FAQs

HOW DO I OBTAIN A SLOT FOR AN ARCH 2 ARC ATTEMPT?

Please click here for full details of the application process.

how much does it cost?

For 2024/5 attempts the fees will be as follows:

Initial Enduroman Booking Fee : £300
Once your entry has been accepted, you then pay the full Enduroman Fee = £3,600**

The payment schedule for the Enduroman fee is as follows:

The first instalment of the Enduroman fee, £1,800, is to be paid within 2 weeks of the date your contract is issued. This instalment secures your slot and is non-refundable and non-transferable, except in the event where all Channel swimming between England and France is prohibited by the relevant authorities.

The second instalment of the Enduroman fee, £1,800, is to be paid by 31st January in the year of your attempt.

If prompt payment is a problem then please inform Enduroman as soon as possible. An alternative payment schedule can be organised if reasonable notice is given.

As well as the Enduroman fees you also need to take a separate contract and pay the Boat pilot fees. Boat pilot fee, approx £3,900** (2024 prices)

The boat pilot fee is payable in two instalments, one due at the start of the year of your attempt and the other immediately before your swim. Your boat pilot will contact you separately with full details of his payment schedule. The channel crossing fee will vary depending on whether you are solo/relay and wetsuit/non wetsuit. 

**IMPORTANT: When paying for your channel swim and Enduroman you must pay the full amount in GBP and you must cover any bank charges that may apply.

Total cost of Arch 2 Arc attempt = £7,800*

*these prices may increase slightly for 2024

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE ENDUROMAN ENTRY FEE?

From the time your application is accepted you have access to the Enduroman race director and team. This includes specific training advice and contact via phone, skype or email throughout your preparation to discuss any aspect of the challenge or its logistics.

Observation of your qualification swim in the year of your attempt.

Liaison between the authorities, boat pilot, police, highways and Channel swimming governing bodies.

An Enduroman official observer will accompany you throughout your entire Arch 2 Arc attempt. Their role is to oversee your challenge and safety, assist with navigating the road route and liaising with your support crew. Enduroman will also provide official timing and a live GPS tracker for your attempt, together with photos and progress updates on social media.

Website advertising for you, your sponsors and charities.

WHAT ADDITIONAL COSTS ARE THERE TO CONSIDER?

Administration fees for relevant Channel swimming governing body (£120-400).

Travel and administration costs between the UK and Paris.

Vehicle hire if not using your own vehicle as support vehicle. 

(Enduroman recommend a minibus for relays or a 5 door estate for solos).

Fuel for the support vehicle during your attempt (London to Paris return).

Ferry or Euro Tunnel crossing fees for the support vehicle.

Food for your team throughout the challenge.

Accommodation for you and your crew before and after your attempt (near London/ Paris), as required.

Accommodation for you, your crew and the Enduroman Official in Dover/ Folkestone and Calais during your attempt, as required.

DO I NEED A SUPPORT CREW?

Yes, solo athletes will need a support crew during each of the stages. Our experience is that having 2 crews works well - one for the run and bike stages and a separate one for the swim stage. During the swim stage the run/bike crew can rest and take the support vehicle across to France. 

Ideally the run/bike crew should consist of a driver and a support person. Due to limited space on the boat, the swim crew is limited to a maximum of 2 people.

Relay teams can usually provide support for each other but may wish to consider extra help depending on the size of the team and needs of the athletes.

IMPORTANT: For safety reasons, there must be an English speaking person as part of your crew - this is particularly important for the boat.

WHAT ABOUT A SUPPORT VEHICLE?

Athletes will need to provide their own support vehicle for the run and bike stages of their attempt. We recommend using a 5 door estate or similar for solo attempts and a minibus for relay attempts. The Enduroman team member overseeing the challenge attempt travels in the front passenger seat of the support vehicle with the support crew.

If you need to hire a support vehicle for your attempt, ensure with the hire company that it can be taken into Paris. There is usually no difficulty hiring a vehicle that can be taken across to France, but travelling into Paris in a UK hire vehicle is complicated by new anti-pollution laws. 

If you have any questions on the suitability of your vehicle or hiring a vehicle then please contact Enduroman, we will be happy to discuss any concerns you may have.

WHAT ABOUT the routes?

Before your attempt, you will be supplied with the official GPX files for the run and bike routes. Below are some essential points you need to know for the beginning and end of your attempt.

The first 10 miles out of London, the athlete will mainly be on their own; the reason for this is the roads are very busy, and the support vehicle will not be able to keep stopping until they are out of London. A support runner or cyclist is permitted for this section or you can use a watch or another device for navigation. 

For the final leg into Paris, the cyclist MUST stay with the support vehicle. This is because Paris is extremely busy, and the last section of the route may change due to road works and closures. The GPX file you will be given will take you this point and not the Arc De Triomphe.

The athlete must carry their phone for both these sections.

IMPORTANT - YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING IN PLACE BEFORE DRIVING IN LONDON OR PARIS.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DRIVING IN LONDON

Congestion Charge

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge - £15.00 to £17.50 a day

Where it operates:

Central London only - check a postcode or location

Charging times: 

07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri

12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays

No charge between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bank holiday (inclusive)

Emission Zone

Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) £12.50 a day

Where it operates:

Covers the area up to, but not including, the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205) - check a postcode or location

Charging times:

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year (except Christmas Day on 25 December).

A charging day runs from midnight to midnight. You can pay by midnight on the third charging day after you travel or up to 90 days in advance.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DRIVING IN FRANCE

The support vehicle must be adapted for driving on French roads in the usual way - GB sticker, headlight converters, high viz vest, warning triangle and spare bulbs.

You now also need to obtain an anti-pollution sticker to drive your vehicle into Paris. This has to be done online and is mailed to you, so aim to do this several weeks before your attempt. The online link is here.

what are the rules?

Please see the Arch to Arc rules here

what about INSURANCE?

Sportscover Direct offer insurance cover for Arch 2 Arc participants who are UK residents. 

Challengers should select the Ultratriathlon option in the Sports Travel section of the website - this is a new category of policy, if it is not yet on the website then Sportscover Direct have confirmed that cover can be arranged over the phone on 01494 484800 in the meantime. 

Tag relay team members who decide only to compete in one discipline should select either the Road Cycling, Ultramarathon or Cross Channel Swimming option as relevant.

ENDUROMAN NOTES AND ARTICLES

Arch 2 Arc Checklist - From Application to Attempt - deadlines for the paperwork associated with an Arch 2 Arc attempt and suggested timetable for the logistics preparations. 

Support

We have an Enduroman Facebook Group (search Enduroman Events and ask to be accepted) where you can ask questions and post updates.

There is also a WhatsApp Group for athletes going to the Lanzarote Swim Camp. Please contact us if you would like to be added to this.

WEBSITES

www.channelswimming.net - website with information on wetsuit swims across the Channel. As well as outlining the CSPS rules for a wetsuit swim the site contains detailed information on training, tides, weather and navigation written by Mike Oram. Scroll down the site's home page to a link to a "standard information pack" for more information and other useful links, including a link to a swimmer chat site.

www.cspf.co.uk - website for the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (non wetsuit swims).