0:00:08 > 0:00:10It's the busiest waterway in the world.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Come on, Skipper, get a move on that way!
0:00:16 > 0:00:18A gateway to our nation.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Over 90% of the world's trade travels by sea.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23It is not just TVs and refrigerators, it is
0:00:23 > 0:00:24everything around us.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Protected by a multiagency task force, it is
0:00:27 > 0:00:29a unique stretch of water.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33This is Warship Tyne. Warship Tyne. General 12...
0:00:33 > 0:00:34HE MUTTERS
0:00:35 > 0:00:38It's very difficult to police the Channel.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41To board every vessel is an impossible task.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It is a place where swimmers
0:00:44 > 0:00:48and Sunday sailors fight for space with cruise lines...
0:00:50 > 0:00:52..and cargo ships.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55It's like trying to get across the M25 during rush hour.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59For some, the English Channel is their place of work.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02If my mum came out here and saw what I was doing,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05she'd tell me to get off straightaway.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08For others, it is a playground.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Woohoo!
0:01:12 > 0:01:16But for those who venture onto its unpredictable waters...
0:01:16 > 0:01:19We are just going to assist the moving of the casualty now.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21All control, dive off lifeboat.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23..it can mean life or death.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Just drag it onto the boat!
0:01:28 > 0:01:31I hope my babies get to see this and see what Daddy does for a living.
0:01:43 > 0:01:44Today, on Channel Patrol,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Border Force hones in on a suspicious vessel.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52The adrenaline starts pumping when you know that something
0:01:52 > 0:01:56is of interest to you when you are boarding a target.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59An ex-military team attacks the Channel.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03It is hard to get back in and swim, because if one person is out,
0:02:03 > 0:02:04they're all out.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07And it is just another day at the office on a wind farm.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Yeah, it's pretty unique.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Not many people get to see this every day.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Every day, hundreds of boats from all over the globe
0:02:24 > 0:02:26pass through the English Channel.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Freighters from the Far East, fishing trawlers
0:02:33 > 0:02:37from the Netherlands and ferries passing back and forth to France.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43They carry cargo.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Cars.
0:02:46 > 0:02:47Catch fish for our dinner.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52And transport tourists.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Here you go, thank you very much.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59But not all the consignments and crossings are legal.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04There are desperate migrants stowing away and smugglers hiding drugs,
0:03:04 > 0:03:08contraband and even people inside containers.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16An array of organisations including the Navy,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Coast Guard and RNLI
0:03:19 > 0:03:21are all vigilant to illegal activity.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26But on the front line is the UK's Border Force.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34It's a new world,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36we've got lots of immigrants coming our way.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39So we need to make sure everybody is dealt with properly.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43The UK's Border Force commands a fleet of five patrol boats
0:03:43 > 0:03:46known as cutters.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49They operate 24 hours a day,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51365 days a year,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54and work to intercept smuggling and trafficking.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01They are the first line of defence against criminal activity
0:04:01 > 0:04:03before the Channel's ports.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Nick Bonner is the commander on HMS Vigilant.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09The English Channel is a big place.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11It starts down the other side of Cornwall,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14comes right out to Calais, several hundred miles.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16We can't be in the right place all the right times.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Today, the crew is patrolling the Channel ten miles south
0:04:21 > 0:04:23of Beachy Head, in Sussex.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28While we are at sea, we look out for anything that is unusual,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31so if anything is not going to a recognised port,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35if it looks like it's the wrong sort of boat in the wrong sort of place.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38So basically, we have to keep an open mind, see what we can see.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43The crew works a demanding two weeks on followed by two weeks' leave.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Deck Officer Steve Peel has worked on the cutter for four years.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53The drawbacks of living on board is obviously I share a cabin
0:04:53 > 0:04:54with someone else.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58It can be quite intense and it is a really small ship.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01These guys, they do become your family.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04By the end of the two weeks on board,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07everyone is tearing their hair out and can't wait to get home.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Our job can be dangerous and I'm sure my wife does worry,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14but I am also sure
0:05:14 > 0:05:16that she's pleased to get rid of me for two weeks.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Vigilant. Vigilant. From the rear, proceed.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Steve's role is to board suspicious-looking vessels
0:05:26 > 0:05:29and conduct interviews and searches.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34I used to sit behind a desk for ten years of my career.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38This job is totally different than that.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41And it's the aspect of not knowing what I'm going to be doing
0:05:41 > 0:05:45each day is something that I really enjoy.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Commander Nick has identified something suspicious
0:05:55 > 0:05:56further out at sea.
0:05:58 > 0:05:59I spotted a yacht on the radar.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01I've been watching it for ten minutes or so.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04And it looks like it is driving fairly erratically.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08It was going north, so it indicates it's coming maybe from France,
0:06:08 > 0:06:09maybe from further afield.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Now it has changed course, it is going somewhere else.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13It is two miles away from us.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17We'll get a RIB team onto the yacht and just establish his credibility.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23RIB team ready, please, onto target.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26'Two miles. RIB team ready, in five minutes. Thank you.'
0:06:32 > 0:06:34I have been in command now for over 20 years
0:06:34 > 0:06:36and I still get a buzz out of doing this.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Every time we send a group away, it's different.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41We don't know who they are going to talk to,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44we don't know what they're going to find, and on top of that,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46you've got weather conditions to deal with.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48And increasingly now, people don't even speak English.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51So an awful lot of sign language and making ourselves understood
0:06:51 > 0:06:54regardless of what nationality people are.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Ben Huggings is the second officer on board.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04OK, you're ready when we are.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Generally, when the RIB team are deployed,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11it's a constant risk assessment to make sure it's safe to carry
0:07:11 > 0:07:12out the boarding.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Every boarding is completely different.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22One of the biggest jobs I've had to date is
0:07:22 > 0:07:28the whole of 400 kilos of cocaine valued at around 100 million.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30This was south of the Isle of Wight.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33The two people who were taken into Portsmouth and arrested
0:07:33 > 0:07:35are subsequently now in jail.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37It was a huge job.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39And it was our commander that's on board now, actually,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42that was in charge.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45'Are you ready to copy the name?'
0:07:47 > 0:07:49This type of equipment that we come on with,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51I appreciate we can be quite daunting, intimidating,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55but everyone is trained to explain exactly what our intentions are.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02The adrenaline starts pumping when you know that something
0:08:02 > 0:08:05is of interest to you when you are boarding a target.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09Part of their job is to go inside the yacht to make sure there is
0:08:09 > 0:08:12nobody else down there that we've not been told about.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15The crew is trained to conduct thorough searches,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19and sometimes they discover more unusual illegal immigrants.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23I do remember finding an iguana once, a long time ago,
0:08:23 > 0:08:25which had come from the Caribbean.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28One of our other ships has also found one in the last week.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Now, I understand that last week's one has gone to London zoo,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33as did the one I found.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35But it was this big.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38And when I opened the cupboard, it scared me to death.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43The boat they are now heading towards could also be
0:08:43 > 0:08:45carrying contraband.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48It's wayward sailing could be a sign that the skipper is
0:08:48 > 0:08:52evading detection or struggling to control his boat.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Either way, it represents a security risk
0:08:55 > 0:08:59and is a legitimate target for further investigation.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Every day, 400 commercial vessels,
0:09:13 > 0:09:18including high-speed ferries carrying up to 2,400
0:09:18 > 0:09:22passengers at a time, traverse the Channel in the Dover Straits.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30During the summer months, this traffic is joined by the daring and
0:09:30 > 0:09:33determined cross-Channel swimmers.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Their safety in this busy shipping lane is in the hands
0:09:36 > 0:09:40of the Coast Guard, two Channel swimming organisations
0:09:40 > 0:09:41and support boat pilots.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Swimmers run on adrenaline and dreams
0:09:45 > 0:09:47and pilots run on reality and safety.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53As well as being escorted by a pilot, there are strict rules
0:09:53 > 0:09:57to be followed for any attempt to be officially recognised.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01It is an endurance sport and it is an extreme sport,
0:10:01 > 0:10:05and most people choose to do either an extreme sport or
0:10:05 > 0:10:09an endurance sport, not combine the both.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12We give out a warning to say you don't swim the Channel
0:10:12 > 0:10:15if you are not prepared to have your life changed.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20The 21-mile crossing was first officially swum in 1875.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26But more people have climbed Everest than swum the Channel
0:10:26 > 0:10:29and nearly half of all attempts end in failure.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35My name is Conrad Thorpe and we hope,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38weather permitting, we'll be swimming the English Channel
0:10:38 > 0:10:40as a relay of four men.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45Today, a fearless squad of ex-military amputees are hoping
0:10:45 > 0:10:48to conquer this treacherous crossing in a relay.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52It will be the first time that a team of amputees will have
0:10:52 > 0:10:55attempted the Channel, the English Channel,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58and I hope the four of us as a team succeed.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00My name is Steve White
0:11:00 > 0:11:03and I just came up with the crackpot idea one Sunday evening about
0:11:03 > 0:11:05swimming the Channel.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08My name is Jamie Gillespie.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09I jumped at the chance.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11You know, it's not something I could turn down.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13My name is Craig Howorth.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Life is a little bit boring if you don't do things like this.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Picking up the phone on a Sunday afternoon, speaking to people,
0:11:21 > 0:11:23saying, "Do you fancy doing this?"
0:11:23 > 0:11:26with one too many glasses of red wine in your tummy.
0:11:31 > 0:11:38Ironically, the day that our swim window starts will be the sixth
0:11:38 > 0:11:40anniversary of having my leg amputated.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48I lost my leg back in 2004.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53As a young shoulder soldier, I was involved in a motorcycle
0:11:53 > 0:11:56accident just before my 20th birthday.
0:11:56 > 0:11:57And I damage both of my legs.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00One of them could be fixed and the other one couldn't,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02so I chose to have it amputated.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05To suddenly lose a limb, of course, it is
0:12:05 > 0:12:08a challenge that one has to overcome inside your head as well
0:12:08 > 0:12:11as the physical disabilities it provides too.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14If they succeed in their attempts, it will be a new world record.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21But their main goal is to raise money for BLESMA, a charity
0:12:21 > 0:12:25that supports servicemen and women who have lost limbs
0:12:25 > 0:12:26serving their country.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29BLESMA have been there to support me,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32help me with various problems I've had over the years.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35They picked me up, almost from my hospital bed,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37and helped me with my rehabilitation and just gave me
0:12:37 > 0:12:41a huge, great confidence boost and help put me back on my feet, really.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51It is a piece of water that is very deceptive.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58People think of the Channel as rather narrow and benign,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01but it is a large piece of sea.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03It is subject to lots of weather conditions.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06It has the busiest shipping lane in the worlds.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Tankers, container ships, bulk carriers,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12all moving east-west into some of Europe's greatest ports.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Things like the jellyfish and so forth are a concern,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19but tidal currents are far more of a concern to me.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Bad sea conditions, rough seas...
0:13:24 > 0:13:26And the other thing, of course, being on a boat, it is
0:13:26 > 0:13:29a very small boat, means it is very unsettled.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32So the chance of being seasick there is much higher.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Tell me when to go.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Each will swim in a relay for one hour before changing.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49- Whenever you're ready, buddy, off you go.- Good luck, man!
0:13:49 > 0:13:50Woohoo!
0:13:50 > 0:13:52As the strongest team member,
0:13:52 > 0:13:57Conrad will swim the first stretch from the official start beach.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59We want this swim to be a classified swim,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03which means we are swimming using the same rules that able-bodied
0:14:03 > 0:14:04people would use,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07so there have been no concessions for having a peg leg for us.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09And I think that is great.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12- HORN BLOWS - Go!
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Some of the guys have asked if we can swim with silicone socks on our
0:14:21 > 0:14:23stumps, which we use in the prosthetic legs just to help
0:14:23 > 0:14:25with the cold, but they've said no,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28that wouldn't be a registered swim if we were to do that.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31So we all have to swim with our stumps exposed in the water.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34The lack of protection from the cold means
0:14:34 > 0:14:37they run the risk of experiencing physical sensations
0:14:37 > 0:14:42from where their limbs used to be, which can be excruciating.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45But this is not the only hurdle they face.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50All of us are worried about getting out of the water into the boat.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55You can't really be assisted, so you have to climb up a ladder.
0:14:55 > 0:15:00So climbing up a ladder with only one leg is going to be a hoot, really.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Steve is the one who is going to suffer the most, obviously,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11being an above-knee amputee, because there is no knee to
0:15:11 > 0:15:13put his foot on the step at the back of the boat.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17You've done your swim and your arms will feel pretty tired,
0:15:17 > 0:15:21and then you have got to pull yourself up a ladder with one leg.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25The team is coached by Channel swimming veteran
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Giovanna Richards.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30It is really a difficult day to progress there.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- It looks like he's... - Yeah, it's very strong.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36I told him to hammer down.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40I've told Conrad to swim as hard as he can for the first hour
0:15:40 > 0:15:44because the tides notoriously near Dover are very strong.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47So it is good to push as much as you can in the first hour to get
0:15:47 > 0:15:51out and actually get into this swim, so to speak.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- You are doing good, mate! - Well done, Conrad!
0:16:01 > 0:16:06Looking strong as ever. Bloody ox.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- He is a tug.- Yeah, he is. Toot-toot!
0:16:16 > 0:16:20It is time for the first changeover and Steve is up next.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26Obviously, with no knee, getting up here is going to be a bit tricky.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Conrad! Conrad!
0:16:37 > 0:16:38That's it, mate.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Up you come, Conrad, cos he can't go off till you're sat down, fella.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Conrad can only be helped onto the boat once
0:16:45 > 0:16:47he has hoisted himself clear of the water.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Good lad. Yes! Let's go.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15- How many nautical miles?- 1.9. - 1.9, good.- Well done.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17- Shame, I wanted it to be two. - Good work.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20That was a good swim, well done.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24And Steve is looking lovely and smooth, such a nice stroke.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29The team is relying on the boat's skipper, Stu,
0:17:29 > 0:17:30to maintain the right speed
0:17:30 > 0:17:35and course against ever-changing wind directions and tidal currents.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40His decisions could have a major impact on how the team fare.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- Well done, big fella.- Yeah, cheers to you. How was it?- Good.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47I made you chase the boat.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49I noticed, I liked that. I liked chasing the boat a bit.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52- You'd let me get a bit of edge in there...- Not quite that far back.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55No, it's good for your mind, though, to chase something, you know?
0:17:55 > 0:17:59I was looking for two nautical miles in the first hour and now we're
0:17:59 > 0:18:03pushing for at least two nautical miles in the next hour again
0:18:03 > 0:18:05in order to kind of get that distance in.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It's very important to keep that distance in.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11But I'm going to have a bit of water now, just to get some hydration,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14and then I am going to have a stout porkpie. Porkpie.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Because it is full of energy.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20And that porkpie is going to drive me the next two nautical miles.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23HE LAUGHS
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Steve has done a lot of open-water swimming, he is very good.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Very good indeed. Very good pace.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42Another vital member of the support crew is Phil Artingstall,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45from the Channel Swimming Association,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48who will oversee their attempt and ensure this swim is
0:18:48 > 0:18:51officially recognised if they succeed.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Steve's swimming well. He's swimming at the same stroke
0:18:54 > 0:18:57rate at the moment as Conrad did - 66 strokes a minute.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00And he has dropped his reserve, he's nice and comfortable,
0:19:00 > 0:19:01so it's a good pace.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08The swimmers smother themselves in Vaseline,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11not to protect against the cold, but to prevent chafing in salt water.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Jamie is next to take the plunge.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18I'm a little bit anxious.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22I'm not quite as strong as these two guys and I don't want to let anyone
0:19:22 > 0:19:24down, so it will be tempting to get in there
0:19:24 > 0:19:26and just work too hard, too soon
0:19:26 > 0:19:29and blow myself out and look like a mess,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33so I really have to tell myself, "Relax, slow down, keep your head."
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- Have a good swim, mate! - No touching, Jamie! Go, boy!
0:19:41 > 0:19:43As the only above-the-knee amputee,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Steve now faces the part of the challenge he's most anxious about.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Yeah, he's going to need some help, mate.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52He doesn't have a knee, but...
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Can Jamie carry on?
0:20:06 > 0:20:07Not yet.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12- You all right?- Yep.- Good to go?
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- Well done, Steve!- Well done, Steve.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21How many is that? How many nautical miles have we got?
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- 3.5.- 3.5 total now.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24He swam 1.6.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Halfway into Jamie's swim,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33the conditions become noticeably choppier.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39It's the tide, it's the wind, it's the wash from the ferries.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- It is the Channel.- Yeah, it is what it is.- It's the Channel, isn't it?
0:20:43 > 0:20:45It is what it is.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Steve begins to suffer with sea sickness.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57He were OK before he went in the water as well, weren't he?
0:21:02 > 0:21:06His body is already depleted after swimming over a mile and a half.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09And he has to swim again...twice.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13What's important is to manage that correctly
0:21:13 > 0:21:15so he's able to swim again.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19So he needs to keep his fluids up, eating little snacks - little
0:21:19 > 0:21:22and often - taking the seasick pills
0:21:22 > 0:21:24and just keeping him warm, really,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28because severe sea sickness can compromise a swim.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32It is vital Steve takes on fuel to recover.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35If he pulls out, the swim is over.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38He has got to get back in and swim, basically.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Yeah, because if one person is out, they are all out.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43- Lovely.- Hey, Jamie!
0:21:57 > 0:22:01The UK's vast coastline attracts smugglers, traffickers
0:22:01 > 0:22:05and illegal immigrants attempting to enter the country.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Last year alone, 4.5 tonnes of drugs
0:22:09 > 0:22:14and just under 150 million contraband cigarettes were seized.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18And 1,500 suspected immigration offenders were
0:22:18 > 0:22:20arrested by the authorities.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28The UK's Border Force are in operation 24 hours
0:22:28 > 0:22:32a day on the coastal waters, responding to intelligence
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and patrolling high-risk locations.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Off the coast of Beachy Head,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41the Border Force is approaching a suspicious vessel.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48The boat has been sailing erratically, so officers Steve Peel
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and Ben Huggings have been dispatched to investigate.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Ben, go ahead.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03They are in constant contact with Commander Nick on the mother ship.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Is very difficult to police the Channel.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07You can imagine the size of it
0:23:07 > 0:23:10and the amount of vessels that are coming in.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13To board every vessel is an impossible task,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16but we do try our best to get on as many as possible to
0:23:16 > 0:23:19ensure that they aren't carrying anything that they shouldn't be.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Out of 100 vessels, it may only be one vessel that is carrying
0:23:22 > 0:23:25something that it shouldn't be.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27I don't know why this yacht is not going in a straight line.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31It may be the man just bought it. It may be he can't drive it.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33It may be he doesn't know what he's doing.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36On the other hand, it may be that they have got something they
0:23:36 > 0:23:40don't want to talk about, so they're just being a little bit evasive.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43But the skipper is not evasive and allows the officers on board.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58Yes, I understand vessel is secure. Thank you, I'll wait for your call.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03Um, we've got one person on board there, so it's like a lone sailor.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06The vessel is secure, means there's been no resistance.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08It was quite a passive boarding.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11So we're just establishing credibility.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14OK, so where have you travelled from today?
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne.- OK.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- And where you travelling to? - Back to Sovereign Harbour.
0:24:20 > 0:24:21Eventually.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25It should have been Brighton, but the wind direction was wrong,
0:24:25 > 0:24:26so I didn't make that.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29And when was the last time you were outside of the UK?
0:24:29 > 0:24:32I don't go over the water, I'm coastal only.
0:24:32 > 0:24:37- No problem. Lovely day for a sail. - Excellent.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38- The winds are a bit of a mess. - Nick, Ben.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42- I'm ready when you are, over. - Yes, ready to copy.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46'Echo, India, Lima, Sierra, Tango, India, Echo, November.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48'Do copy, over.'
0:24:48 > 0:24:50It is all copied, thank you.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53At the moment, the only information we have is the name of the op, which
0:24:53 > 0:24:56we can check through our control, and also where it is registered.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59The SSR number is a bit like a car numberplate.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03It is unique and we can check the owner via that database.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Is there anything on the vessel that we need to be aware of?
0:25:07 > 0:25:11Such as firearms, explosives, controlled drugs,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13indecent, obscene material?
0:25:13 > 0:25:16No, no, no. Nothing at all.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21Standard flares and emergency equipment, and that's it.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24We're about two miles just off of Newhaven.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27We noticed from our radar that there were several erratic
0:25:27 > 0:25:29alterations of course.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31- Yes.- Could you just tell us why that was the case?
0:25:31 > 0:25:34I've been doing that all day, basically, every time I'd
0:25:34 > 0:25:37be on the wind and I'd lose it, the wind turned, and I'm back off again.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41- OK, so you're just chasing the wind. - Yeah. I stalled out about three times
0:25:41 > 0:25:42OK.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44I'm searching for the wind now.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Commander Nick is concerned about his erratic sailing,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53especially as he is approaching a major shipping lane.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Two miles, TSS. That's all copied.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00So, just to let you know, TSS is two miles to the south of us.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- It's just for your safety, that's all.- Yeah.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04- There's a hell of a lot of ships out there.- Yeah, there are.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07I'm going to have to turn around and sail home anyway.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10- I'm a long way off shore.- OK.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11OK, sir, we're happy.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15Hopefully, you'll have a safe journey off to Eastbourne.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17- Thank you.- OK?
0:26:18 > 0:26:21The team gives the yacht and its skipper the all clear.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34We got on the yacht, as you can see, all in black.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37The guy was sitting there, thinking, "What is happening here?"
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Anyway, it turns out he was just out for the day,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43just sailing out from Eastbourne, trying to get to Brighton.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Unfortunately, the wind wasn't strong enough
0:26:45 > 0:26:49so he ended up back in Eastbourne today.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52When it comes to safeguarding the UK,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55the Border Force never take anything on face value.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01No-one will ever know what a smuggler looks like,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04so until we actually start asking questions,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07we will never know what is actually there and
0:27:07 > 0:27:10whether this particular person is someone involved
0:27:10 > 0:27:11in anything illicit.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16After a 12-hours shift, the Force returns to shore at Newhaven.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24We have kept the Channel safe for another day.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34The UK's coastline is brimming with industries,
0:27:34 > 0:27:39from marine fisheries, import and export of goods
0:27:39 > 0:27:41and energy.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45All of the UK's nuclear power stations are located on coastal
0:27:45 > 0:27:49sites and are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels,
0:27:49 > 0:27:52something that is thought to be one of the likeliest
0:27:52 > 0:27:56outcomes of global warming, making them even more at risk.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02But as an island nation with 11,000 miles of coastline, we are
0:28:02 > 0:28:06perfectly positioned to harness an important natural resource.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11The UK has more offshore wind farms than the rest of the world combined.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19Over 1,000 turbines dotted across 22 locations exploit the strong
0:28:19 > 0:28:21wind speeds off our coast.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26These towering monoliths are helping reduce the UK's
0:28:26 > 0:28:29reliance on fossil fuels and energy imports.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36One of the largest wind farms in the world is located in the Channel,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39seven miles off the coast of Thanet, in Kent.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Offshore technician Stewart Box is on his way to work,
0:28:46 > 0:28:49but this is no ordinary commute.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Today we are going to a turbine to do some annual maintenance,
0:28:53 > 0:28:57just to make sure that all the electrical stuff is still in order.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04It is a 30-minute boat journey to the turbine field that
0:29:04 > 0:29:10generates enough clean power to keep 200,000 homes running for a year.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12I used to be an electrician doing household jobs at factories
0:29:12 > 0:29:15and shops, but as soon as I had the chance to come out here,
0:29:15 > 0:29:16offshore in the wind,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19it's like it was a no-brainer, I had to go and do it.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22A bit of adventure, a bit different, out at sea.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24I've been here for nearly four years now,
0:29:24 > 0:29:26so when you're out here, it is sort of...
0:29:26 > 0:29:28It has become the norm now, but I still look around sometimes,
0:29:28 > 0:29:30I look outside, and I go, "This is my office.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32"I can't believe I work here."
0:29:32 > 0:29:35We come out to maintain the turbines pretty much seven days a week.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37There is usually always guys working.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39We try to get as much work as we possibly can done in the summer,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42because when the winter comes, we are battling the elements then,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45so there is a big push for summer work to get done.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50When the waves are too high, we can't go offshore to work.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Also when the wind is too much...
0:29:52 > 0:29:53No matter what, when you think
0:29:53 > 0:29:56you've got it sussed, something always comes up.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59It is just a massive challenge just to get work done here.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03Today, as well as performing routine internal checks,
0:30:03 > 0:30:08Stewart must also venture out onto the head of the turbine.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12This can be a dangerous job just because you are working at height and
0:30:12 > 0:30:15you're working at sea, so just being offshore is inherently dangerous.
0:30:15 > 0:30:21Even the first leg of the journey to the platform at 15 metres is risky.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25So Stewart makes sure he is hooked on at all times.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28It is definitely a tiring job what we do.
0:30:28 > 0:30:29You are constantly climbing,
0:30:29 > 0:30:32constantly using your physical energy all the time.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53Once they are on the platform, it is still
0:30:53 > 0:30:56another 70-metre ride up to the very top.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09You can't do this job if you've got a fear of heights
0:31:09 > 0:31:12cos you are always working at height.
0:31:16 > 0:31:17Now we are at the top.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20We've got to climb another ladder and then we'll get to the top,
0:31:20 > 0:31:22which is in the cell, where all the main components are.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30The space is so tight that the crew has to hoist up the equipment
0:31:30 > 0:31:32after they are in position.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46First, the maintenance crew checks the very heart
0:31:46 > 0:31:48of the turbine's mechanics.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55You can't plug a wind turbine directly into the national grid,
0:31:55 > 0:31:59so a transformer safely converts the electricity to the right voltage.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03These transformers step the voltage up from 1,000 volts,
0:32:03 > 0:32:08which is what the turbine produces electricity at, up to 33,000 volts,
0:32:08 > 0:32:09which goes into the national grid.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12We only get access to this transformer room once a year,
0:32:12 > 0:32:16so we have to check that the bolts are their correct tightness.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20With the bolts tightened, it is time to prepare the turbine
0:32:20 > 0:32:22so Stewart can climb out onto the summit.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25Basically, now I am going to lock the blades
0:32:25 > 0:32:28so that the moving component of the turbines is stopped.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31You definitely would not want to be outside or anywhere near those blades
0:32:31 > 0:32:32when they're moving.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36You have got no control whatsoever where the wind is taking them.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39These are hard-joint locking pins, so you are pumping fluid
0:32:39 > 0:32:42into the locks to push pins into the blades to stop them turning.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49It is now safe for Stewart to brave the elements.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54A spine chilling 85 metres above sea level.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59A bit scared. The first time I was up here, I was scared.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02If my mum and dad came out here and saw what I was doing up here,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05my mum would tell me to get off straightaway.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07Just getting a trust for the equipment.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Once that trust is built, you don't think about the fear factor any more.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11As long as you know you are clipping
0:33:11 > 0:33:13on right and you are doing things properly.
0:33:15 > 0:33:16That is what we get to see every day.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19It is not always this sunny, but you can't win them all.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22Yeah, it's pretty unique. Not many people get to see this every day.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32What we do is preventative maintenance.
0:33:36 > 0:33:37We're topping off the coolant.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42So the coolant basically keeps the generator and gearbox nice and cool,
0:33:42 > 0:33:44so just like your car, you have to put coolant in every now and then,
0:33:44 > 0:33:48that's the same thing we do out here, to make sure it don't shut down.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51If there is no coolant in them, these turbines would overheat pretty quick.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01Keeping this 100-strong wind farm running is a big job.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05And Stewart's maintenance crew forms a tight unit.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08We've got a good group of guys, we have a good laugh,
0:34:08 > 0:34:10a good bit of banter between us, so get the day to go by.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14I don't think Stewart is a very good technician at all. He's very lazy.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16I'm working with idiots.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Always giving me grief, these two monkeys. But it's good,
0:34:19 > 0:34:21it is always having a laugh. I give them grief,
0:34:21 > 0:34:22they give me grief.
0:34:22 > 0:34:23He does try really hard.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27There is a little comfort in there. There is a little sliver.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29Yeah, the job is pretty special.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31I love this job because it is different to any other job
0:34:31 > 0:34:35I've ever had, it's different from most people's nine-to-five.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39- Do you want some more?- No, I'm good.
0:34:41 > 0:34:42You look out and you think,
0:34:42 > 0:34:46"I'm having my lunch on the top of a tower in the middle of the sea."
0:34:46 > 0:34:49Nice view. You can see France over there.
0:34:49 > 0:34:50Peaceful.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54It's not a bad way of life. Is it, boys?
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Yeah, we're lucky when it's sunny, we get to sit out on the roof
0:34:57 > 0:34:58and have lunch.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04I think you got to be a bit of an adventurous person to come out
0:35:04 > 0:35:06here in the first place anyway.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08You get your adrenaline rush every day.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15I want to be doing this for as long as the body lets me, basically.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18In this remote part of the Channel, the mechanics
0:35:18 > 0:35:21continue their important work to keep the wind farm running.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26All ships in the Dover Strait, this is Dover Coast Guard.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29But round the corner, in the bustling Dover Straits,
0:35:29 > 0:35:32the ex-military amputees have just crossed through
0:35:32 > 0:35:35the first of two shipping lanes.
0:35:35 > 0:35:40Taking it in turns, they have swum alongside vast tankers and ferries.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Big cargo ship looming down on us.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45You are conscious of being too far away from the boat, too close
0:35:45 > 0:35:48to the boat. You put your head up, take a breath and then you get
0:35:48 > 0:35:49a big mouthful of water.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52So everything is changing, everything is changing
0:35:52 > 0:35:54all the time and you hardly get the chance to get great
0:35:54 > 0:35:58consistency like you would in a flat lake or in a swimming pool.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04Steve White is about to begin his second swim.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08He has endured chronic sea sickness and has been unable to refuel.
0:36:09 > 0:36:14He must now find the strength to swim two more miles.
0:36:14 > 0:36:15If he pulls out,
0:36:15 > 0:36:19the team's attempt to set a new world record will end in failure.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24The crew is depending on him to dig deep.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29When you are in the water, you don't actually feel seasick.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32It is actually when you are on the boat that it's worse.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35So as soon as he gets in the water, he'll feel much better.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39But with nothing in his stomach,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42the team is worried his energy levels have suffered.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44After this one... If he can't keep it down after this one...
0:36:44 > 0:36:46Yeah, I'd be worried.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49He'll pull it out of the tank for this one, but then he needs food.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Yeah, he has got to.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58As he struggles against the waves, Steve's stroke rate drops.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03It is getting to the stage where
0:37:03 > 0:37:06they're putting themselves at risk
0:37:06 > 0:37:09and there's visible signs that
0:37:09 > 0:37:12they're not going to be able to complete it, then yes, you would
0:37:12 > 0:37:16have to think of stepping and saying, "Enough is enough."
0:37:19 > 0:37:21Despite running on empty,
0:37:21 > 0:37:25Steve covers a respectable distance during his stint.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30Go for it, Jamie! Come on.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Now he has to try to ride out three hours
0:37:38 > 0:37:41back on the boat before his next swim.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50But the sea sickness returns straightaway.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58- Should I go?- Yes, let's go!
0:37:59 > 0:38:03The team is now halfway across the Channel, but it is impossible
0:38:03 > 0:38:07to predict how long it will be until they reach France.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10You can never judge a swim this far off.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14There's so many variables - the wind could change direction, the tide
0:38:14 > 0:38:16could be strong or less strong,
0:38:16 > 0:38:18you could go farther, you could not go as far...
0:38:19 > 0:38:23So predictions at this stage cannot be done.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28With Conrad pushing out another two miles, it is
0:38:28 > 0:38:30Steve's turn to re-enter the water.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34What we need you to do, when you get in there,
0:38:34 > 0:38:38is push us out of this lane and into coastal waters.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40- I'll do that.- All right?
0:38:45 > 0:38:51- Good luck, Steve. Enjoy. - Can I go in?- Can he go in?- Yeah.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03We've only got a few miles left now, it's the last big push.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05We are just going through the second shipping lane.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08Once we get to the other side of that, then it is the final push
0:39:08 > 0:39:09to France.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16Steve's stroke rate is up by four strokes a minute on his last swim.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19His stroke rate is 66 strokes a minute.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21You can see him pulling as well.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Doing well for a man who is not feeling too good.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33- There is something just on the horizon there.- That is France!
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Yay! Well done.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44Bring it home, brothers.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46He has done his job.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48I asked him to get the team to the edge of the lane,
0:39:48 > 0:39:50and he has done that.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52So good on him.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54Despite the sea sickness,
0:39:54 > 0:39:59Steve's efforts put the team firmly on course for success.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02Well done, Steve. Good work!
0:40:02 > 0:40:04- You all right?- Yeah.- Well done.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07You are counting on your mates now.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12This is really important for us as a group of lads.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16With France in sight and the tide on their side,
0:40:16 > 0:40:20Jamie and Craig also turn out their best swims of the day.
0:40:22 > 0:40:23Go on, Craig!
0:40:30 > 0:40:32With the landing beach in sight, it is
0:40:32 > 0:40:36now up to Conrad to swim the last stretch to France...
0:40:39 > 0:40:41..in what could be a world record.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45Good lad.
0:40:50 > 0:40:51Go on, Conrad!
0:40:55 > 0:40:59But now the coastal tide is painfully prolonging the finish.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04It is pushing us down there and what we want to be doing is either
0:41:04 > 0:41:08going straight in there or going right in the corner to the beaches.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13What we are going to have to do is just let the tide go and then try
0:41:13 > 0:41:15and pull us back around here.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24Come on, Conrad!
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Despite the poor weather and tough Channel conditions,
0:41:32 > 0:41:37the team complete their swim in just 12 hours and 14 minutes.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41THEY YELL
0:41:41 > 0:41:44HORN SOUNDS
0:41:52 > 0:41:54Really happy. Just really pleased it is done.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57Steve struggled big time.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00I'm pleased... I'm pleased that we made it.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08- Great job, Conrad.- Well done, mate. Awesome.- Hell of a swim, man.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10You did exactly what I asked you to do.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15- Well done, mate, well done. - Excellent.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18You know, we've done it, we have completed it as a team,
0:42:18 > 0:42:26which is fantastic. And we came and did what we said we were going to do.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28That's it.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Well done, fellas.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34They have set a new world record,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38becoming the first all-amputee relay team to cross the Channel.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44The team must now return to Dover, to a tradition that awaits all
0:42:44 > 0:42:48those who have successfully made the swim.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51The money they have raised will go towards helping other
0:42:51 > 0:42:56ex-servicemen and women recover from and live with limb loss.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59- To the team.- Well done.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02And to a new world record as well.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04ALL: Yes!
0:43:04 > 0:43:05Well done.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09In achieving a world first,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12their names are forever etched in the history books of the Channel.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18The place where so many other battles have been lost and won.