Kiwi mum determined to be lucky 13th

Tracy Clark is only a month away from taking on the biggest challenge of her life - swimming the English Channel.

The number 13 has notoriously been considered a bad omen, but Kiwi mother Tracy Clark is hoping it will be the stroke of luck she needs to successfully swim the English Channel.

If all goes as planned, Mrs Clark will be the 13th New Zealander to successfully cross the Channel, and is hoping the number 13 will be her lucky omen to help her tackle the jellyfish-infested waters.

"I was born on the 13th, I'm doing the swim in 2013, and 13 is my lucky number so it has to be good luck."

The Christchurch-born businesswoman, who moved to the Netherlands in 2004, is only one month away from taking on the biggest challenge of her life.

Mrs Clark is nearing the end of her year-long training programme and says she has really got into the swim of things.

"I'm a little nervous, but I'm mentally tough. I've never done anything like it, you know, I'm not an athlete, just a mum."

The mother of two said her vigorous early-morning training programme was nothing compared to the challenges of raising two children.

"It's either that or try to get the kids ready for school. To be honest, I think the swim is easier."

She has the added motivation of supporting a breast cancer research charity with her swim, in recognition of a close friend who has fought both breast cancer and leukaemia.

"When you choose a charity it has to be something that is personal to you and you're passionate about," Mrs Clark said.

Proud husband Andy Clark is looking forward to being in the support boat next to his wife during her swim.

"I think for her as a child growing up she was always a strong swimmer, and for a whole lot of reasons she never realised her true potential."

If all goes well, Mrs Clark would like to attempt Cook Strait.

"It's a shorter distance but rougher conditions, and there are even reports of people having sharks come up to say hello to them while they're swimming."

Swimming the Channel

• In 1875, Matthew Webb was the first person to successfully swim across the English Channel.

• Out of 2875 attempts, 1341 swimmers have successfully crossed the Channel, 12 of whom have been New Zealanders.

• Roger Allsopp holds the title for the oldest person to swim the Channel, at 70 years.

• The average time it takes to swim the English Channel is 12 hours.

• The shortest distance across the Channel is 21 miles (32km), but tidal changes can increase the swimming distance to up to 38 miles (61km).

• The average water temperature is 16C.