2.1 Boat pilot

The organization either provides the boat and boat pilot or the swimmer has to find and secure them under contract on their own. Typically there would be two of them. If the swim is independent of any swim organization but is being submitted for ratification, the swimmer must arrange for the boat and pilot. It's important to remember that you are all guests on the boat and that the boat pilot has full authority over the boat and the people on it, which includes the right to call off the swim if necessary for any reason. The boat pilot sets the course, monitors boat traffic and the overall safety of swim, engages with local authorities, and communicates important information to the crew.

2.2 Official observer

If the swim is being done under the auspices of a swim organization, they will provide the official observer for the swim, at least one, but sometimes two of them. If the swim is independent of any swim organization but is being submitted for ratification, the swimmer must arrange to have someone act in the role of official observer. The official observer must be able to act ethically and independently of the swimmer and be knowledgeable about the rules of marathon swimming. The official observer documents the facts of the swim, monitors that all rules are followed, takes the official time, completes the official documentation, and submits these after the swim is done for ratification that the swim's official rules were indeed followed.

2.3 Boat support crew

Crew Denise Herman

Paddler Kathleene Marcil

The number of crew permitted varies by swim organization, so be sure to confirm this before finalizing who will be on the boat support crew team. If the swim is a solo, the swimmer usually has to provide at least two crew members, sometimes three are permitted for very long swims such as double or triple crossings of a body of water. If the swim is a tandem or a relay, the number of crew required or even permitted may depend on the space available on the boat.

The boat support crew's objective is to work together as a team to ensure the swimmer has a safe and successful swim. The swimmer would typically name one of the crew members as the "crew chief", who leads the other crew members. If the swimmer decides not to have a crew chief, they should still have a designated crew member who will have the final authority amongst the crew in deciding if the swimmer should be pulled from the water. Note that if a kayak and paddler (see below Section 2.4 Kayak and paddler) is being used for the swim, some of the responsibilities described here would extend to them, typically the holding and delivering of feeds and medications to the swimmer.

The crew chief’s role is to be responsible for the swimmer and other crew members, which includes:

Liaising with and advocating on behalf of the swimmer when engaging with the boat pilot(s) and observer, including conferring with them and the swimmer (wherever suitable and possible) if there is a question of abandoning the swim
Having the ultimate authority amongst the crew to make decisions about the swim and the swimmer
Setting the crew schedule for taking turns being “on shift”, which is important for rest and mental breaks
Holding the swimmer’s emergency contact information, medical information, insurance card, spare hotel room key
Troubleshooting major issues as needed

All crew, including the crew chief:

Knowing the swimmer’s swim plan, including the feed and medication plan, and making sure it’s followed
Delivering feeds and preparing special requests (warm feeds, other foods, treats) and delivering them to the swimmer
Monitoring the swimmer’s physical and mental state, the water and weather conditions, etc.
Tracking data about the swim on the crew/observer log (stroke rate, feeds, water temp, moods), if crew responsibility
Supporting and encouraging the swimmer and helping them have fun rocking this big achievement
Taking photos and videos as documentation of the swim, and to capture memories you all can look back on

2.4 Kayak and paddler

Crew on board Lucky

If a kayak and paddler are being used for the swim, the swimmer may find themselves dealing almost exclusively with the paddler instead of the crew on the boat. The paddler would be responsible for holding and delivering the feeds and medications to the swimmer instead of the crew who are on the boat. The crew would still be responsible for loading the boat, preparing and providing the paddler feeds and medications, watching over the swimmer's condition and monitoring for issues, and documenting the swim by taking photos and videos. The boat may be positioned alongside the paddler and swimmer, but in rough winds or strong currents the boat would have less agility and control than the kayak would and may move off to the front of or behind them.

2.5 Swimmer

The swimmer is accountable for communicating openly and honestly with everyone involved in the swim - the swim organization and the personnel they provide for the conduct of the swim, and the crew the swimmer has enlisted to be on their support crew team. A swimmer who withholds information about their needs, including any medical conditions or ailments, may end up putting everyone involved in supporting them in frustrating, difficult and possibly dangerous situations.

When it comes specifically to the crew...

BEFORE the swim, the swimmer needs to communicate:

Goals and intentions for the swim, any hard lines the swimmer will not cross (e.g., swimming through injury)
Medical conditions or ailments the crew should be aware of, and how they might affect the swimmer during the swim
The feed and medication plan, how best to deliver things using the feed line, feed bottles and containers
Typical stroke rate and responses to fatigue and heat/cold, questions to use to monitor for cognitive function
Preferences, such as encouragement style, likes/dislikes, how to handle things if the swim ends abruptly

DURING the swim, the swimmer needs to communicate:

How they are feeling, if they are urinating
If the feeds they are getting from the crew need adjustment
Any special needs for the next feed coming up
If anything is bothering them (e.g., lights on the boat)
If they want information (e.g., on location, time in water)
If they want a support swimmer

The swimmer also needs to self-monitor their own well-being during the swim for happiness, boredom, injury, warmth etc.
And the rest of the time their focus is to swim, swim, swim...

2.6 Order of authority on the water

Now that you're familiar with the roles involved in marathon swimming, it's important to understand the order of authority on the water when it comes to decision making:

1. Boat pilot
The boat pilot has full authority over the boat once the swim starts, including cancelling the swim if necessary for any reason, such as dangerous weather or boat problems, and if they feel the swimmer is no longer safe or if the crew are not skilled in their ability to keep the swimmer safe. The boat pilot would normally have a conversation with the crew chief and other crew members in making the decision where circumstances permit this (e.g. the situation is not an emergency), who can then try to advocate on the swimmer's behalf if they can think of solutions that could be tried first - but once the boat pilot makes a firm final decision to cancel the swim, the swim is over and done.

2. Official observer
The official observer has full authority to cancel the swim if they witness any official rule of the swim not being adhered to.

3. Crew chief
The crew chief has full authority amongst the crew to cancel the swim if they feel it’s necessary to do so, this would likely be based on the swimmer's safety and well-being, as the crew would be most familiar with the swimmer's health and any medical conditions, typical behaviours on a swim such as urination frequency and stroke rate, planned feeds and medications, etc. The crew chief should consult with the other crew members before cancelling the swim to see if they can propose solutions to be tried first, the boat pilot and observer if they feel it's necessary or even helpful, and the swimmer as well provided circumstances permit this (eg, the situation is not an emergency).

4. Swimmer
The swimmer can pull themselves and cancel the swim at any time, they may recognize they don't feel well enough or that they aren't making enough forward progress to be able to ever finish the swim. Usually a swimmer will express their desire to exit the water and then touch some part of the boat, thereby breaking the “no contact” rule and effectively ending the swim.

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2.1 Boat pilot

2.3 Boat support crew

2.4 Kayak and paddler

2.5 Swimmer

When it comes specifically to the crew...

​​

BEFORE the swim, the swimmer needs to communicate:

​​

Goals and intentions for the swim, any hard lines the swimmer will not cross (e.g., swimming through injury)

Medical conditions or ailments the crew should be aware of, and how they might affect the swimmer during the swim

The feed and medication plan, how best to deliver things using the feed line, feed bottles and containers

Typical stroke rate and responses to fatigue and heat/cold, questions to use to monitor for cognitive function

Preferences, such as encouragement style, likes/dislikes, how to handle things if the swim ends abruptly

DURING the swim, the swimmer needs to communicate:

​

How they are feeling, if they are urinating

If the feeds they are getting from the crew need adjustment

Any special needs for the next feed coming up

If anything is bothering them (e.g., lights on the boat)

If they want information (e.g., on location, time in water)

If they want a support swimmer

The swimmer also needs to self-monitor their own well-being during the swim for happiness, boredom, injury, warmth etc. And the rest of the time their focus is to swim, swim, swim...​

2.6 Order of authority on the water

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BACK TO CREW GUIDE MAIN PAGE

The swimmer also needs to self-monitor their own well-being during the swim for happiness, boredom, injury, warmth etc.
And the rest of the time their focus is to swim, swim, swim...