Fueling for/during OWS

i've done the swim 4x. the water temp was never below 72. you will be in the minority as the event awards structure favors the use of wetsuits but..... don't wear one! (you'll like yourself better for it) a few forumites have done it both ways.... they will concur. Thanks for the info, I have NO intentions of wearing one. I don't even own one. :D I'd be happiest at 68, but I'll take around 72!

I have swum the Bay Swim 5 times. The last 4 I carried a gel pack in my suit for a quick re-fuel at the 3 mile mark. (Yes the course has mile markers). I simple slip a gel pack under my suit, on my hip, stop and down it quickly and put the wrapper back in my suit (no littering). I have seen swimmers wearing wetsuits keep a gel pack in their wetsuit at their ankles.

My husband has done the swim 23 times. He says that some years he has seen the food boats; other years he has not.

I have swum the Bay Swim 5 times. The last 4 I carried a gel pack in my suit for a quick re-fuel at the 3 mile mark. (Yes the course has mile markers). I simple slip a gel pack under my suit, on my hip, stop and down it quickly and put the wrapper back in my suit (no littering). I have seen swimmers wearing wetsuits keep a gel pack in their wetsuit at their ankles. hi rob, are you doing the bay swim this year?

I use a gel flask filled with gatorade with a few extra calories dissolved in it. I put one at each of my ankles and drink them at three miles. I've been doing it for years. Not sure where I would stash them in a suit. The boats have water and bananas and that is all you can count on. I haven't visited one for 7 years probably. Here's the deal with the support boats, the person will most likely anchor his boat or tie up his boat on the upstream side of the channel. So if the tide is coming from left to right, he is most likely tied up on the left side of the channel. However, you will naturally have been pushed to the right side of the channel. Meaning you need to swim maybe 50 extra yards into the tide to get to the boat. Whether or not you will feel like doing that depends on a lot of things.

PLan on taking care of yourself!

I have done it twice and am going back for a third time this year. I didn't notice the first feed boat last year but saw the second boat at mile 3. I didn't feel like stopping then but I did feel like I was starting to bonk at the end. My friend carried a gel pack in the sleeve of his wetsuit. It was easy to get to and he thought it made a difference at the end. I am going to try it this year.

Dave, no Bay Swim for me this year. All my time and money is going towards the Potomac River swim. Next summer I may try to get up to your 8 bridges swim. I may not be able to swim the entire thing but I would like to swim at least a few of the days. Keep me posted.

No wetsuit needed.