As winter approaches, the last thing on many people's minds is getting into a swimming pool.

But after last year's December training camp, this mindset has changed for Bermuda's Harbour/Sharks senior squad as they prepare to take their swimming skills over to England for a 10-day tour.

The group, made up of members of both the Harbour Club and Sharks Club and including many of the Bermuda national squad, depart on Saturday with coach and event organiser Stephen Castree as well as coaches Barbara Waldow and Thomas Simmons.

The swimmers are excited by the prospect of some off-Island competition and coach Castree is keen to pitch the local talent against some strong opposition overseas.

The tour will be based in Amersham in Buckinghamshire with the former swimming club of the coach providing the host families and training time.

Bermuda's swimmers will take part in eight training sessions including both water and gym work prior to a two-day `National Qualifying Meet' which takes place in Haslemere in Surrey.

Castree is bullish about the prospects for the swimmers and all are expected to out-strip previous performances.

"The meet is in a 25 metre pool which is the same as we have in Bermuda, but it is a fast pool as it has eight lanes and is an equal depth throughout," he said. "The chance to compete against top UK swimmers will be a great challenge, but these are well prepared athletes who should step up to the challenge well."

The tour moves to Surrey on the eve of the meet to stay in a hotel for the two nights of the competition which takes place on November 17 and 18.

On November 19 the team will travel to Bath and in the afternoon will train in the world class Olympic size University of Bath pool.

The University Club is a Centre of Excellence for British swimming and boasts world record holders and world championship medallists among its team members.

"As soon as we finish our training session the elite squad at the university get in to train. This will give our athletes a direct view of how top performers train and will encourage them to emulate that performance on their return to Bermuda," said Castree.

The team will return to Bermuda on Tuesday, November 20, just prior to the National Sprint Championships which take place at the BASA pool on November 24.

Then it's onto winter training leading up to the second annual Harbour Swimming Club Training Camp which takes place December 8-14 prior to the Christmas break.