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Safety and escort procedures
Guidelines for round - island relay and solo swims
Boats and Boat Crews:
Any boats used for club swims, whether a 'Round Island' attempt or an inshore club event, must have at least one recognised/experienced boatman in charge. There must be a minimum of at least two capable persons onboard at all times during a swim. In the case of a round Island attempt or any such swim that is expected to be further than a visual point to point, a qualified marine VHF radio operator should be on board and have access to one of the clubs marine radios. There are several qualified marine VHF operators within the club and any swimmer intent on a swim of any distance should be encouraged to employ the services of one of these people, a list of which is included as an annex to these guidelines. In the case of a relay attempt, then it is, when ever practical, to be encouraged that boat crews change within these defined guidelines for the purposes of rest and to offer experience to others who are interested and willing to assist in future attempts. A recognised 'pilot' must be included in any crew. There is to be no more than one swimmer accompanied by each escort boat at any one time.
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Safety & Associated Equipment:
All boats accompanying swimmers must fly 'Flag Alpha' Recognised internationally as a warning to other maritime users 'That there is a person nearby in the water'. A full compliment of safety equipment including: life jackets, marine channel VHF radio, flares, a suitable piece of equipment by which a swimmer can be assisted and removed from the water, i.e. a piece of material such as a roller towel will suffice, first aid kit and blankets must be carried. It is recommended that a suitably qualified first aider with knowledge of CPR is aboard. A suitable length of tow rope and an anchor are recommended. All swims which start or pass the Elizabeth Castle breakwater are to contact St Helier Port Control (Ch 14)for clearance to cross the harbour entrance. Escort vessels heading east across the reclamation site area and into St Clement's Bay 'gutters' to Green Island and across to La Rocque are to have maximum lookouts during this dangerous transition period. Similarly with L'Etacq and the approach to Corbiere. Experience here is a top priority and inexperienced boat crews would be ill-advised to attempt this passage alone. During the hours of darkness, dawn, or dusk, vessels must show a white transit light and swimmers are to wear night-sticks attached to their costumes. It is useful to have a mobile phone on board in addition to the VHF radio as a backup. GPS hand held sets are also a useful tool for navigation and safety.
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Medical Kits:
Remedies for bites and sore limbs should be the responsibility of the swimmer due to allergies etc.
Accompanying Personnel
It is recognised that parents and friends accompanying young swimmers on Round Island attempts are under extreme pressure during stressful periods of the swim. If parents and their friends wish to accompany youngsters, it is recommended that they either make use of the second club boat, if available, along with a recognised boat crew, or enlist the services of a separate boat. It is not and never has been the intention of the club to deprive anyone the chance to accompany and observe swimmers, especially their nearest and dearest, in fact quite the opposite. However, helpful and well-meaning parents and friends have in the past jeopardised the outcome of swims.
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Swim order allocation:
From the start of the 2002 season, Round Island swims will normally be allocated on a first come, first served basis following the receipt of CORRECTLY completed application AND MEDICAL forms AND DEPOSIT. Swimmers from outside the Island who meet qualifying regulations are requested to follow these guide lines. Although it is recognised that travel and logistics to and from the Island may require a more flexible approach if necessary and available. A register will be kept of the dates that properly completed applications are received and these must include either a complete spring tide cycle or a preferred and alternative date(s). Should a set of springs pass without a swim getting underway, then that swimmer does not automatically receive a priority on the next set of springs. However should circumstances require that it is absolutely necessary for their particular swim to be completed in order to satisfy a qualifying time for a Channel attempt or similar event then every assistance will be given where all possible. With the increased interest shown world wide by swimmers, it has been deemed necessary to restrict the number of 'overseas' swimmers to TWO per tide. This will hopefully reduce pressures put on our volunteer workforce should these visitors find themselves waiting around and kicking their heels awaiting improving weather conditions.. It no way is this a penalty on our very welcome visitors but a method of limiting stress and frustration on the locals!
Swims will be allocated a unique serial number as per 02/Aug 17-20/03 where 02/ refers to the year, /Aug 17-20/ refers to the spring tide cycle requested and /03refers to the listed position on that tide. Requests are to be made in writing, or by fax or E-mail, to the JLDSC club secretary. This, it is hoped, will eliminate any duplication or possible discussion over who goes when! Once the swim has been accepted, registered and any necessary deposit lodged with the club, then it is the swimmers responsibility to contact the swim co-ordinator within the seven days leading up to the first date given, to enquire on the possibility of the swim going ahead with regard to weather conditions and support crew availability. Please remember that all those who man escort vessels and assist in club events are volunteers leading parallel lives and professions. It may therefore be impractical to go on the highest of springs, or the most practical day to suit the swimmer. Hence the requirement for a range of dates. The necessary application forms including medical forms are based on the CSA administrative application data and are available from the JLDSC club secretary.
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Weather:
Weather conditions are the major environmental factor in allowing a swim to go ahead. As far as is known, there is only one club member with academic qualifications to predict the weather. Richard Flambard apart we have to rely on our good relations with the local meteorological centre and the perusal of met web sites. We will rarely start a swim if the likelihood of Force 4 conditions, or above is forecast. Where young or inexperienced swimmers are concerned, this limit will be revised accordingly. Relay swims can be as hazardous as solo attempts and a great deal of thought goes into the sanctioning of any swim to commence on safety grounds. Similarly if unexpected weather conditions materialise during a swim's progress then the wishes of the swimmer and escort crew must be taken into consideration. Advice and requests from Jersey Radio, Port Control Officers, or the Duty Assistant Harbour Master concerning the continuation of a swim are mandatory and paramount on all occasions.
Qualifying swims: As with other swims across major waterways or around controlled land masses, it is necessary to prove to the club's committee that the capabilities of the swimmer attempting the course are such that he or she is a competent swimmer. No solo swim around the Island will be sanctioned or promoted by the club unless a qualifying open water swim of a minimum of five hours' duration has been achieved and recorded by a competent observer during the preceding twelve months. Relay teams must have a minimum of one and a half hours per swimmer in similar conditions. Swimmers from off the Island may submit authorised verification from previous swims within a similar period of time.
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Medical Certificate:
Any swim attempted outside the published club swim calendar will require a current medical certificate. All competitors, solo and members of relay squads, are required to submit a completed club medical certificate, dated within the actual year of the swim. Major medical changes or illnesses contracted by the swimmer during the period following the submission of the original medical form and previous to the swim taking place, must be notified to the club secretary no less than seven days before the swim. A certified copy of a medical form completed within the above time scale for FINA /ASA /CS&PF / CSA / BLDSA recognised swims will be accepted. Service personnel/Security/Emergency Forces from British or Foreign agencies are still required to complete a medical application form, which may be signed by either a qualified military or civilian practitioner. N.B. Medical certificates completed for a Round Jersey swim are not necessarily acceptable for swims organised by other clubs and associations.
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Insurance:
Following a letter from the Amateur Swimming Association (Ref: dlfw/567 dated Wednesday 10th October 2001) it is necessary to draw the attention of all intending swimmers to the fact that only those swimmers registered with the ASA Club Insurance scheme are legally covered for swims as part of JLDSC activities. (The JLDSC are part of this scheme and are legally covered by its terms) Only swimmers belonging to clubs affiliated to the ASA and normally resident in the United Kingdom, The Channel Islands and Isle of Man are covered. Swimmers from outside these categories are not covered under the scheme and are therefore required to obtain and confirm their own personal cover for any injury and loss of personal effects indemnifying the JLDSC before a swim is permitted. The JLDSC are powerless to extend their ASA cover in cases outside these parameters.
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Please Note:
Any swim made or attempted without a completed and sanctioned prior application, or without approved or recognised club officials escorting will not be recognised by the JLDSC.
Notification to the St Helier Harbour Master:
At least twenty four hours previous to any swim, the swim co-ordinator will send details of the swim, swimmer and escort vessels to the Harbour Master by fax or E-mail for his approval.
Annex to Safety and Escort Procedures
List of qualified and club recognised personnel
Please remember that these people are volunteers and are not always available.
It's also nice to be asked!
Recognised Escort Boat Personnel:
Helen Barker; Eric Blakeley; Barry de Caux; Jenny and Ed FitzGerald;
Richard Flambard; Trevor Fosse; 'Charlie' Gravett: Mick le Guilcher; Chris Maletroit; Sally Minty-Gravett; Dario Parmesan.
Recognised Club Observers:
Jenny FitzGerald; 'Charlie' Gravett; Dilys Maletroit; Sally Minty-Gravett;
Dario Parmesan; Richard & Judith Flambard.
Qualified Marine VHF operators:
Helen Barker; Eric Blakeley; 'Charlie' Gravett; Andy Jordi; Sally Minty-Gravett; Dario Parmesan.
Canoeists who 'may' be available to help:
Helen Barker; Peter Brown; Karen Delahunty; Jenny FitzGerald; Richard Flambard;
Andy Jordi.
Qualified RLSS Lifeguards and First-aiders
Helen Barker; Eric Blakeley; Richard Flambard; Judith Flambard; 'Charlie' Gravett; Alison Horsfall; Dilys Maletroit; Hannah Maletroit; Sally Minty-Gravett; Dee Richards; Andy Truscott.
The above list of approved and recognised personnel may be amended at its discretion by the JLDSC committee.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE QUALIFIED, RECOGNISED, OR APPROVED TO HELP GET THE BOATS IN AND OUT OF THE WATER AND HELP PUSH THEM UP THE SLIPWAY!
ADDITIONAL CREWS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME PLEASE REMEMBER: IT IS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO SWIM AND ENDURE LONG HOURS OF PRIVATION AND WARPED SENSE OF HUMOUR IS MANDATORY!
If you are interested the following hints and tips on Channel Swimming and other Long Distance events has been complied by Cliff Golding and is well worth a read before embarking on any serious swim.
Hints and Tips for Channel Swimming
'Charlie' Gravett
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