An item that may be of interest to those interested in the longer open water swims:
Rules of Marathon Swimming - Marathon Swimmers Federation
This document was written by four well-established marathon swimmers, three of whom are USMS members. MSF Rules are intended as guidance for swimmers wishing to attempt a standard, traditional marathon swim in bodies of water where there is no local governing body.
They are also intended as a clear statement about the "spirit" of the sport which underlies these rules, so any popular media who report on marathon swimming in the future will not be confused or misled on this issue.
MSF Rules have been endorsed by an impressive (and growing) list of marathon swimmers and aspiring marathon swimmers. For further info, please see the ongoing discussion at the Marathon Swimmers Forum, and the coverage by Swimming World and SwimSwam.
Happy swimming,
Evan Morrison
Co-Author of MSF Rules (with Elaine Howley, Andrew Malinak, and Donal Buckley)
Co-Founder, Marathon Swimmers Federation and Forum.
Evan,
My ignorance will show here, but how much time does a good Observer spend actively watching the swimmer? Is it assumed that the Observer will watch all transitions, such as stops for communication, feedings, more sunscreen, but may perhaps wander off for blocks of time when the swimmer is just plowing through the miles? Or does a good Observer find a comfortable vantage point and watch the swimmer as if they were a lifeguard?
The document states “The swim observer documents the facts of a swim and verifies the swim’s adherence to the declared rules.” Perhaps a list of what the minimum “facts of a swim” are, and maybe some general guidelines for minimum actions and attention of the Observer.
I think it’s great that you’ve put this together!
Evan,
My ignorance will show here, but how much time does a good Observer spend actively watching the swimmer? Is it assumed that the Observer will watch all transitions, such as stops for communication, feedings, more sunscreen, but may perhaps wander off for blocks of time when the swimmer is just plowing through the miles? Or does a good Observer find a comfortable vantage point and watch the swimmer as if they were a lifeguard?
The document states “The swim observer documents the facts of a swim and verifies the swim’s adherence to the declared rules.” Perhaps a list of what the minimum “facts of a swim” are, and maybe some general guidelines for minimum actions and attention of the Observer.
I think it’s great that you’ve put this together!
