sailing cruise and OWS
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CadenceGuy posted 20 weeks ago.
The only thing I can think of....
I would have someone in a paddle boat or something of that sort. If your swimming in a port of call then there is bound to be a lot of in/outbound boat traffic that may not see you or look at you as though you may be a bird that will fly away. I would recommend having a spotter or something like that that can be with you during your workout. Enjoy
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392 days
robtrys posted 20 weeks ago.
To stay safe ,you could tow a "diver down" buoy. :D
http://www.divebooty.com/products/256/diver_down_buoys.html
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1087 days
Ironmom posted 20 weeks ago.
The buoy is a great idea, I've also tied helium balloons to my wetsuit zipper pull when swimming in waters with lots of boats. That way they float a good ways above the water for improved visability.
If possible though, take a rowboat or kayaker with you, that's the safest thing. I've done OWS in many different places while traveling - oceans, lakes, rivers. Just take as many safety precautions as you can for visibility and rescuability. One thing you might consider is more like laps around the boat - 5 minutes out, return, 5 minutes in other direction, return, etc. That way you're not so far from the boat.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
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446 days
slowbutmoving posted 20 weeks ago.
I live right next to the Chesapeake Bay and sail and swim on it and in it frequently. As others have said, the main issue will be boats and whether they can see you or not. Swimming early in the morning will make it much safer because there are fewer power boats, and people haven't had time to get drunk yet. The buoy and the balloons are a great idea. Make sure it is big enough and high enough that people don't mistake it for a crab pot because boats in the Bay frequently run right near/through those without much thought. I use a variation built out of random stuff from my garage that everybody laughs at but it keeps me safe. Get a cheap kid's boogie board and use strong waterproof glue or expoxy to attach a big hunk of styrofoam to the top, take an old fishing pole and remove the reel. Attach the biggest Diver Down flag that you can find (West Marine sells them) to the top of the pole. Stick the bottom end of the pole deep in the styrofoam, using sail rigging tape to keep it in place. My flag sticks up about 6 feet in the air, high enough even for boats coming at high speed to se me. Attach the board leash to your ankle and tow the board along behind you. As long as the leash is led to the outside of your ankle it won't interfere with your kick and the board slides along the top of the water nicely without providing any drag. Where are you going to be? There are parts of the Bay that I would never swim in even with all the safety gear in the world. Let me know if you need some advice on which parts are more safe than others. I live on the South River.
Dan
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446 days
slowbutmoving posted 20 weeks ago.
Sorry, I just realized you probably don't have the same stuff laying around your garage as I did. If you want to borrow my rig and you are going near Annapolis you are welcome to it.
Hello,
I will be going on a sailing cruise and was planning on taking my wetsuit to do some OWS when we are at anchor in the chesapeake bay. I did the Bay Swim 4.4 mile last year, so I do have some exp. swimming in the bay.
My plan was to swim up current away from the boat, (10 minutes out) and then return with the current to the boat, and repeat.
Has anybody done any similar OWS training, and can can offer any advice on safe training, pitfalls to avoid, etc. There will be people on the boat to watch me swim, and I'll be in a wetsuit with a bright cap.
Running shoes and bike will be brought along for when in port for 2 days.
Thanks,
vistring