The Women Swimmin’ Safety Team has canceled the Optional Training Clinic on Monday, August 7th, due to inclement weather. See you on Friday evening at 7 PM at Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium for the mandatory pre-swim Boater Meeting!
With an anticipated 300+ swimmers, support on the water from paddlers and power boats or wave runners is critical! The vast number of boaters helping at Women Swimmin' for Hospicare are paddlers using kayaks, canoes, or SUPs. We'll need the help of about 120 experienced paddlers. Because of the complexities of escorting swimmers and partnering with other paddlers, and the length of time spent on the water, paddling for Women Swimmin' is not a task for new or novice paddlers.
Attendance at these meetings is required by Hospicare's insurance carrier in order for you to participate in the event.
At the meetings you will:
Line Safety Paddlers (LSP): We will assign 30 Line Safety Paddlers to partner with Kayak/SUP Safety Team (KST) members and rove a zone along the edge of the course, maintaining the tightest and most direct course possible. LSPs are responsible for providing rest and assistance to swimmers and helping pass swimmers from pod to pod/escort to escort.
Escort Paddlers (Escort):
We will assign 3 Escort Paddlers to paddle across the lake with each pod of 8-10 swimmers. Escorts are responsible for guiding swimmers across the lake in the most direct line WITHIN THE COURSE, providing rest and support as needed for all swimmers in their pod and passing slower/faster swimmers to other escorts as pods break up and recombine.
Kayak/SUP Safety Team Paddlers (KST):
KST members are experienced kayakers and SUPers with self-rescue skills and assisted rescue skills, responsible for supporting all swimmers and paddlers on the course. If you have paddled as KST in the past, please register as KST. If you are interested in joining the KST, have self-rescue skills, a complete kit of safety equipment, and a kayak with flotation fore and aft or are rescue trained on your SUP, please register as a support paddler and say YES to the question ‘Are you interested in joining the Kayak/SUP Safety Team’.
Powerboaters/Wave Runners:
Powerboaters will be stationed along the downwind edge of the course, outside the Kayak Safety Team & Line Safety Paddlers, close enough to the course to see and hear calls for assistance but not so close as to have exhaust impact swimmers or paddlers. Power boaters will have at least one other person onboard to observe the course, binoculars, towels, and standard safety equipment.
Wave Runners will rove a section of the downwind side of the course and be responsible for removing swimmers who need to leave the course. Wave Runner operators must be skilled with their craft and able to physically assist fatigued swimmers onto their craft.
As a boater for Women Swimmin’ for Hospicare, you agree to:
You agree to have the following equipment:
Please review the the Safety Information page and especially the WS Safety Manual for Swimmers & Paddlers to understand our event safety plans, procedures and expectations.
Whether this is the first time you're paddling for Women Swimmin' or the 20th time, please review the information below. Some information is new this year, so all paddlers should review the information.
To streamline the parking and unloading of boats, stop and unload your boat before parking. “Boat Sherpas” will be available to help you off-load your vessel and assist in carrying it to the launch site, if needed. There will be a Paddler Check-in station near the boat launch to the IYC marina. Please check in there after unloading your boat and before launching. It is critical that you also check out at the end of the event so we know everyone is accounted for.
ARRIVE EARLY! This will allow you enough time to unload your boat, park your car, launch your boat and paddle to your position lining the course or across the lake to pick up your pod.
Please read the WS Safety Manual for Swimmers & Paddlers for details about what to expect at the start of the swim and as you're crossing the lake.
If you're an Escort Paddler who is also a Super Paddler, return to the East shore for your next pod assignment. All other Escort Paddlers are encouraged to join the LSP & KST lining the course. When you've finished your assigned duties, you should exit at the launch station at the Ithaca Yacht Club (where you put your boat in the water in the morning). Check-out with the volunteer at the tent by the launch when you're finished.
Boat Sherpas can help you get your canoe or kayak back to your car.
Port-a-potties are on the far side of the IYC, near the North Dock.
Enjoy a good breakfast, with our compliments for a job well done! Your friends and family can also have breakfast, for a suggested donation of $5. Stick around the IYC and listen to the music of The Yardvarks and enjoy the festivities. After all the swimmers and paddlers are ashore, we'll have closing ceremonies to draw the name for the stand-up paddleboard raffle, will announce winners for top fundraising prizes, and will announce the total amount raised for Hospicare!