How to Swim

Following Will’s successful White Water Safety training on the Kent, here’s a recap on what do do when you become, er, seperated from your trusty steed.

  • Defensive and Offensive swimming, do one, then the other, as appropriate to the situation.
  • Don’t try to stand up until you are in a shallow eddy. This is important.
  • Defensive swimming - lie on your back, feet downstream and near the surface, knees slightly bent, limbs up to avoid entrapment, steer with arms, look ahead, be alert, choose your line. (If you are Wiganese, also give running commentary on your swim, both above and below the water)
  • Tuck up in a ball when going over drops
  • Offensive swimming - if you see an eddy you can get to, or if you need to avoid a hazard, swim hard, front crawl, short burst, and then at the eddyline, twist like a big, mad windmill.
  • Help them to help you - if a kayaker is rescuing you, follow his instructions. The kayaker may give you information about which way you should swim. Or he might ask you to hold onto the grabhandle at the stern (back) of the boat, so that he can paddle you to safety. Be prepared to let go if instructed. Do not clamber up onto the kayak. Be prepared to help - e.g. you could kick your legs to help propel the kayak forward, especially when crossing an eddyline.
  • Hold onto that rope! The call of “ROPE!” followed by a line landing pat accross your chest. Hold onto it with both hands, accross your near-bank shoulder. The rescuer will guide you into an eddy.
  • World of opportunity Look for good things happening! - look for eddies that you can get to, people who want to rescue you, ropes being thrown at you.
  • Philosophy - if you get into difficulty, have a positive attitude and act to improve your situation - you are not helpless, don’t act like a victim, you can influence your own fate. Attempt self-rescue, participate in your rescue, clamber out. Now run after your boat!

The above techniques are explained in much more detail in the excellent bookWhite Water Safety

by Franco Ferrero.

Leave a Reply