Swimmer Support

grahambrooks · Swimmer Support

I have been approached by a long distance swimmer who is looking for canoeists to support her as explained below:

I wonder if you can help me. I am training for a 2 person english channel crossing in August 09 and I enter alot of the british long distance swimming association races, however I can only enter up to 4 mile races as I dont have my own safety cover....I also would like to get up to coniston or windermere once a month to do a longer swim but again, for safety reasons i should have a canoeist! Do you think anyone would be interested in helping me out? I will obviously pay all expenses to get to races etc....Probably talking once a month in the lakes (just for 3-4 months) and potentially 3 races...mainly saturdays when the summer arrives.

Let me know what you think
Thanks and regards
Michelle

These are the initial dates:

July 19th - Coniston
August 15th - Derwentwater

Both events are likely to start at 9.20 for a briefing so I would expect that they are both more or less all day events (5 and 6 mile swims, brieifings etc).

Please post a reply if you can assist.

Graham Brooks

Mel Stoddart

Hi Graham,

What would it involve exactly? I'd be happy to paddle along side, but (in the words of the film) I'd need a bigger boat if rescues were involved.

Mel

grahambrooks · Swimmer Support

Mel - This is what Michelle (the swimmer) has sent to me

I see a reply on your forum so here is the answer officially for what is involved as I cant post it without an account! No need for rescues or big boats, just guiding and occassional pass of drink. hope this helps!

The duty of the canoeist is to guide the swimmer on the course and be responsible for his/her safety.

Equipment
Information you require
Positioning
Keeping your swimmer on course
Getting HELP if you or your swimmer get into difficulty

Equipment

Canoeists must wear adequate clothing, including a light coloured coat, life jacket or buoyancy aid and be competent swimmers.

Each canoe should have a minimum of 30 lbs buoyancy in each end, bow and stern toggles, safety lines or painters - taut, spray deck with easy release strap, exposure bag (extra large plastic bag will suffice), thermos flask, food, repair kit, bailing can, compass and whistle.

A canoe accompanying a swimmer should fly the flag Alpha. This flag is internationally recognized as indicating a diver down or a swimmer in the water. Should the swimmer leave the water the flag should be taken down immediately. It is appreciated that it is difficult for a canoe to fly such a flag but two methods which have been successful are: (a) use a whip aerial mounted on the rear of the canoe, (b) push the pole on which the flag is mounted down between the back of the canoeist's life jacket and his/her normal clothing.

Information you require

Has the course been fully explained to you - the landmarks to aim for, the strength, direction etc., of the tide, shallows, wrecks, barbed wire etc., and any special procedure for 'Swim Abandoned'. If you are not happy about anything, ask the race organizer. If the course is a major one which you are not familiar, have you checked the landmarks on the map which should have been supplied to you and noted any appropriate compass bearings.

Positioning

If you are guiding a front crawl swimmer you should keep a position opposite his/her head on the side to which he/she breathes, so that he can see you as he breathes, and not more than 10 feet away. Remember that his/her normal visibility is about 3 inches above water level and that all he/she will see during most of the swim will be you. So smile at him/her occasionally and never look worried or he/she may think you are lost.

A breaststroke swimmer will normally prefer you to be slightly to the side and a little in front of them.

Keeping your swimmer on course

If your swimmer persists in wandering off course you are entitled to attract his/her attention to this fact by whatever means are appropriate, visual signals, or audible - a single whistle 'blast', or as a last resort, position your canoe so that he/she has to edge away to avoid hitting it. Don't hesitate to indicate to your swimmer that he/she is trying to nudge you off course. Hold up your hand to him/her and indicate 'push' him/her away. Often swimmers like to keep very close company to their escort and fail to leave sufficient comfortable space for you to paddle and manoeuvre in a cross wind. Again, if he/she persists, shout at him/her and tell him/her to keep further away. On the other hand the swimmer may think that he/she knows the course better than you and incline away from you, but 7 metres should be the maximum distance separating you.

If your swimmer is racing neck and neck with another competitor ne/she may well be reluctant to part company and it may be as well to let him/her continue unless there is any danger or much diversion from the true course.

In a cross wind you may find you are continually being blown into the swimmer and think that it is them that are swinging towards you. The remedy is to change the side on which you are escorting the swimmer. Make sure that you make them aware of what you are going to do first though!

Getting HELP if you or your swimmer get into difficulty

If at any time you are in difficulty or anticipating difficulty, the power boat will come to any canoeist who raises his paddle vertically and holds it there. It is appreciated that this position cannot be held for any length of time, but it should be repeated until assistance arrives whilst blowing your whistle. Repeated short blasts on the whistle should attract the attention of other canoeists or boat crew in the vicinity if you require assistance.

If you capsize whilst assisting a swimmer who is in difficulty never leave your canoe to go to the swimmer, always take the canoe to the swimmer.

----- Original Message -----
From: Graham Brooks
To: Michelle
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: Enquiry via website

Michelle

I have placed your request on our canoe club web site and will let you know as soon as I have an idea who is interested. You can view the message at: -

http://westhoughtoncanoeclub.org

Look on the Forum and then on Events

Graham

-------Original Message-------

From: Michelle
Date: 07/02/2009 13:35:01
To: Graham Brooks
Subject: Re: Enquiry via website

Hi Graham

I am starting to prepare for the open water season(!), and the dates for the coniston / Derwentwater races are:

July 19th - Coniston
August 15th - Derwentwater

and i have to have canoe cover for this. Both events are likely to start at 9.20 for a briefing so I would expect that they are both more or less all day events (5 and 6 mile swims, brieifings etc); There are time limits on the races of 5 hours but I would expect to complete well before that(!) - Here are the conditions for entry;

Conditions of Entry
1. For this swim all swimmers must provide their own safety cover, which shall be either a canoe and canoeist or rowing boat and boat crew. No swimmers will be allowed to participate in this event if they have not provided their own support. Its the entrants responsibility to provide the safety cover.
2. This swim is restricted to fully paid-up senior members of the BLDSA.
3. All support craft are to fly a Flag Alpha while escorting their swimmer, failure to do so will result in disqualification.
4. It is the responsibility of the swimmer to ensure that their safety cover is at the briefing in good time. If a swimmer’s safety cover is not at the briefing the swimmer will not be allowed to start the race.
5. BLDSA Rules apply to this swim, i.e. only traditional swimming costumes/ trucks (must not extend beyond the end of the shoulder onto the upper arm and lower than the crotch onto the upper leg) will be permitted (No wetsuits or body suites). Caps - Breaststroke swimmers must wear a ORANGE swimming cap. All other swimmers can wear any colour cap other than white or orange. Note – only one cap may be worn which have no insulating properties.

Can you see if there is anyone interested in helping me out who has their own canoe? I will pay for any reasonable expenses and lavish them with wine and chocolates as thanks!!!! Let me know and we can take it from there.

Thanks again

Michelle

Mel Stoddart

If I can borrow a suitable boat I'd be happy to help for those two dates.

Do I need any extra insurance for this event? I'm a member of the BCU so would that cover me if I accidentally paddled over someone????

Mel

grahambrooks · Resuing swimmers!

Hi Mel,

Yes, BCU insurance covers 3rd party liability

Graham

Mel Stoddart

Hi Graham,
Does Michelle still need boat support for her swims in Derwent and Coniston? No problem me doing them, just not heard anything for a while.

Mel

Steve T

Mel

I have the big floaty Mountain Bat if you were still thinking of using that. If you want me to take it to Burrs sometime you can try it and see what you think.

Steve

grahambrooks · Canoe - Swimmer support

Mel Stoddart

OK thanks Graham. I'll cross Coniston off and wait to hear about Derwent.

Mel

grahambrooks

Swimmer Support

Swimmer Support

Resuing swimmers!

Canoe - Swimmer support