My question is for Dave and Evan. Since both of you swim and direct open water events, what kind of safety protocals do you all have in place for your events? While I don't see usms changing the rules for 2013, maybe some of the practices that you all put forth for your events could be evaluated by usms for 2014.
'been meaning to answer your question, Wook, since it's a good one, and I hope (now that everyone is listening) it signals a new and more productive direction in this discussion.
As far as my administrative experience & responsibilities go, they are limited to channel swims ("category 3" in Ken Classen's system - solo swims escorted by motorized watercraft). IMO, these events should separate from USMS entirely because they are too different from other USMS events (even other OW events) from an insurance perspective. The fact that (for example) Catalina Channel swims were ever insured by USMS in the first place is actually kind of shocking.
Channel swimming organizations -- CCSF and Santa Barbara CSA, but also possibly NYC Swim, Tampa Bay Marathon Swim, Boston Light, 8 Bridges, In Search of Memphre, END-WET, S.C.A.R., Swim Across the Sound, Rose Pitonof, Farallones, and the new Cape May Circumnavigation (did that cover everyone??) -- may find that the best solution is to form a new national "marathon swimming association" for better negotiating power.
To answer your question, I believe there are a few fundamental keys to promoting safe channel swims:
1. Properly vetting swimmers for open water marathon swimming experience and competence.
2. Working with boat pilots who are experienced at escorting swimmers.
3. Training official observers on how to deal with various contingencies that might happen in the middle of the ocean. I would note that the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation is probably the gold standard in the entire world on observer training and mentorship.
Category 1 swims (smaller, closed-loop courses) -- these are what the new USMS guidelines were seemingly designed for, so these swims have no problem.
Category 2 swims (longer swims with roaming motorized craft as secondary support and/or unusual courses) are more problematic. I believe USMS should WANT to sanction these swims:
- the participation numbers are higher than for channel swims
- as Chris said, they provide good aspirational goals for newbie OW swimmers
- they provide a good value proposition for USAT triathletes who may want to try longer swims
However, the new guidelines are - for the many reasons already discussed here and elsewhere - inappropriate for such swims. In crafting better safety guidelines for Category 2, I'll gladly defer to those with relevant experience. Off the top of my head, and in no particular order:
- Morty Berger
- David Barra & Rondi Davies
- Current and past swim commissioners of the South End Rowing Club & Dolphin Club in San Francisco
- Phil White (Kingdom Swim)
- Ron Collins (Tampa Bay)
- Greg O'Connor (Boston Light)
- Karah Nazor (Swim the Suck)
If I were the USMS OW Task Force, I would absolutely want these people's input, and if possible, have them directly involved in the decision-making. Not just for better decisions, but for the perceived legitimacy of the process.
My question is for Dave and Evan. Since both of you swim and direct open water events, what kind of safety protocals do you all have in place for your events? While I don't see usms changing the rules for 2013, maybe some of the practices that you all put forth for your events could be evaluated by usms for 2014.
'been meaning to answer your question, Wook, since it's a good one, and I hope (now that everyone is listening) it signals a new and more productive direction in this discussion.
As far as my administrative experience & responsibilities go, they are limited to channel swims ("category 3" in Ken Classen's system - solo swims escorted by motorized watercraft). IMO, these events should separate from USMS entirely because they are too different from other USMS events (even other OW events) from an insurance perspective. The fact that (for example) Catalina Channel swims were ever insured by USMS in the first place is actually kind of shocking.
Channel swimming organizations -- CCSF and Santa Barbara CSA, but also possibly NYC Swim, Tampa Bay Marathon Swim, Boston Light, 8 Bridges, In Search of Memphre, END-WET, S.C.A.R., Swim Across the Sound, Rose Pitonof, Farallones, and the new Cape May Circumnavigation (did that cover everyone??) -- may find that the best solution is to form a new national "marathon swimming association" for better negotiating power.
To answer your question, I believe there are a few fundamental keys to promoting safe channel swims:
1. Properly vetting swimmers for open water marathon swimming experience and competence.
2. Working with boat pilots who are experienced at escorting swimmers.
3. Training official observers on how to deal with various contingencies that might happen in the middle of the ocean. I would note that the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation is probably the gold standard in the entire world on observer training and mentorship.
Category 1 swims (smaller, closed-loop courses) -- these are what the new USMS guidelines were seemingly designed for, so these swims have no problem.
Category 2 swims (longer swims with roaming motorized craft as secondary support and/or unusual courses) are more problematic. I believe USMS should WANT to sanction these swims:
- the participation numbers are higher than for channel swims
- as Chris said, they provide good aspirational goals for newbie OW swimmers
- they provide a good value proposition for USAT triathletes who may want to try longer swims
However, the new guidelines are - for the many reasons already discussed here and elsewhere - inappropriate for such swims. In crafting better safety guidelines for Category 2, I'll gladly defer to those with relevant experience. Off the top of my head, and in no particular order:
- Morty Berger
- David Barra & Rondi Davies
- Current and past swim commissioners of the South End Rowing Club & Dolphin Club in San Francisco
- Phil White (Kingdom Swim)
- Ron Collins (Tampa Bay)
- Greg O'Connor (Boston Light)
- Karah Nazor (Swim the Suck)
If I were the USMS OW Task Force, I would absolutely want these people's input, and if possible, have them directly involved in the decision-making. Not just for better decisions, but for the perceived legitimacy of the process.
