Crew Member for Swim Across the Sound
timsroot
Spring, TXCharter Member
On July 28th, I will be participating as a solo swimmer in the 25th Annual St. Vincents Swim Across the Sound, along with 15 other soloists and a number of relay teams. I am in need of a crew member. My fiance can't make the swim (not enough vacation time from work), and currently I have my Mom as a crew member, although I'm now thinking that is not the best idea...
This past weekend, I completed my first marathon swim, taking 10 hours and 34 minutes to complete a 25km swim in unfavorable conditions. I fought the current for all but maybe an hour and a half, despite the out and back course. For comparison, the winner was 7 hours flat, and second place was 9:40. We had the wind in our faces all the way out, and most of the way back. I had a few bouts of pretty bad nausea, throwing up in two large episodes. During the second one, I didn't think I was going to get my stomach to settle down enough to allow me to continue, so I called the pontoon boat, with my parents on it, over, and I was almost ready to climb in. However, my fiance, in my escort kayak, encouraged me to make the next buoy and see how I felt. I don't know how frequently it was, but I know that she acted as a buffer between me and my Mom, since Mom was trying to have Amanda talk me out of the water and into the boat. I've heard other people, mostly Donal, talk about how family members make for bad crew members, so if I could find someone else, it would help me out quite a bit.
The swim is July 28th. There is a meeting for swimmers and crew on July 26th in Bridgeport, CT. The morning of the swim, we will meet at Captain's Cove at 5:30 AM to get ready for the day. The full timeline is available at the race website here: https://give.stvincents.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=725.
Is there anyone relatively nearby who is free that weekend to help?
Thank you.
This past weekend, I completed my first marathon swim, taking 10 hours and 34 minutes to complete a 25km swim in unfavorable conditions. I fought the current for all but maybe an hour and a half, despite the out and back course. For comparison, the winner was 7 hours flat, and second place was 9:40. We had the wind in our faces all the way out, and most of the way back. I had a few bouts of pretty bad nausea, throwing up in two large episodes. During the second one, I didn't think I was going to get my stomach to settle down enough to allow me to continue, so I called the pontoon boat, with my parents on it, over, and I was almost ready to climb in. However, my fiance, in my escort kayak, encouraged me to make the next buoy and see how I felt. I don't know how frequently it was, but I know that she acted as a buffer between me and my Mom, since Mom was trying to have Amanda talk me out of the water and into the boat. I've heard other people, mostly Donal, talk about how family members make for bad crew members, so if I could find someone else, it would help me out quite a bit.
The swim is July 28th. There is a meeting for swimmers and crew on July 26th in Bridgeport, CT. The morning of the swim, we will meet at Captain's Cove at 5:30 AM to get ready for the day. The full timeline is available at the race website here: https://give.stvincents.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=725.
Is there anyone relatively nearby who is free that weekend to help?
Thank you.
Comments
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
If I had someone by July, that would be helpful so that I knew I had loose end tied down. Sooner, if someone knew, would be even better for leace of mind.
You can also try CIBBOWS.
...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
Good idea. I'll email her in a few weeks if nothing turns up and see if she can help. Thanks.
Good luck on the swim!
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Slightly unrelated question: how big a hassle is it from/to get to JFK by train? Renting a car is unreasonably expensive.
I'll probably email you later today about crewing. Thanks.
You can take the Airtrain from JFK to Jamaica Station in Queens then get on the LIRR out to here. There are two lines (Pt Jefferson and Ronkonkoma) that will get you here. I'd say take Ronkonkoma to the last stop. It's a bit farther away from the race start than the Pt Jeff train, but you have more time options and you don't have to change trains along the way, which is a pain if you have luggage. There should be cabs at the Ronkonkoma station to get you to your accommodations. If you're staying on the NY side and don't have a car, try to find a place in Pt Jeff. The little village there will offer you some dining options in walking distance, and you can probably walk to the swim start. If I can help with picking you up somewhere, I am happy to help out.