I have swam with the support of a kayaker 5 times. 3 of those times were 10 K swims, another was a 9 mile swim and a swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.
The primary purpose of the kayak support is the safety of the swimmer.
In my 9 mile experience, my escort power boat left both myself and the kayaker in the Tampa Bay 24 mile swim. That is the reason I had to get out after 9 miles, but if it were not for my kayaker, I likely would have gone to shore at sometime before the 9 mile mark.
In my 10 K swims the kayaker has been my guide from start to finish along with providing me with feedings and water. My wife and sons have been my support kayakers for two of those swims and friend for the third one. My wife and sons have been very supportive even when I asked if they knew where they were going. They could see the end I could not. In that swim, one of the swimmers went into a cove and the kayaker could not get them back on course until much effort was made to comunicate that the swimmer was off-course.
In the Catalina to Calfornia Crossing the kayaker was next to the swimmer instead of the escort boat. So the kayaker again provided feedings and guidance, the kayaker made sure that I was not sucked under the boat.
The Role of the kayaker is to provide a safety net, feedings and liquids for the swimmer. Without a kayaker many long swims could not be done.
Animal
I have swam with the support of a kayaker 5 times. 3 of those times were 10 K swims, another was a 9 mile swim and a swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.
The primary purpose of the kayak support is the safety of the swimmer.
In my 9 mile experience, my escort power boat left both myself and the kayaker in the Tampa Bay 24 mile swim. That is the reason I had to get out after 9 miles, but if it were not for my kayaker, I likely would have gone to shore at sometime before the 9 mile mark.
In my 10 K swims the kayaker has been my guide from start to finish along with providing me with feedings and water. My wife and sons have been my support kayakers for two of those swims and friend for the third one. My wife and sons have been very supportive even when I asked if they knew where they were going. They could see the end I could not. In that swim, one of the swimmers went into a cove and the kayaker could not get them back on course until much effort was made to comunicate that the swimmer was off-course.
In the Catalina to Calfornia Crossing the kayaker was next to the swimmer instead of the escort boat. So the kayaker again provided feedings and guidance, the kayaker made sure that I was not sucked under the boat.
The Role of the kayaker is to provide a safety net, feedings and liquids for the swimmer. Without a kayaker many long swims could not be done.
Animal
