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PHOTOS: High tides make Mont Saint-Michel an island again
The phenomenon only happens for a few days each year
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PHOTOS: See the Pyrenees… from Marseille
The mountains are visible from over 250 kilometres away from observation points
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French, English and Irish swim team sets new Channel record
The team - including French ‘seal’ Stève Stievenart - withstood water temperatures of just 7-9C
Swimmers in France, book now
The 2019 season for swimming the Channel is almost over – and, for the brave, now is the time to book a slot for the next three summers.
Places fill up quickly for the “Everest of swimming” challenge, which is open every year from the first week of June to the first week of October.
It is advisable to book more than a year in advance for training and certification purposes.
Those who take part must have completed a minimum six-hour “cold-water” swim – or two-hour swim for those taking part in a relay.
A medical certificate is also required.
Everyone who takes up the challenge to swim the 33km of the world’s busiest shipping channel must be accompanied by a pilot approved by one of two organisations – the Channel Swimming Association or the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation.
Tides mean most will end up swimming closer to 50km, taking 10 to 12 hours.
Pilots, who are all British as all challenges set off from England, have to be paid in advance – at a cost of £2,400.
