FYI: the only US canal in which swimming is explicitly or implicitly prohibited by 33CFR207 or 33CFR162 (or the rest of 33CFR that I searched) is the Cape Cod Canal. However, I've heard that USACE may frown at your attempt to swim through them. Swim report to follow this summer.
I don't wear a wetsuit; it gives the ocean a sporting chance.
I always wanted to swim a few sections of the C&O canal in Maryland, near where I grew up. But I always figured the park service would have my backside arrested (especially when I learned how harsh the state park cops were in Virginia.)
FYI: the only US canal in which swimming is explicitly or implicitly prohibited by 33CFR207 or 33CFR162 (or the rest of 33CFR that I searched) is the Cape Cod Canal. However, I've heard that USACE may frown at your attempt to swim through them. Swim report to follow this summer.
Interesting... Last year I approached the USACE about swimming the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and was all but told that they'd shoot me if I tried. I believe that there is a "gotcha" somewhere that says that swimming in USACE locations is up to the head of the region that the location is in. Hence, we can swim in Blue Marsh Lake as it is governed by one jurisdiction, but Raystown Lake is in another jurisdiction and they say no.
The whole nanny attitude ticks me off... I pay my taxes and I'll take the risk to swim in the waters that my taxes help maintain.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Who did you contact at the USACE @Leonard_Jansen? It's been a few years but when I proposed a similar plan at their office in Chesapeake City, they stated there would be no problem as long as I knew the potential for danger (primarily the tanker ships creating giant wake that could slam a swimmer into the rock groins) and that the swimmer were escorted by a power boat (no sailboats, kayaks, canoes, etc).
When organizing C3 last year, I approached Corp of Engineers for the Cape May Canal and they had no problem with it...the State Police had the larger problem and refused to garner support or issue permits as they stated the canals (only two, the other being Point Pleasant) in New Jersey are the only places you can't swim for safety reasons....luckily the Coast Guard's backing and support superseded their concerns.
The Swim Leonard talks about (C&D Canal bridging the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River) would be over 21km (~27km or 17miles). C3, was 15.1 miles but through the canal was only a little over a 5km course, the rest was ocean, harbor, and bay.
I went to their district HQ in the Wannamaker Bldg in Philadelphia. I started with a PR flack that I ran into and I was SLOWLY passed up a chain of people until I spoke with someone whose name I can't remember and he said it wasn't possible. He seemed to have some Final Authority/Total Truths/Absolute Wisdom as everyone else then just agreed with what he said.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
No doesn't count.
Only the canal distance is what I'm after. That's what makes this 21 km interesting.
No currents in a canal!
Also the late start at 15:00 h on September 6, with sunset around 20:00 h
The actual canal distance for the C&D is, as @JCMalick said, 17 miles.
No currents in a canal? So does the water just sit there and stagnate? Yuck.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
@LBJ, I'll swim the C&D Canal with you! But we'd have to get authority from the Chesapeake City Office....most permits do come out of Philadelphia (Sector Delaware Bay is there for the USCG) but on something like this, local jurisdiction would be best...perhaps even the philosophy, ask for forgiveness, not permission!??!
@Niek, The C&D Canal used to have locks but they opened it up to the tides to expedite the shipping traffic...we're very rush rush here stateside!
@LBJ and @JCMalick, I give thought to swimming the C&D every time I drive over it on 301 on my way down to the in-laws on the eastern shore. I would love to be included if you ever are able to get permission.
@Niek you are so smart! I've always appreciated your advice and sense of humor especially from the start when you suggested the cruise ship as an escort boat with Starbucks for feeds! Thanks for that information as that is definitely new news for me and greatly received!
Hmmmm we may need to plan this out! Maybe even as a relay for the first year to test the waters out and for the affordability factor?
OK - I am totally on board with doing the C&D canal this year. The thought of swimming it has been driving me crazy for about 10 years. I'd say to do it as a group swim (go at speed of slowest person) with one boat. I know that you & I are close enough in speed that it won't be an issue, so if @gregoc isn't insanely fast, it should work. The only definate thing on my schedule this year is END-WET, so any other time would work for me.
Think about it and if it sounds good, email me and we can try to figure out an approach to make it happen.
I wonder if anyone has ever swum the entire length of the C&D....
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
@Leonard_Jansen I believe when I was last at the office in CC, MD they stated that someone had approached them about hosting an event and there was indication that someone had swum it but I can't say for certain.
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We never considered canal locks in the rules!
loneswimmer.com
I don't wear a wetsuit; it gives the ocean a sporting chance.
Interesting... Last year I approached the USACE about swimming the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and was all but told that they'd shoot me if I tried. I believe that there is a "gotcha" somewhere that says that swimming in USACE locations is up to the head of the region that the location is in. Hence, we can swim in Blue Marsh Lake as it is governed by one jurisdiction, but Raystown Lake is in another jurisdiction and they say no.
The whole nanny attitude ticks me off... I pay my taxes and I'll take the risk to swim in the waters that my taxes help maintain.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
When organizing C3 last year, I approached Corp of Engineers for the Cape May Canal and they had no problem with it...the State Police had the larger problem and refused to garner support or issue permits as they stated the canals (only two, the other being Point Pleasant) in New Jersey are the only places you can't swim for safety reasons....luckily the Coast Guard's backing and support superseded their concerns.
I went to their district HQ in the Wannamaker Bldg in Philadelphia. I started with a PR flack that I ran into and I was SLOWLY passed up a chain of people until I spoke with someone whose name I can't remember and he said it wasn't possible. He seemed to have some Final Authority/Total Truths/Absolute Wisdom as everyone else then just agreed with what he said.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
The actual canal distance for the C&D is, as @JCMalick said, 17 miles.
No currents in a canal? So does the water just sit there and stagnate? Yuck.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
@Niek, The C&D Canal used to have locks but they opened it up to the tides to expedite the shipping traffic...we're very rush rush here stateside!
http://www.cecilhistory.org/chesapeakecity/CANAL TODAY/Canal Today.html
OK - I am totally on board with doing the C&D canal this year. The thought of swimming it has been driving me crazy for about 10 years. I'd say to do it as a group swim (go at speed of slowest person) with one boat. I know that you & I are close enough in speed that it won't be an issue, so if @gregoc isn't insanely fast, it should work. The only definate thing on my schedule this year is END-WET, so any other time would work for me.
Think about it and if it sounds good, email me and we can try to figure out an approach to make it happen.
I wonder if anyone has ever swum the entire length of the C&D....
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams