UPDATE: TOMORROW Kayak Escorts Needed - Alcatraz Swim

Anyone not going to Albion & want to make $50 for doing a little paddling???
Kayakers are needed to "pilot" a touch & go swim from Aquatic Park to Alcatraz & back. Start time TBA.
If you're interested, reply here or send a PM and I'll put you in touch with the organizers.

I paddled with Yakuza on a practice swim last year and have piloted several open water swims this year - it's usually a good time and a great way to make some extra cash while getting some exercise. Often it's a very easy paddle since the swims are usually early morning when the wind is down and you generally just have to keep swimmers on track & check that they're doing OK.

Sometimes, however, it can be a little more work. Sunday I piloted a swim from Alcatraz to Crissy Field and actually had work my ass off. We had a slight wind and an ebb to deal with but the biggest factor was the sheer number of swimmers. For most events the swimmers are transported on a party boat or two, but this time they showed up on the freakin' Hornblower! There were literally hundreds of swimmers & trying to keep that many people on target in moving water can be a b**ch. http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/ALChal2010-main.htm The following photos are from that event.

The August 1st swim will be much easier - very small and the coaches & lead boats generally give very good directions to the kayak pilots. I would work this swim but I'll be at Albion. Please let me know if you can help with this one. It's a good group of people doing this event and the kayak pilots serve an extremely important safety role; the more the better.

And, of course, you should bring a rod to soak a line after the swim, and maybe before depending on the start time.  

Morning briefing - kayaks ready to go


Boats & kayaks assembled at the Rock


California Hornblower & tug


First jumpers - I'll stay on my boat, thank you.


Finish Line


Last swimmers


The End

Pisci, I did Alcatraz Challenge yesterday too!!!  632 or something swimmers attempted it.  It was the worst slop I've ever had to make that crossing.  I swear I saw some whitecaps.  Definitely not ideal for a PR, lol.  Drank so much lead-laden baywater, could probably use my d--- as a pencil now.

Pls do get out there and pilot with Aaron and the others.  It helps tremendously to have the safety flotilla.  I've never needed it in a race, but some do, and when they need it, they REALLy need it.  http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-08-05/bay-area/17257275_1_annual-race-motto-swim

thx again for piloting Aaron.  My next event is the two miler this saturday at Del Valle in preparation for the 1000+ person two mile Pier2Pier from Hermosa to Manhattan on August 1.  Maybe i'll run into you on one of the thursday night Pedro swims!

If your not going to Albion please give these guy's a hand. Besides doing good you'll be putting NCKA out there in a great light. Good Luck Martin!
 Randall
 PS: Sorry no Trolling allowed while piloting.

Would totally love to help out if I wasn't going to Albion!!

Please let me know when future events/opportunities will be to help!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Pisci, I did Alcatraz Challenge yesterday too!!!  632 or something swimmers attempted it.  It was the worst slop I've ever had to make that crossing.  I swear I saw some whitecaps. 

I wondered if you might be out there, but somehow figured I would've hear from you if you were.    j/k
Probably never would've seen you in that crowd, anyway. And after, I had to sprint back to Aquatic Park to help with Pedro's regular Sunday workout.

BTW, there was a guy at the back of the pack who was getting picked up for repositioning and refused to get on the jet ski sled. Bad idea - if you noticed, it was SFPD on the jet skis. An officer on the Zodiak (jokingly) told the jet ski pilot to just shoot him if he wouldn't get on board! The swimmer eventually gave in but was still bitchin' & moanin' when he was on the boat . . . shivering . . . surrounded by 3 armed cops. Not the brightest guy.

PS: Sorry no Trolling allowed while piloting.

Yeah, thanks for saying that, Randall! As tempting as it is, fishing line, sharp hooks and swimmers are a bad mix. 

Jim, there will probably be a few more events this summer. The only problem is they tend to interfere with fishing time, but some swims are pretty quick and conducive to dual-purpose paddle trips.

Man, I sure wish I could. That sounds like a blast. Unfortunately I have to work that weekend. If it was afternoon, I could probably swing it but I am guessing that it is going to be an early morning event.

Man, I sure wish I could. That sounds like a blast. Unfortunately I have to work that weekend. If it was afternoon, I could probably swing it but I am guessing that it is going to be an early morning event.

Early birdly. It usually gets pretty ugly out there in the afternoon.

2 NCKA'ers have inquired about this. Anyone else interested in paddling this event?

It's an easay $50 to get some exercise on the water and it should be fun, even if it's not fishing. Although, I do suggest bringing a rod and drifting Crissy Field after, and maybe even prior. Looks like launch time will be around 7am and it will wrap by 10:30.

There's also a possibility of kayaks needed for another swim the day before, July 31st. Let me know if you might want to do that one.

What exactly does "being a pilot" entail? Would we be out front guiding a specific person or group? how do we know where to go? Do I get to throw stuff at boats who get too close? 

...... Drank so much lead-laden baywater, could probably use my d--- as a pencil now.....

   made me laugh, then wince! Sounds fun, I wish I could go, am in dry-dock for now.... good luck, hope you have great conditions.

What exactly does "being a pilot" entail? Would we be out front guiding a specific person or group? how do we know where to go? Do I get to throw stuff at boats who get too close? 

It's more like a cattle drive with sea otters. With this type of swim, the kayakers are mainly on the sides keeping the swimmers on course and from letting the group get too spread out. Escort is a little more accurate; I'd guess there will be about 2 swimmers per kayak - the stragglers usually end up with a single kayak (or boat) looking out for them.

2 main purposes are safety and to keep them on course.

The kayaks are essentially assisting the PB support. Obviously, too many boats too close to the swimmers creates it's own dangers so the kayaks supplement the boats and can get in closer to watch for any swimmers in distress, ask if they're OK & so on. If there is a problem, we just call for a boat and they pick up the swimmer if need be.

There's no direct life-saving involved if a situation were to get that serious. In fact, it's like the other thread discussing being careful with someone in distress - you don't even want them to touch your boat because they could dump you or worse. If they're just tired or have a cramp or something but are completely rational, of course it's OK for them to hold onto your bow or stern for a bit, but any sign of trouble and you'd summon a boat (often a Zodiak).

Most of the "work" is keeping swimmers headed in the right direction. The current is a factor and some swimmers simply can't maintain a straight course if they had to - they'd go in circles if you let 'em. The coaches should give directions to head toward landmarks visible from the water but when you're swimming, you're really not looking forward so it's easy to stray.

The most difficult thing can often be simply getting a swimmer's attention since they're not focusing on you, and can't hear much because of ear plugs & swim caps. Sometimes your whistle is the only way to get their attention, and if that doesn't work . . . well, you have a paddle . . . A KZ gaff is useful too, if you need to pluck someone from the water.

There I go again writing a whole essay for what should have been a two-sentence answer.

Wait, not done yet - to answer your last question: Yes, you can throw things at boats that get too close. All the pilots should keep an eye out for boat traffic but the other support boats usually see any potential problems before we even notice them. However, these things are coordinated with the USCG and SFPD, so if a boat actually does push too close, you probably wouldn't be the only one throwing things.

 

  Man this sounds like a good event to help out on!  Wish I could.  It's a little far forme to travel to though.

LAST MINUTE CALL FOR ANOTHER SWIM EVENT TOMORROW. If interested, contact: [email protected] | cell: 415-299-9098

Not going to Albion and never having paddled to Alcatraz I took pisciform (Aaron) up on his offer to pilot swimmers from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park.  It was pretty fun and cool to help out.  It also helped that the weather was cooperative although not perfect. 

The swimmers were awesome and kudos to them for making the long swim and being able to deal with the current, wind and chop.  The other yak pilots were a friendly bunch and gave me lots of good advice.  By following their lead the event was tight and well controlled.  Tomorrow I'm helping out with a swim from Aquatic Park to Alcatraz and back to Aquatic Park. 

Here's the funny part...I mentioned at work that I was going to escort swimmers in my yak for an open water swim this weekend.  By the time it got through the lunch room, rumor had it that I'm a paid escort...lol

Oooo that makes Aaron a p...

Hope those guys are having a good time at Albion!  I'll be doing my escort thang...