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"unescorted" marathon swimming
miklcct
London, United KingdomMember
I've just read a piece of news about a swimmer who was reported "to try to swim from Dover to Calais alone" without an escort, which triggered a search-and-rescue operation.
We all know that this is a foolish thing to do because it's the English Channel, but, how about swimming unescorted elsewhere in general? Like Otto Kemmerich did in this life? He carried his own equipment in a bag, which always included a map, a compass and a watch (if done nowadays, probably mobile phones and GPS as well).
There is a related discussion on Slowtwitch. They think that English Channel swimmers should not call their swims unassisted because the escort is a huge assistance. Instead, they think "unassisted swimmers" are people who swim like Otto Kemmerich above, who carries everything he needed. They also think that English Channel swimming is done without a wetsuit because it wasn't invented at that time. They even tried to compare English Channel swimming and Otto Kemmerich which is actually harder.
For example, if I compare channel swimming with mountain climbing, I compare using wetsuit to using oxygen (to protect you from the elements), and using an escort to using a sherpa (to guide you to complete the journey).
This can be much more interesting than traditional channel swimming where you are escorted by a boat because "you are truly on your own", like an expedition, like hiking done on the water, and requires more careful planning as well. Can this become a new discipline in open water swimming other than traditional channel swimming as well?
Comments
Really cool!
100% will be "much more interesting " this new discipline "suicide"ow!)))
I like a lot watching that type
of movies -with someone very brave hero go in sea or mountain alone or with same brave gf (no map.no phone.no food . No mind! )nothing! Only heart and soul!
All start so beautiful.so funy.but
at the end is no nice.no so romantic!)))
Ps at my opinion if i have $ i wil choose to rent boat.captain and swim with smile somewhere around French Polynesia!)))
I personally feel that completely unescorted open water swimming is a bit foolhardy, somewhat selfish, and sometimes irresponsible unless the body of water you are going to swim in does not have any boat traffic and local authorities have been informed of what you are going to do and have had the opportunity to tell you no. I think that people who open water swim alone on bodies of water with boat traffic are like people who would decide to just go for a jog or a bike ride in the middle of a highway. Also, if you get lost, or have a massive cramp or a stroke or something, who is going to save you? I had an experienced long-distance swimmer in St. Thomas tell me about one of these super brave swimmers who took off alone to swim around the point from Cowpet Bay into Great Bay, and then around Cabrita point to Muller Bay, who was then hit by a boat and decapitated. I get that there are the "super brave" out there....but oddly enough....their numbers keep dwindling.
I compare highways to shipping channels in the water. Outside of them - well - boats don't have right of way and we are all sharing a public space. We all need to exercise caution to the other water users, including boats, kayaks, swimmers, surfers, etc.
That's exactly the same danger as people who hikes alone as well. Maybe a more responsible stance is to swim in a group, like to hike in a group. There are often news about people went missing on hills, or people found dead on a hot sunny day on hills, who went on the hill alone. Therefore I don't advocate swimming alone, like I don't advocate hiking alone. I don't see a problem in the fact that the swim is unescorted if it is done by a group with the appropriate experience.
Moreover, I've heard that there are ultra running races held in the wilderness which no support is allowed, no food or water is provided by the organiser, and the course is not marked, and the participant is required to carry all feeds, safety gears and GPS tracking. Does anyone here has first-hand experience doing them?
@miklcct I do not think it is exactly the same as hiking alone. I do not know a ton about hiking (so correct me if I am wrong) but I think when people go missing on hikes, they do not seriously jeopardize the ability of others to attempt the hike. One piece of channel swims is that they do require permission of the coast guard (or what ever the relevant organization is). When someone does a rogue swim like this (apart from costing a bunch of money for the rescue) there is always a chance that the government can say "alright no more channel swims at all." Aside for personal risk, it is just not fair to take on the risk of the whole sport.
It's true for English Channel swims. However I think outside of shipping channels there are not many places we will need permission to do that.
I deleted my slowtwitch account 2 years ago because that community had a serial troll that the owner was incapable of dealing with, so can’t comment on what seems from your post to be nothing more than elitist chest thumping.
I have done a couple of unescorted swims that were definitely dangerous. I calculated the risks, tried to minimize them, and went for it. Selfish, definitely. Stupid, obviously. Fun, 100%!
Wait, he only swam 500m off Dover before being found "cold and tired"? That wasn't a proper attempt or intention obviously. I can't help but compare it to the gentleman that "tried it" last December.
Btw you gotta love high-quality journalism - "the incident is not related to migrant crossings" - Ah, the Mirror!
I have done escorted and unescorted swims that were long enough to require feeds. It was easier for me to do the escorted type, as opposed to navigating and carrying/timing my own feeds. Many of us, I'm confident, have also unintentionally done what turned out to be a hybrid, where a kindly but distracted or shared kayaker hasn't assisted much in the way of navigation or timing, but only provided feeds when the swimmer stopped. I think of marathon swimming as an endurance sport more than an adventure sport. But I also believe that difficulty and self-reliance are positive factors (within limits) that contribute to the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a long swim. Accordingly, I would suggest that a swimmer seeking a bit more of both difficulty and self-reliance consider a slightly different type of unaided swim wherein the swimmer carries all feeds and has a chase boat merely, for safety, as opposed to a guide boat. This would enhance difficulty and self-reliance, but would still mitigate some of the risk of a truly solo open water swim. This could probably work in a shipping channel if the chase boat is close, but I'm thinking more along the lines of a low/slow traffic situation with a kayak escort.
I'm not very popular around here; but I've heard that I'm huge in Edinburgh!
I'd like to come in here. There is all sorts of speculation and so much misinformation being posted all over the place. I was crewing on the Channel boat which spotted him and picked him up. He had been in the water since 11am and was helped up the ladder at 7:55pm. 30 minutes later and I doubt he'd have been seen. His shouts for help had been heard by my husband and the observers up on the flybridge.
He had swum towards France for several hours before turning back and couldn't get back to shore because of the tide taking him sideways.
I had to ask him 3 times before he would admit he had headed for France.
Mike Oram called the coastguard and he diverted the boat slightly to pick the man up, whilst still allowing our swimmer to continue safely. The helicopter arrived and hovered overhead by 7:59pm. Since he was by then safe, they just stayed in position in case they were needed. Dungeness RNLI came and took him off the boat about 25 minutes later, very cold but compos mentis.... ( although obviously seriously lacking in common sense).
The man reckoned he'd swum a third of the way. In reality, he had been carried by the tides, too, so his assessment was probably way out.
He was on the receiving end of some choice words, including being told of the fate of Ted May in 1954.
I wouldn't call having an escort boat, "assisted". The swimmer doesn't touch the boat at all. It's essential in busy shipping channels.
KatieBun,
Thanks for that account, and thank you for persistence in the rescue (plaudits as well to Mike Oram for deftly handling 2 situations).
You realize how Otto Kemmerich died, right?
Auto-translated to English from the German Wikipedia:
On August 17, 1952, his body was found between Amrum and Föhr by a boatman from Sylt. He still carried flippers, a compass and his watch, which had stopped at 15 minutes before 7 a.m., with him.
Therefore I'm thinking if it is possible to have another discipline of swimming which resembles an adventure sport.
Yes, I know - not so different from people who went to a mountain on their own and found dead.
Therefore I'm thinking if doing such thing in a group with the appropriate experience can make it safe as in hiking (outside shipping channels of course). I have learnt the skills to conduct a safe trip in my scouting life, including a hiking trip, a boating trip, a kayaking trip, etc. I wonder this can also be applied into a swimming trip as well.
From an old, old swim life guard, swim teacher and coach...never, ever swim (anywhere) without (at least) a 2nd set of eyes on you (at all times).!!!
@miklcct I believe the term for swimming without an escort is “self-supported”. You just bring your nutrition (and potentially other stuff) with you, which involves carrying additional equipment beyond the traditional cap, goggles and ear plugs. People do it all the time, including myself...
I agree with others that it’s a bad idea in many open water situations, particularly those involving boat traffic, or as @abbygirlrose mentioned where it might jeopardize future, escorted swims. When I’ve done it, it’s just been for adventure or training and in extremely low-boat situations and never to push any real physical limits... usually right next to the shoreline. I think trying to do a self-supported channel swim would be less similar to hiking and more similar to free solo climbing (think no ropes, vertical cliffs). Something goes wrong and instead of a DNF, you die. Definitely not my thing.
One variation on this that I haven’t tried yet is “swim packing”, where you can pull what you ordinarily would bring with you in a backpack behind you in an inflatable boat. Or I actually saw someone had built a very small boat to tow their pack behind them. You can then go on a multi-day trip just as one might go on a backpacking trip. Lots of potential adventure to pursue in this arena.
Hey, let’s not have anyone read my comment and go off swimming into the open ocean with their tent and sleeping bag in their tow float thinking they’re going swim packing ok? My rule of thumb is to always have a way to bail if something bad happens so I don’t die.
This is exactly what I am looking for. Maybe combine it with hiking on foot as well. Do you know a kind of bag with can both function as a backpack and also can be towed in water as well?
They do make XXL dry bags with straps
To carry on your back for a shorter hike, but I imagine that’s not going to be fun after the first 20 minutes or so.
I was thinking of using my regular backpacking pack (with everything inside in dry bags) and putting it in my inflatable kayak, so I can choose to paddle or hike if needed/wanted. Pulling an inflatable behind you will slow you down, but not as much as one would think—the buoyancy helps with the weight and once you get some momentum, you can cruise along.
This system might work well for a river trip. You could swim the deeper sections, paddle the shallower sections and hike some other sections.
Unfortunately, carrying an inflatable kayak on the backpacking portion sounds miserable, so it might be nice to find a lighter way to make your backpack float, like a system of inflatable pool floats of some kind. Let me know if you get any ideas!
https://www.abovebelow.sc/ruckraft
So here's what your looking for. RuckRaft, inflatable(by mouth) tow behind float that will accommodate a 60litter backpack in a roll top dry bag that is included. Deflated, rolls up to size of rolled beach towel and weighs 1 kg (not including backpack).
Will Watt is the inventor in UK who just started selling to public. Tell him David from Arizona sent you when you contact him. I'm trying to promote this quality, versital kit in the U.S.
That's a pretty cool item, (and I'm not really a fan of tow floats). It would facilitate a fun way to camp on an island or remote shore, or maybe take a bike/swim adventure. I have the luxury of an expert escort paddler at home and/or swimming with a group, so I don't swim alone. I wouldn't want to be that headline "lifeguard drowns while swimming alone, should've known better..."
The next safest option, if one has to swim alone, is to swim along a safe shoreline in an area with low/no boat traffic, like Jessica mentioned above. As long as one can see and avoid potential hazards like rocks and driftwood, (I've clobbered driftwood in Puget Sound more than once, it's hard to see in rough water), prepare for everything, know one's limits and don't have some type of health emergency that would render one unable to help oneself, it's relatively safe.
Many of us probably can (and do) use higher-risk training routes and 99.99% of the time, return safely. While I'm lifeguarding, I think about "what if?" scenarios, to combat the boredom of watching lap swimmers sloshing back and forth, so when I've been tempted to go in on my own, I think, "how would I deal with...?" It's good to have a plan, including when swimming with others: How often will we check-in? How will we be sure that everyone has arrived at the finish safely? What will we do if someone is injured/gets hypothermia/has a medical emergency? Where are safe exit points? Can my swim buddies actually rescue me if I need help? Could I walk back if a sea lion bit me?
One time I showed up for a group swim and nobody else did. The water was glassy and it was a beautiful morning, although there was a lot of driftwood floating, but it was definitely tempting...then a huge sea lion swam up and down the shore yelling "DON'T DO IT! GO HOME!' so I followed his advice and went home dry. Another time I went out with a friend who was close enough to my speed that we could maintain visual check-ins. I got to the turn around point and couldn't see her. I waited until I was getting cold and slowly headed back, looking for her. I returned to our start point and she wasn't there (she hadn't left anything on the beach). I threw on some clothes and shoes and took a walk down the beach, but no sign of her. I assumed she had turned around early, but it kept nagging at me, so I tried calling her, with no response. She lived near the beach, but I wasn't sure which house. I eventually called another swimmer who lived in the neighborhood to go knock on her door. She finally called me back, "oh sorry, I didn't realize you'd be worried about me..." Ugh!
It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.
I was just writing about this ruckraft @Azski just mentioned. I wanted to buy one last Spring, but deliveries were due to September, so instead I bought this "mini-raft": https://seacsub.com/es/product/sea-mate/ . There are several makes producing similar products, you'll find them searching for apnea and spear fishing equipment. But I think that the ruckraft would beat them all regarding easy-handling.
In this threat you'll find a few ideas; among them, an actual scale-boat shown by @Spacemanspiff. I was following their website for a while, but it doesn't exist any more. There was a review here: https://outdoorswimmer.com/product-reviews/swimboat
In Decathlon this year they have started selling a dry backpack: https://www.decathlon.es/es/p/boya-mochila-estanca-senalizacion-pesca-submarina-spf-900/_/R-p-304433?mc=8527056&c=ROJO_BURDEOS . I wouldn’t trust it: I’ve tried to swim directly towing a 30 liters canvas dry bag (this one https://www.scubastore.com/buceo-submarinismo/lalizas-tenere-15l/1231289/p ) but eventually water got in in choppy waters, and floatability and seakeeping was lousy. Now I put it on top of the miniraft.
There are other big buoys, for apnea, like this one https://www.decathlon.es/es/p/boya-apnea-frd-500-deep-20-inmersion-cuerda-incluida-20m/_/R-p-307316 , but it's not at all hydrodynamic.
(Sorry for that many links.)
But be careful: as others have said, swimming by yourself might be reckless, selfish, jeopardize future escorted swims, put at risk people who would try to save you... depending on the situation. All of us swim at our own risk. The difference, which for some newbies seems difficult to apprehend, is that when hiking you can sit down and wait for help to arrive (yes you might be cold, and wet, and hungry, but even under a snow storm you can try and find or build shelter). At sea (or river, or lake), well, you just die.
dieciseisgrados.com/
Now we're talking about real "self-suported" adventures, @LakeBagger. This is what I was waiting to see happen with this thread, thanks @Wendyv34. Just look at all those great links from @Bruno for inspiration. I've seen this issue/idea come up on this forum and others as well as in personal and public face to face descusions and it seems the impulse reaction is usually "no way ..too dangerous.. irresponsible.. You'll ruin it for the rest of us". I've often been disappointed in the lack of imagination and quest for adventure and absence of acknowledging the importance for humans to spend a little time in relative wilderness, being self- sufficient enough to plan and follow a route and cook a meal on a camp stove and be comfortable sitting on the ground looking at the milky way instead of the TV. What if..(listen up Micheal!) Self-suported swims aren't about swimming a 20 mi channel or pushing to the absolute edge of our abilities. Like @Wendyv34 and others have said a group of friends do an island hopping loop and camp a couple nights while swimming a few miles between Islands, hiking to the other side and swimming again. Or do a trip along the coast camping at state parks or staying at Bnb's. How fun is that. Let's lighten up and expand our imaginations on how we find joy through our sport of swimming. To do this right and safe could take as much logistical planning, route researching, and menu prep as a major channel attempt,(or kayaking trip) but could also be way more layed back and social(and enjoyable)once the adventure starts.
Tons of cyclists ride daily in dangerous traffic, backpackers and trail runners are often out of cell phone range. Mountaineers climb mountains and risk life threatening weather. Rock climbers, river runners, mountain bikers, sailors all enjoy adventures in remote places and survive and thrive. Anyone who spends time out in wilderness areas practices risk management. We can mitigate and reduce the dangers by careful planning, notifying family of itinerary and leaving your ego and aspirations of records at home. Be careful, very careful, consider others, be conservative and get out there and have FUN.
@Azski that ruckraft is soooo cool. Thank you very much for that link! I’m gonna check out the other links posted by @bruno as well.
I’m used to having risk management discussions with my non-swim outdoor adventure buddies (primarily climbing and mountaineering) and am delighted to be talking about this in a swim context. For those not familiar, there is a regular publication called, “accidents in North American mountaineering” that we encourage each other to read so that we are constantly thinking about things that can go wrong and what we can do to prevent those mistakes. Things do go horribly wrong in those sports, and yet people continue to come out to do them while mitigating the risks. However, there are unfortunate, preventable deaths each year from people naively attempting to climb mountains without appropriate equipment or prior study/experience.
I like what @wendyv34 said about going through these scenarios routinely in your mind and playing them out. This makes you think more objectively about the risks you may be taking and how you can lower them, possibly without missing out on the opportunity to practice self-reliance and have an amazing adventure.
... of course all of this is a far cry from recklessly, (without any apparent forethought or study) hopping into the English Channel and heading for the other side.
Totally agree! There's a lot more to it than never swimming alone.
What happens while swimming in a group of four and 1 of the swimmers is showing severe symptoms of hypothermia? How far from shore are you? Air temperatures? How far from help? How does a group of swimmers deal with a medical emergency in the water?
@Wendyv34's story of losing her swim buddy shows its not enough to to just swim w someone. If you don't talk thru these scenarios(including how to react) it could even be worse than going out alone. How many of us have been asigned a kayaker at an event? Paddling a tippy boat, not wearing a life jacket, no life jacket for swimmer. No radio or communication w safety boat or race officials.No way to get swimmer out of water. Not knowing if they could tow me to shore?
Just because your with another swimmer or have a kayak escort doesn't mean your safe. As @LakeBagger points out, risk management is a very important, and often overlooked skill, nessecary for all open water swimmers.
@Azski I completely agree. Sometimes I’ve noticed swimming with others or with a paddler imbues me with a false sense of security. Being alone and scared automatically reminds me to take lots of precautions that I might be tempted to let slide if others are around.
I’ll echo your point about safety paddlers:
I’ve done some practice rescues with my paddler where I climb onto the sit on top kayak from the water and ride on the bow while he paddles. It’s very uncomfortable and not easy to do. I haven’t yet tried it (but should) with numb hands- as one would have if needing to get rescued due to hypothermia. If he’s in his sit-in kayak, there really isn’t much he can do at all if I become unable to swim. It’s a little safer because he might be able to steer me toward shore if I was disoriented, plus he can carry warm clothing for me in the kayak, but it’s not a whole lot safer than being alone.
I think it’s good for us to remember that contingency plans are needed whether alone or with others, even very competent paddlers.
I’ve done a bit of swim packing this summer in Norway.
Over 2 days I did Nordmarka på langs solo - the forest immediately north of Oslo. 60 km with about 25km lake swimming.
Watershed rucksack highly recommend.
I’ve considered doing a circumnavigation of Hvaler national park but the risk of boat strike is unacceptably high.
Know Your limits. Do a risk assessment. Have an adventure. Get home safe.
Interesting post on a 'self-supported' channel attempt hoping to start shortly. He'll be escorted but towing his feeds and kit. Covers many of the points raised in this thread and explains his approach in a very considered manner, including the fact that this will not be a formally recognised swim if successful:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007242039406
There's so much wrong here I don't know where to start.
re: Slowtwitch...uh, marathon (channel) swimming's inventor, at least the man traditionally considered the inventor, included a row boat and feeds. So they can take their comments and ....
re: "just like hiking", uh, no. If you get terribly tired hiking, you pull your backpack off, pull out your sleeping bag and dehydrated food, eat and sleep till you're rested. You're not doing this in the middle of a channel all by yourself.
re: "going your own" Thanks an F-ing lot. That's a good way to get that channel or waterway off limits to everyone, you selfish F-bag.
re: "outside of [shipping channels] boats don't have the right of way" Yeah, sure, you the swimmer vs. a boat. Guess who ALWAYS wins in that interaction? (Hint, Michael, it ain't you or any other swimmer reading this.)
re: coast guard and permissions. There are MANY places (rivers, lakes, oceans) where permission is needed that aren't necessarily shipping channels. I'd highly recommend before just plopping yourself in somewhere ("I'm gonna swim the Potomac today!") you check first.
re: swim buddy who disappears: This is so unsat I cannot believe. it. I would never swim with that person again. Holy crap. Two go in, two must come out...TOGETHER! WTF?
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams