How does a 7-kilometre ocean swim at dawn sound?

Oh, followed by a 30-minute ice bath at 10 degrees. 

This is the life of someone who's dedicated the past seven years of their life to the Mount Everest of swimming: the English Channel.

Craig Clarke is a 57-year-old Hunter Valley mineworker. He also has salt water running through his veins.

The ocean, despite its obvious threats, is his happy place.

"I've always had a massive love for the ocean, it's always been my preferred place to swim," he said.

Mr Clarke swam on the edge of the English Channel in 2015, just to experience it. From there he was hooked.

"It was quite cold at 11 degrees. I just wanted to understand the channel, the whole aura of the place," he said.

From there, a five-year plan was set in motion.

That plan has included thousands of early morning ocean swims beyond the breakers off Newcastle, where the water is deep and danger lurks.

"I'm totally convinced sharks are not looking at us as something to eat or attack. I've always had the theory that if you are moving, they're not going to come near you," he said.

Homemade channel grease keeps jellies at bay

Sharks aren't a problem in the English Channel because it's too cold.

Jellyfish are a different story.

That's where Mr Clarke's home made channel grease comes into play.

Equal parts lanolin — which is wool fat — paraffin and sunscreen, it helps ease the jellyfish stings and chafing during the 12-hour crossing.

Mr Clarke had planned to attempt the channel in 2020, but the pandemic got in the way.

Instead he became the first person to swim from Catherine Hill Bay to Newcastle.

He did that in winter and completed the 30km distance in less than 12 hours.

Learning from the best

If Mr Clarke is successful in crossing the Strait of Dover in July, he'll be in elite company.

Since 1875, when Captain Matthew Webb made the first crossing, just 1,749 people have successfully swum the channel.

One of them was Australian Des Renford, who crossed 19 times and lit the fire for Mr Clarke's ambition.

"In my eyes he'll always be the king of the channel," Mr Clarke said.

"I was fascinated by the image of Des with the channel grease and the size and shape of him; he stood out as a real character as well.

Australian Trent Grimsey holds the record for the fastest crossing ever.

In 2012, he swam the channel in 6 hours 55 minutes, when he was 24 years old.

He is also Mr Clarke's coach.

"Craig's done really well. I'm really confident in everything Craig has done, that he will have a very good swim on the day," Mr Grimsey said.

When asked how he'd feel if a man pushing 60 broke his record, Mr Grimsey broke into laughter.

"I'd like to hold on to the record for a little bit longer, but if he does, I'll be very, very happy for him," he said.

Mr Clarke's swim will take place on July 8 and will raise money for mental health support service Beyond Blue.