The water is starting to warm up where I live & I'm wanting to get out and do some long distance swims. I have buddies who've said they'll kayak next to me, but I'm not sure what the safest way to do free-form open water swimming is. I'd like to head up or down the coast, but should I consult any shipping maps or the like? Do I need to know anything in particular about currents, submerged things, etc, or could I just set out with an escort and swim wherever I'd like? Obviously I would be able to SEE things, like rocks, jetties, etc, but I'm a little concerned about inadvertantly swimming into a shipping lane or ferry path.
So - my question - anyone who does long distance with an escort - do you check maps or call the coastguard? Do boats normally yield to you (as a courtesy, not a rule I guess)?
The water is starting to warm up where I live & I'm wanting to get out and do some long distance swims. I have buddies who've said they'll kayak next to me, but I'm not sure what the safest way to do free-form
Where are you? This vital bit of info would make it a lot easier to get good help here.
Definitely you need to consult tide information - kayaks aren't nearly as fast as some of them.
I'm a masters swimming doing a triathlon this summer. I don't wear a nose clip, but should I use one for the open water swim during the triathlon? And if so, should I "practice" using it?
I'm a masters swimming doing a triathlon this summer. I don't wear a nose clip, but should I use one for the open water swim during the triathlon? And if so, should I "practice" using it?
If you don't need one for the pool, you probably don't need one for the ocean (lake?) either. You are getting at least a little OW training in prior to the rate, I hope. Even one or two sessions will tell you if you should change anything from your pool routine.
In the colder local waters, I prefer to have silicon ear plugs, esp on the right side. Everytime I roll to breath the cold trickles down, bugs the hell out of me. -- Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com
