Welcome to crewing for solo, tandem and relay marathon swims!
This series of posts and templates serves as a swim community resource, and is especially useful for anyone crewing a big swim for the first time who needs to learn the basics of how to support a swimmer.
The ideas and practices shared here can be used to plan the support needed for your next adventure, to borrow from if you want to create a smaller crew guide for support crew to read, or to get inspired by looking at what others have done on their swims. ​
You can help this resource grow and evolve!! Got pics of a nifty feed container or pill dispenser? Video of the best feed bottle toss out there? Ideas or suggestions for different or better ways to do things? Send me them this way at wildbigswim@gmail.com! Not only will others get to learn from community sharing, but it can be motivating and inspiring to see others in action...​
​​Note that this series isn't an attempt to codify how things should or must be done - there's lots of different ways to plan and prepare for big swims! Use the information found herein at your own discretion and risk, of course, not everything works for everybody.​
Happy swimming and crewing! Nadine
1.1 What's a marathon swim?
1.2 How a marathon swim works
1.3 Rules - standard swimmer attire
1.4 Rules - no contact
1.5 Rules - no drafting behind or alongside the boat​​
2.1 Boat pilot
2.2 Official observer
2.3 Boat support crew
2.4 Kayak and paddler
2.5 Swimmer
2.6 Order of authority on the water
3.1 How to select a boat pilot
3.2 How to (not) select an escort paddler
3.3 How to select boat support crew
3.4 Importance of establishing solid crew partnership
3.5 You might fuck something up though...
4. GETTING ORGANIZED AHEAD OF TIME
4.1 Swim planning documentation
4.2 The swim window
4.3 The boat
4.4 Safety briefing and crew meeting
4.5 Sharing crew responsibilities
4.6 After care to prepare before the swim start
5.1 Gear overview, tips and suggestions
5.2 Feed kit, swim kit and other gear
5.3 Swimmer "before bag" and "after bag"
5.4 Gear the crew needs for themselves
7. PREPARING FEEDS AND MEDICATION
7.1 Feed line and feed basket
7.2 Feed bottles and containers
7.3 Feed mixing, cooling, warming
7.4 Assume the feed plan goes to shit
8.1 Delivering feeds from a kayak
8.2 Delivering feeds from a boat
8.3 Feed stop tips and suggestions
8.4 Taking the swimmer's stroke rate
8.5 Taking the water temperature
9. FILLING OUT AN OBSERVER/CREW LOG
9.1 The purpose of an observer/crew log
9.2 Filling in the details on the observer/crew log
9.3 Using a detailed "must do" schedule and tracker
9.4 Printing logs and trackers on all-weather paper
10.1 How dark is different
10.2 Brrrrrr....it can get pretty cold at night!
10.3 Finding a good headlamp
10.4 Lighting up the swimmer
10.5 Lighting up the feed bottle and feed line
10.6 Lighting up the start/finish
10.7 Why is your swimmer swimming sideways?!
11. MONITORING AND COMMUNICATION BASICS
11.1 Eyes on the swimmer at all times
11.2 What am I looking out for?
11.3 Communicating with the swimmer
11.4 Asking positive leading questions
11.5 Checking your boat vibe
12. MONITORING THE SWIMMER'S MINDSET​
12.1 Motivational toolbox
12.2 Whiteboard messages
12.3 Support swimming
12.4 Having fun with feeds
13. MONITORING THE SWIMMER'S BODY
13.1 A swimmer's basic physical needs during the swim
13.2 Monitoring feed intake
13.3 Monitoring vomiting
13.4 Monitoring urination
13.5 Monitoring cognitive function
13.6 Monitoring for hypothermia or heat stroke​
14. MONITORING THE WATERWAY AND PROGRESS
14.1 Monitoring the waterway for hazards
14.2 Finding the swimmer's estimated finish time
14.3 At what point is forward progress an issue?
15. WHAT IF THE SWIM NEEDS TO END EARLY?
15.1 Order of authority on the water
15.2 Crew and swimmer should have "the talk"
15.3 Working and escalating an issue on the water
16. AFTER THE SWIM IS FINISHED
16.1 Helping the swimmer once they exit the water
16.2 After the swimmer is dry and warmly dressed
16.3 Seeking after-swim medical care for the swimmer
16.4 Don't forget to celebrate!
- Questions to the Swimmer, Boat Pilot, Swim Organization
- Swim Plan
- Feed and Medication Schedule and Tracker
- Swimmer and Support Crew Packing List
- Swimmer Contacts, Insurance and Medical Information
- Crew Contacts, Insurance and Medical Information