Keith, Generally, at organized swim events, there are a number of motorized support boats available to which paddlers ferry the exhausted swimmer. These boats stay off to the side, and paddlers ferry the swimmers to them. As to how best to ferry ANY CONSCIOUS swimmer about, there are several ways. All ways start with communicating to the swimmer the basics of what you need them to do and what you will do. You must be in control of the situation. If they are panicky, calm them BEFORE you approach or you will be a swimmer too! 1) The bow carry is performed with the swimmer's hands on the bow, body in water, head to side of bow and legs either in water or up on the front deck, straddling boat from underneath. This is good for a short ferry; you can see the "victim", but there is much drag due to their body in the water. 2) The stern carry requires the victim to hold on to the stern and their body trails in the water. This also is good for a short ride only and of course you really can't see the victim. 3) The better option for a longer ferry is the stern deck carry. The swimmer lays face down on the back deck out of the water. This requires considerable skill on the part of the paddler; you need good bracing skills both as they climb on board and, to a lesser degree, as you are underway. They keep as low as possible and if you can handle the balance, they may take their feet out of the water for a faster ride. For an UNCONSCIOUS swimmer (apart from events with support boats), two kayakers can raft up to drag the swimmer across the decks. Additional kayakers utilize tow ropes to tow the assemblage. Can anyone think of a fourth alternative for a conscious swimmer? Mike. Mike Hamilton, Biologist 1205 Leonardtown Service Bldg University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 301-314-3486 On Wed, 12 Mar 2003, Keith Wrage wrote: > I'm asking this in all seriousness.... > > I seen calls for support kayakers to help with various swims - triathalons > and the sort - like this one. Are there skills needed by the kayaker in > this situation? I've not seen instructions or specifics about assisting > swimmers from a kayak in any books. I assume that if they get in trouble > they hang on? tow to shore? or ? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Mar 12 2003 - 12:46:58 PST
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