ILDSA Race Briefing West Bay Swim At Portrush Harbour 28th May 2017

Transcription

1 ILDSA Race Briefing West Bay Swim At Portrush Harbour 28th May 2017 V1.0 Page!1

2 The Event The West Bay Swim is one of the first swims on the open water swimming calendar and always proves to be an extremely popular swim with both accomplished open water swimmers and beginners alike. The course for the swim is as per the plan on page 6. Route and Time The swimmers will be ferried to just off the Black Rocks by the safety boat. They will then be told to enter the water and form a straight line. Following a final safety check, they will swim directly to the harbour and finish by touching the wall to the right of the harbour slipway, or dependant on tidal conditions, a buoy to the (Swimmers) right of the harbour slipway. Note: Any swimmer who fails to complete the course in the maximum time (30mins) will be removed from the water immediately. Registration for the swim will start at midday outside the yacht club with a mandatory safety briefing taking place just up the steps at the harbour mouth at The swimmers will then be ferried out to the start point at hours for a start time of hours V1.0 Page!2

3 Participant Safety 1. All swimmers will have their swim number displayed on both shoulders with permanent marker pen 2. There will be a number of canoeists present and these canoeists will form a Cordon around the swimmers for the duration of the swim 3. A safety boat will patrol around the cordon for the duration of the event. 4. The RNLI will be in attendance at the event, with a PWC, to support any swimmers in difficulty. 5. If a swimmer has not completed the swim in 30 mins they will be removed from the water. There will be no exceptions to this, unless the swimmer has entered the harbour, and has only the final few metres to swim. 6. Entries will be online and each swimmer must confirm that they have undertaken a continuous pool swim of 1000m, and that they have swim in the ocean in the current season. Swimmers must also confirm their previous open water swimming experience. Spectators Safety Spectators have very good viewing opportunities from the harbour. It is anticipated that the risk to spectators will be low, as spectators from the shore will only access areas of the harbour which are open to the public at times. The safety boat will warn off any possible visiting boats who are not involved in the swim. V1.0 Page!3

4 Briefings 1. Swimmers 1.1. Swimmers will be briefed on the route at the briefing prior to boarding the boat Swimmers will be told to enter the water and to form a straight line Once in the water they will then be asked on their condition and to confirm that they can continue Once the swim is underway the swimmers will head directly towards the harbour mouth They will be instructed to swim through the harbour mouth and then head for the wall adjacent to the slipway Upon touching the wall their time will be taken and they will exit the water via the slipway. They can then have a hot shower and get changed in the yacht club If for any reason during the swim they feel that they can t continue then they will be instructed to raise their arm and canoe and safety boat cover will be on hand immediately Hypothermia: all swimmers to be briefed on the symptoms and dangers of hypothermia. 2. Weather Conditions Safety Coordinators must heed the event of small craft advisory, fog or mist forming or such forecast. The crossing will not take place if a small craft advisory is in effect - if there is any doubt the race will be postponed or cancelled An alternative course may be permitted under certain circumstances. V1.0 Page!4

5 Rules 1. Only standard textile swimming costumes, hat and goggles permitted; wetsuits and technical suits will not be permitted. 2. Instructions from race officials & safety crew must be adhered to all times, and all swimmers must attend the pre-swim safety briefing or they will not be allowed to swim. 3. Swimmers to be 18 on the day of the event. In certain circumstances it may be permissible for junior swimmers to enter. This must be confirmed with the race organiser prior to the event. It will not be possible for junior swimmers to register on the day. a. If a junior swimmer expresses an interest, then their parent must be present at the swim, and sign a waiver. b. Before a junior swimmer is permitted to enter, they will be vetted to ensure competency and ability. 4. Swim aids are not permitted, ie fins/paddles/pull buoys. Water safety floats, which offer no buoyancy advantage to the swimmer may be used. 5. Swimmers who do not attend the briefing will not be permitted to swim. 6. If in the opinion of the race organisers, an action of a swimmer is deemed to be unsporting the swimmer concerned will be disqualified immediately. 7. Swimmers must complete the whole course, respecting all designated turning buoys and course boundaries. 8. All swimmers must be competent have recently completed a pool swim of 1000m without stopping, and have swum an acclimation swim in the open water this season prior to the race. V1.0 Page!5

6 Race Course Plan V1.0 Page!6

7 Alternative Route If conditions on the West Bay are unsuitable for a safe swim, then we will consider other options. Dependant on conditions, we would transfer the swim to the East Bay, which can be much more sheltered, and run a loop swim. Swimmers will enter the water at the west end of the beach, swim out to a buoy in line with the rocks to the north of the small bay at Arcadia, then turn East to another buoy, approx 400m, swimming parallel to the shore. Swimmers will turn south at this buoy to another buoy approximately 50m towards the beach, turning west to head back to the first buoy. The swimmers will complete one lap, finishing at the start point. The loop swim is designed to keep all swimmers and water safety crew within sight of the beach. An additional alternative is a loop swim within the harbour. This will only be undertaken if the conditions elsewhere are unsafe, and the harbour has been closed. Contacts Name Contact Telephone Jeff McCormick: info@portrushswims.com V1.0 Page!7