Surfmuppet needs a good crack on the head with a stout piece of timber as he has not updated the blog for a good three weeks. For any of you wondering did he make it across Galway Bay in one piece, the answer is yes, in 4hrs 57mins, exactly one hour slower than last year.

Looks like bludging around the shallow end of the pool paid off. Plenty of drama of course, with the lowlight being Mrs Surfmuppet suffering a compression fracture of the T11 vertebrae while zipping across some big chop in a small fast moving boat on the way out to support el muppetero in the swim.

More to come.