Kayaker Instructions
What to Bring:
- Fuel and Drink for your swimmer (will be provided by your swimmer)
- Fuel and Drink for yourself (will be provided by you)
- A watch (so you can time the feedings)
- A PFD for yourself.
- An extra PFD for your swimmer in case he or she needs assistance.
- A cell phone with plastic bag to protect it.
- A red bandana or other “flag” to signal for assistance.
- A whistle or air horn or other audible means to signal for assistance
- Plenty of sunscreen
- Dress in layers (temperatures will change during the day)
- A hat and rain gear
- A cup for bailing and peeing
The Most Important Safety Rule:
If your swimmer is in distress you are not allowed to try to rescue them from the kayak or dive into the water yourself. That is the most dangerous thing you can do. You
are to toss the swimmer a PFD for his or her use and signal for help from a motorized patrol boat in as many ways as possible. A flag, a whistle or horn, a cell phone call. (We
will provide the numbers on the day of the event)
If you have concerns about your swimmer’s condition, you can also ask for assistance from the Patrol Boats so that an evaluation can be undertaken by trained safety personnel.
Pasta Dinner Friday Evening
Swimmers who will be using volunteer kayakers are urged to attend the Swimmers and Kayakers Pasta Dinner Friday night so that you can meet and discuss the feeding routine and paddling
strategies for the swim itself. We have asked each of our volunteer kayakers to attend the dinner so that they can meet their swimmers.
Volunteer Kayaker/Swimmer Matchings
During the week of July 12th, we will also be sending out matchings of particular volunteers with their swimmers including e-mail addresses so that volunteer kayakers can communicate
with their swimmers during the doming week. We strongly recommend that swimmers and kayakers communicate regarding the swimmer's goals (to win or just to finish), swim strategy,
their feeding plan / schedule, and anything else they need to know about the swimmer.
Saturday Morning
Sign in on Saturday opens at 6:30 am for the swimmers. All 3 and 10 mile swimmers and their kayakers are required to be on the beach at 7:30 am to hear
final instructions regarding the swims and to then deploy.
All kayakers (10 mile and 3 mile) are expected to depart the beach at 7:45 so that they can be in the water and positioned by 7:55 am so that the 10 mile swim can start promptly at
8:00 am (it is a “ready or not” start)(false starters will be required to return to the line in the sand and restart themselves).
Once the 10 milers are hooked up with their kayaks and underway, we will start the 3 mile event at 8:30 am. 3 mile kayakers are expected to be in the water, positioned behind the 10
mile kayakers at 7:55 am so that their deployment does not interfere with the start of the 10 mile swimmers.