Requirements/advice to kayakers escorting swimmers/providing safety cover at BLDSA Events

 

Paddler competency

• Paddlers should be experienced and confident in paddling in open water. (For some swims the course will be more than 200m from the shore.)
• Paddlers must have the experience and be competent to remain by the side of a swimmer within 1-3m, be able to move away from the swimmer if they come towards the boat and be able to steer a straight course in tail, side, and head As such they should be able to paddle forwards, backwards and sideways under full control.
• Paddlers should be able to perform an effective support stroke to prevent capsize.
• Paddlers must be able to stop paddling to pass food/drink to swimmers.
• If paddling a closed cockpit kayak the ability to exit a capsized boat with spray deck in place is essential.
• Paddlers of sit on top craft should be able to self-rescue.
• On many of our longer lake/sea events, paddlers will need to be skilled and experienced to handle wind and associated waves up to approximately Force 4.
• Paddlers must be able to navigate using maps/landscape features to ensure the correct course is followed.
• In the event of a capsize paddlers must be able to float effectively, keep hold of their boat and paddle and be able to attract attention of the safety boats.
• Paddlers must be able to stay on the water for an extended period. (Event organisers can advise on estimated times for individual swimmers.)

Please be aware that paddlers who appear to lack the necessary skills to stay with their swimmer will not be allowed to continue, and the swimmer will be removed from the water by safety officials.

Boats

• Closed cockpit kayaks and sit on top kayaks are suitable for use in escorting Inflatable kayaks must not be used in BLDSA events.
• The boat must be watertight and have sufficient buoyancy to keep it afloat should it Boats must be fitted with bow and stern toggles or grab handles.
• Touring/sea kayaks are ideal and maybe a requirement on some swims.
• Boats fitted with an adjustable skeg are advantageous in cross/tail wind conditions. In certain circumstances, and with suitably experienced crews, open canoes may be used subject to the approval of event organisers.
• On some events it is a requirement that the swimmers’ clothing is carried on board the escort This must be carried in such a way that the safety of the boat and paddler is not compromised and is accessible should the swimmer retire from the event.
• Kayakers should have paddled the boat and be familiar with its’ handling characteristics before the event
• If in any doubt about the suitability of your boat, you should contact the event organiser well in advance of the swim taking place to discuss

The BLDSA reserves the right to refuse the use of a boat should it be deemed unsuitable by event officials.

Personal equipment

• All paddlers are required to wear a suitable and properly fitted personal floatation device and those using closed cockpit kayaks may be required to use a spray deck if the conditions dictate it.
• Paddlers are advised that they need to wear clothing suitable for being on the water for several hours in potentially changeable weather conditions and to carry food/hydration for the duration of the event.
• On the longer lake swims, it is good practice to carry a first aid kit and survival bag. As paddlers are responsible for navigation and course selection it is recommended that laminated maps and a compass are carried.
• All paddlers are required to carry a whistle for emergency use
• Paddlers qualified to use VHF marine band radio should bring their radio if they have one.

Flag Alpha

BLDSA rules require that Flag Alpha is flown by all craft escorting individual swimmers.  Flag Alpha is a maritime signal flag that when flown on its own indicates a vessel has a diver down or swimmer in the water.  Other craft are expected to give a wide berth and proceed at slow speed.  Although used at sea, its meaning is also understood by many inland water users particularly in the Lake District.  It is recommended that Flag Alpha is mounted on a short pole and attached to the boat.  (A section of lightweight tent pole is ideal and can be easily mounted into a drilled out replacement drain bung.)  The practice of placing the flag pole between the paddler and their buoyancy aid is not advised as it could impede exit from the boat in the event of capsize.  Flag Alpha must be removed if the swimmer retires.

On the day of the swim

On arrival:-

• Please ensure that on arrival you register with
• Before the swim starts, briefings will be held for swimmers and crew. As well as communicating essential safety information, briefings also provide the opportunity for escort paddlers to ask questions/seek clarification from the event  You must attend the briefing. 
• As part of the briefing process the event safety officer or delegated officials may wish to inspect your boat or equipment and clarify your level of paddling experience.
• Paddlers must ensure they are familiar with the swim course and key landmarks/navigation points en-route.

Before starting the swim:-

• Before the event start paddlers need to ensure that they can recognise their swimmer once on the Knowing the swimmer’s hat and swimsuit colour helps if it is the first time you have crewed for a swimmer.  Agree a start strategy as to where the swimmer will be picked up once the race is underway.  If there is a large field, it might not be possible to pick up the swimmer for several minutes after the start.  It helps the swimmer to know where you will be, so before the start, agree if you will be to the left or right of the field and if you will go to the head of the field and wait or approach them from the rear of the field.
• Find out if the swimmer breathes bi-laterally or to one side and which side they would like you to paddle.
• On longer events most swimmers will feed/drink during the swim so discuss their feeding strategy before going on the water. Paddlers will need to ensure that the swimmers’ food/drink is stored in such a way that it is both secure and easily accessible.
• Make sure you know what time you need to be on the water. (This is usually 10-15 minutes before the start time of the swim.)

During the swim:-

• Once underway paddlers must remain close to their swimmers and a maximum of no more than 3 metres away. Safety officials will warn paddlers who are too far away from their swimmer and may ask them to leave the water if they are unable to remain close to the
• Try to keep your body parallel or just ahead of the swimmers’ line of
• During the swim be positive and try and encourage the swimmer, it does help psychologically to smile at them and offer an occasional thumbs Communicating with a swimmer during a race can prove a frustrating experience but try and remember that they will be wearing ear plugs, their ears are covered by a thick silicone or latex hat, goggles steam up and hand signals/gestures can be lost in the glare of the sun!
• Be aware of signs of fatigue, illness, hypothermia and be prepared to seek advice/ assistance from the safety boats.
• Escort paddlers are responsible for navigating the swim course and hazard avoidance. Be prepared to shout a warning to other water users if they come too close.  Sailing craft have considerable blind spots caused by the mast and sails so a loud shout can be very useful.
• If the swimmer starts wandering off course, try to attract their attention to this fact and indicate to them the correct course/position. If they try and nudge you off course or try and swim too close to the kayak, motion, or shout to them to move away from the boat.
• Be aware that a cross wind affects a kayak significantly more than a swimmer and can blow the boat onto the swimmer. If you are continually blown towards them then consider swapping and paddling on the other side of them.  Only do this with the agreement of the swimmer and remember that some swimmers only breathe to one side and putting the kayak on the wrong side will mean they will be unable to follow you.
• Paddlers should compensate for a cross wind by adjusting their course towards the side the wind is blowing from. The degree of off-set will depend on the strength of the wind.  Failing to compensate for a cross wind can lead to competitors swimming further than they need to finish the race.  A tail wind can prove tricky for paddlers, and it is quite possible that back paddling will be required to stay alongside a  In anything apart from calm weather, stopping to feed can lead to a swimmer drifting off course so paddlers need to ensure that giving food and drinks is done quickly and efficiently.  Paddlers must not impede the progress of other swimmers and must follow instructions issued by event officials.

In an emergency, or if the swimmer needs to retire

• Ask the swimmer to hold on to the front of their boat, head to one side and legs raised either side of the This allows you to maintain constant visual contact and speak to them until help arrives
• To attract the attention of the rescue boats, make repeated short blows on your whistle. If safe to do so, put your paddle vertically in the air to signal your  If you are carrying a marine VHF radio, contact officials via Channel 10.
• The rescue boat will take the swimmer from you – please follow their instructions. Hand over any clothing, medication etc. before the swimmer is taken away.  You will usually be asked to make your own way to the finish line and then to check in with officials once you get there.
• Your own safety is paramount. If it is being compromised (e.g. by a swimmer panicking and making motions that might capsize the kayak), back away slightly and await help.  If you do capsize and are unable to roll back up, exit your kayak and keep holding onto it for buoyancy until help arrives.

If you leave the course of the race for any reason (e.g. rescuing yourself to the side), you must, at the earliest opportunity, inform race officials of your whereabouts. In almost all circumstances, it is better to wait to be rescued. If we are unaware that you have left the water, we will mount a search which may involve police, coastguard etc.!

General safety cover at circuit swims

In most circumstances individual escorts are not allowed at circuit swims.  This is however at the discretion of event organisers and may be allowed in certain situations.  On circuit swims kayak cover will be deployed by the event safety officer and race referee.  Usually, cover is dispersed to patrol sectors of a swim course or fixed points such as turn marks.  Paddlers are expected to attend both the swimmers’ and crew briefings.  Swimmers are responsible for their own navigation so paddlers should not intervene unless a swimmer is wandering far off course or safety is compromised by other water users.  Paddlers must not impede the progress of swimmers and must follow instructions issued by event officials.

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