| cooker with oven | Fridge & Storage | Mobile phone | Hand held VHF |
| Bathroom with shower | Sea toilet | Sleeping area in bows | Dinghy |
Skipper/pilot --Neil Streeter .
Telephone number: +44(0)1737823394 -- mobile07740684366
"Anastasia"
"Anastasia" 43ft Dutch Steel aft cabin motor cruiser escort vessel & skippered charter -- RYA / DOT Small commercial craft registration & commercial workboat. Class 2 (60 miles from safe port)
| Length overall 12 mtrs. | Beam 3.80 mtrs. | Draught 1.20 mtrs. | Engines 2x 130hp Volvo |
| Licenced for 14 persons | Fuel tanks 2x 500 litres | Water tank 800 ltrs | Hot & Cold water |
| Full safety equipment | GPS - Radar & Log | 2 x Echo Sounders | 2 x fixed VHF |
| 2 burner cooker with oven | Fridge & Storage | Mobile phone | Hand held VHF |
| Bathroom with shower | Sea toilet | Sleeping area in bows | Dinghy |
Skipper/pilot --Eddy Spelling.
Telephone number: 00 44 (0)1843846315
"Ocean Breeze"
"Ocean Breeze" 37ft Princess aft cockpit motor cruiser escort vessel & skippered charter -- RYA / DOT Small commercial craft registration & commercial workboat. Class 2 (60 miles from safe port)
| Length overall 11.5 mtrs. | Beam 3.80 mtrs. | Draught 1.00 mtrs. | Engines 2x 62hp Volvo |
| Licenced for 14 persons | Fuel tanks 240 gallons | Water tank 200 gals | Hot & Cold water |
| Full safety equipment | GPS - Radar & Log | 2 x Echo Sounders | 2 x fixed VHF |
| cooker with oven | Fridge & Storage | Mobile phone | Hand held VHF |
| Bathroom with shower | Sea toilet | Sleeping area in bows | Dinghy |
Skipper/pilot --Dave Whyte
Telephone number: 00 44 (0)1304210644
"Seafarer
"Seafarer" 33ft Aquastar aft cockpit motor cruiser escort vessel & skippered charter -- RYA / DOT Small commercial craft registration & commercial workboat. Class 2 (60 miles from safe port)
| Length overall 10 mtrs. | Beam 3.30 mtrs. | Draught 1.00 mtrs. | Engines |
| Licenced for 14 persons | Fuel tanks | Water tank 500 ltrs | Hot & Cold water |
| Full safety equipment | GPS - Radar & Log | 2 x Echo Sounders | 2 x fixed VHF |
| cooker with oven | Fridge & Storage | Mobile phone | Hand held VHF |
| Bathroom with shower | Sea toilet | Sleeping area in bows | Dinghy |
Skipper/pilot -- Chris Osmond
Telephone number: 00 44 (0)1303210073 -- mobile 07719327359
This document maintained by
michael.oram@btinternet.com.
Material Copyright © Michael Oram.