Return to Headlines
Dare to Dream
Seven-year-old Hauppauge native Richard Wilde dared to dream of one day swimming across the English Channel (EC) – “the ultimate challenge for open water swimmers.” The 43-year-old New York City Firefighter made that dream come true when he completed a solo swim across the English Channel on September 12, 2016, in 12 hours and 22 minutes.
Accompanied by Viking Princess Captain Reg Brickell, Ray Brickell and a crew member, Wilde began his swimming odyssey in Dover, England as the dawn broke at 6:40 a.m. “The EC is the most difficult open water swim because it is cold, long, rough, windy, and the tides are strong. There is never going to be a perfect day where you will encounter easy conditions,” he described. “I battled strong winds and rough conditions for the first few hours. Then it got cold – the water temperature never went above 63 degrees – and wet suits are not allowed. I knew I needed to swim faster to beat the tides and to make it to France before the sun went down and it would get even colder.” Despite these challenges, the cold, tired – but victorious – Wilde achieved his dream of swimming the English Channel when he stepped onto the shoreline of Wissant, France at 7:12 p.m.
He prepared for the EC swim by training more than 400 miles during winter 2016 and also by swimming in a lot of cold water. “To be a successful open water swimmer, you have to be in swimming condition to battle through the elements that you will encounter,” he stated. Wilde also swam 28 miles around Manhattan in the Hudson River Race to ensure that he had the stamina to make the approximately 24-mile trip across the Straits of Dover (which can be anywhere from 21-26 miles depending on the route and existing weather conditions).
Wilde’s love of the water began as a member of the Hauppauge Sea Eagles. The Hauppauge High School Class of 1990 alumnus swam on the School Swim Team – where he was Team captain during his senior year – and then attended Queens College (Class of 1994 alumnus) on a swim team scholarship. “I swam under Coach Mike Meyer for my entire time on the Hauppauge Club and School Teams. He taught me how to be a competitive swimmer and how to conduct myself as an athlete and about sportsmanship,” stated Wilde, who was in close touch with Coaches Mike Meyer and Dan McBride leading up to the English Channel swim as well as right after it.
Currently a Brooklyn resident, Wilde retains strong ties to the Hauppauge community in which he grew up. My parents still live in Hauppauge and while he was in England preparing for the EC swim, Wilde received numerous emails and texts from his Hauppauge friends who encouraged him to stay strong and to dare to accomplish his dream.
To date, only about 420 Americans have ever made a successful open water swim across the English Channel. Wilde now proudly ranks among these elite few. As to what’s next on the horizon, Wilde, who also serves as a Saltaire, Fire Island lifeguard, quipped, “there are many other swims out there to do.”
Top Photo: Ray Brickell, Richard Wilde, Captain Reg Brickell and a Channel Swimming Association (CSA) official.
Bottom Photo: Richard Wilde’s successfully swam across the English Channel on September 12, 2016.