THE SUPPORT TEAM
BOAT CREW
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Most boats permit 2-3 people on board as your crew.
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Crew must be able to last an unknown amount of hours on a slow boat, on wavy seas without feeling seasick. If your crew get sick or cold and needs medical aid, your swim will be pulled because of them.
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Crew must know your swimming: are you struggling/in tears because of cold and exhaustion but actually you are ok and able to carry on, or are you really struggling and it would be dangerous to continue? They should know your usual stroke technique, speed, breathing and body position to be able to tell the difference.
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It’s advised not to take loved ones/best friends. The last thing the swimmer needs to hear is “You’ve done really well; you wont be letting anyone down if you want to call it a day” etc. which is what loved ones tend to think is helpful!
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The team are there to provide the swimmer with food, drink, pain killers/anti-inflammatories, spare equipment (e.g. changing daytime for night-time goggles), take pictures, offer encouragement, pass on messages from friends, help dress you post-swim and keep notes on everything you’ve taken (just in case you end up in hospital!).
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One person should always be watching you - not just for safety, but for morale too. When you are feeling isolated, exhausted, cold and tearful, and look to your team for an encouraging smile or a thumbs up, the last thing you want to see are 3 people with their fingers round hot mugs, chatting or laughing.
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Crew wear different coloured light sticks at night so the swimmer can tell who’s who.
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Hang fairy lights along the boat sides so the swimmer can see the boat & crew clearly at night without being dazzled by the navigation lights.
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May not swim for the first 2 hours.
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May swim for a maximum of 1 hour before exiting the water
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May not re-enter the water for at least 2 hour (before another 1 hour max. of swimming)
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May wear a wetsuit
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May not touch the swimmer or offer any thermal/buoyancy assistance.
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Must not swim in front of the swimmer, only behind or alongside. In front, they are considered a pace-setter which is not permitted.
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Must be deemed safe by the pilot, and approved by the observer.
LAND CONTACT (if desired):
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Contact between the boat crew (& therefore the swimmer) and interested parties back home.
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Reports swim progress to supporters, and receives messages of encouragement back for the boat/swimmer.
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Deals with the land side of an emergency situation.
THE SKIPPERS:
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Responsible for the boat, route, calculations and overall swim.
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Two skippers so one can rest.
SUPPORT SWIMMER
(counted as one of the boat crew):
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Someone to swim alongside the swimmer for support if needed.
THE OBSERVER:
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Ensures all swim, touching & clothing rules are adhered to.
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Sounds the horn when you are on Dover beach ready to start (ankles out the water), and again when ankles are out the water on French soil (or ‘touch steep cliffs with no water beyond’) and note your swim time accordingly.
