Open water swimming

Triathletes competing in open water swimming

Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, canals, and reservoirs.

The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is sometimes taken to be May 3, 1810, when Lord Byron swam several miles to cross the Hellespont (now known as the Dardanelles) from Europe to Asia.^[1]

In the first edition of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the swimming competition was held in open water. In 2000, the Olympic Games first included a triathlon with a 1500 m swim leg, and in 2008, a 10 km open water swim. 5, 10, and 25 km open water races are included in the General Fina World Championships.

World marathon swimming records can be set by being the first to swim a specific distance in a specific course in a specific body of water or the fastest or the oldest or the most prolific (i.e., the most number of times in a specific location). World records are authenticated by independent observers and are defined by distance, gender, age, location and time. Distance is separated into world marathon swimming records (at least 10 km) ^[2] or world open water swimming records (under 10 km).^[3]

The Half Century Club is a list of open water swimmers over the age of 50 years who have successfully swum across major channels around the world.^[4] The Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming includes three famous marathon swims around the world: (1) 21 miles (34 km) across the English Channel between England and France, (2) 21 miles (34 km) across the Catalina Channel in Southern California, USA, and (3) 28.5 miles (45.9 km) around the Manhattan Island in New York, USA. Membership in the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming requires authentification of each of these three swim ^[5]

The Ocean’s Seven are open water swimming's equivalent of the Seven Summits. The Ocean’s Seven include (1) Irish Channel between Ireland and Scotland, (2) Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, (3) Molokai Channel between Oahu and Molokai Islands in Hawaii, (4) English Channel between England and France, (5) Catalina Channel between Santa Catalina Island and Southern California, (6) Tsugaru Channel between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan, and (7) Strait of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa. No one has yet completed the Ocean’s Seven, but many swimmers are currently trying.^[6]

The activity has grown in popularity in recent years with the publication of bestselling books on "wild swimming" by authors such as Kate Rew and Daniel Start.

Equipment used in competitions

Start at Vansbro

The equipment allowed in a race depends on the sanctioning body and/or the race organizers. For example, races may have divisions for wetsuits and/or relays; may require escort boats / kayakers / paddleboards; and may require specifically colored swim caps. The purists tend to keep it simple, using a basic swimsuit, goggles, and swim cap. Many historical records are based on that attire. Elite marathon swimmers often refer to this as "English Channel" rules, and rules for swimming the channel include using only this basic attire. Most serious open-water swimmers practice without a wetsuit, as most elite cold water or marathon swims (such as the English Channel, Catalina, or Manhattan Island Marathon Swim) do not recognize wetsuit swims.

On the other hand, competitive rule 4.4 of USA Triathlon, states that "each age group participant shall be permitted to wear a wet suit without penalty in any event sanctioned by USA Triathlon up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 °C)." The ITU rule is that wetsuits are allowed for elite races at below 23 °C (73 °F) if 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) or more, and below 21 °C (70 °F) if shorter. Wetsuits are mandatory below 16 °C (61 °F) if 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) or more. .^[7]

Wetsuits have evolved significantly in the past decade, as the growing popularity of triathlons has created demand for high-end triathlon wetsuits. These wetsuits can be used for general training as well as open water swims competitions. Newer wetsuits have improved materials and varied "panelling" thickness, allowing for more stretch and flexibility in areas crucial for range of motion.^[8]

Racing techniques

Acclimatisation to the 14.5C water at Salford Quays in September 2010

Followed by warm-up exercises

And walk into the water:the start of the one mile course.

Stroke

Though most open water races do not require a specific stroke, most competitors employ the crawl stroke also known as freestyle. The efficiency of this stroke was demonstrated by Gertrude Ederle, who, as the first woman to swim the English Channel, employed it to demolish the existing world record by more than 2 hours.

Sighting

When covering large distances, swimmers may head off course due to current, waves, wind, and poor visibility. Typically, buoys are stationed periodically across a large expanse provide guidance. However, buoys are often invisible due to interference from choppy water and reduced visibility through goggles. Swimmers are encouraged to 'triangulate' by looking for two aligned, easily visible objects on land that are directly behind the destination (such as the end of a pier as it lines up with a hilltop), and to make sure they continue to appear aligned during the race.

Drafting

Drafting is the technique of following another swimmer so closely that water resistance is reduced. When swimming closely alongside or behind a swimmer in the lead swimmer's wake, resistance is reduced and the amount of effort to swim at the same speed is correspondingly reduced. In calmer conditions, or when facing surface chop, swimmers can also significantly benefit from swimming immediately behind or closely alongside a swimmer of comparable or faster speed. Not all race organizer permit drafting, and swimmers can run the risk of disqualification if they are caught.

Beach starting/exiting

In shallow water, it is quicker to high-step into the water and at hip depth, begin dolphining through the water. Before the race, check the nature of the bottom to determine if it is rippled, which can cause an ankle sprain if you high-step across an uneven surface. Dolphining is to dive forward hands first into the water and angle down to the bottom, press against the sand to begin coming up, and dive up and over the water again. In heavy surf conditions, dive deep and grab sand to get under a crashing wave. Upon entry and when circling buoys, swimmers will often be in a very crowded environment and may be jostled as swimmers climb over one another to get to open space and create an advantage. On the exit, a significant advantage can be gained from body surfing as far up the beach as possible, and then high-stepping across the shallows.

Wetsuit usage

Various types of wetsuits of varying thicknesses are used in open water swimming. Some employ high-tech materials and workmanship, others are of basic materials found in surfing and diving wetsuits. Some designs cover the torso, arms and legs, while other designs leave the arms and shoulders exposed.

When a person floats motionless in the water, their legs tend to sink. When a person swims freestyle, the legs rise toward surface because water passing underneath the body pushes the legs up, similar to how the wind can lift a kite into the air. In addition, a proper kicking technique will bring the legs all the way to the surface, creating a more streamlined profile for the arms to pull through the water. Both of these mechanisms of becoming horizontal require a small amount of energy from the swimmer. When a person wearing a thick wetsuit floats motionless in the water, their legs tend to float on the surface. Theoretically, this obviates the small energy expenditure mentioned above, although an additional small amount of energy is required to continually flex the wetsuit during swimming motions.

On a given swim, not all swimmers benefit in terms of speed or endurance from wetsuits. Whether a given swimmer will benefit in these ways depends on other factors as well, such as water temperature. When the water temperature is too warm, swimmers can overheat in a wetsuit.

Subcategories

• Cold water swimming
• Ice swimming
• Long distance swimming
• Marathon swimming
• Wild swimming
• Winter swimming

Competitions

• Pier to Pub (Lorne, Victoria, Australia)
• Cole Classic (Australia, the word's largest ocean swim)
• Rottnest Channel Swim (Australia)
• Cadiz Freedom Swim (South Africa)
• Round the Castle Swim in the canals of downtown Copenhagen, (Denmark)
• Vansbrosimningen (Sweden, 6700 participants)
• Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim (Australia)
• Swim Miami (Miami, Florida)
• La Jolla Rough Water Swim (California)
• EARL of PEARL (Austria)
• Big Shoulders (Chicago, Illinois)
• NYC Marathon Swim (NYC, New York)

The International Olympic Committee included a 10K open water race as a medal event to the 2008 Olympics, subsequently held in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.

See also

• Cole Classic
• Global Open Water Swimming Conference
• Triathlon
• Open Water Swimmers of the Year

References

1. ^ "This Day in History — History.com — What Happened Today in History". History.com. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=3958. Retrieved 2011-10-30. 
2. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
3. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
4. ^ [3]^{[dead link]}
5. ^ "OpenWaterSwimming.com - Triple Crown Of Open Water Swimming". Openwatersource.com. http://www.openwatersource.com/triple-crown-of-open-water-swimming.html. Retrieved 2011-10-30. 
6. ^ "OpenWaterSwimming.com - Ocean's Seven". Openwatersource.com. http://www.openwatersource.com/oceans-seven.html. Retrieved 2011-10-30. 
7. ^ "ITU Competition Rules". http://www.triathlon.org/docs/downloads/ituevents_competition-rules-2010_2010-02-11.pdf. 
8. ^ "Triathlon Wetsuit Buying Guide". Triathlon Wetsuit Store. http://triathlonwetsuitstore.com/buying-a-triathlon-wetsuit/. Retrieved 23 April 2011. 

Further reading

• Cox, Lynne (2004). Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer. A.A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375415074. http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/0375415076. 
• Dean, Penny Lee (1998). Open Water Swimming. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780880117043. http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/0880117044. 
• Cleveland, Marcia (1999). Dover Solo: Swimming The English Channel. MMJ Press. ISBN 9780967209104. http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/0967209102. 
• Wennerberg, Conrad A (1997). Wind, Waves, and Sunburn: A Brief History of Marathon Swimming. Breakaway Books. ISBN 9781558216150. http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/1558216154. 
• Mortimer, Gavin (2009). The Great Swim. Walker & Company. ISBN 9780802717498. http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/0802717497.