Bay Challenge Info

This event is open to individuals or teams. Any number of individuals may enter as one team. Individual entries and teams will receive a photo momento of the event.

MANDATORY RACE BRIEFING

Every swimmer and his/her boat crew must attend the pre-race safety briefing at 5:30 p.m. Saturday  July 17th The safety meeting for the Bay Challenge will be at Kits Beach, in the shade behind the WaterMark restaurant and guard tower. The meeting will last for about 1.5 hours. Failure to attend the briefing will result in disqualification.

At the briefing:

• You will receive your race package and race numbers.
• Your dry bag will be stored overnight at Kitsilano Beach (if we do not have it, you will not have a warm change of clothes at the finish line).
• We will review the course and safety/emergency procedures in detail.
• NEW: Boat pilot be required to produce a Canadian Boating License, as required by Transport Canada.

1. Preparation

• Be prepared for cold water swimming. Ocean temperatures may range between 13°C (50°F) in the shipping lane to 18-20°C (62-66°F) at Kitsilano Beach.
• Wetsuits are mandatory and neoprene swim caps are strongly recommended for cold-water swimming.
• Due to the inherent risk for hypothermia, our Lifeguard & Medical Advisors have established a 4-hour time limit for completion of the course. This policy must be strictly adhered to. Swimmers who have not completed their crossing after this time will abort their swim and report immediately to the medical team at the finish line. Swimmers who do not follow the direction of the lifeguards, medical advisor or race directors, with respect to this policy, will be disqualified.  VOWSA also reserves the right to remove from the race any swimmer who appears incompetent to complete the course.
• Swimmers must prepare 2 dry bags (one is for your boat; the other is for use at the finish line) containing:
  • dry change of clothes (including warm head gear, mittens, sweater)
  • blankets and/or sleeping bag
  • warm non-alcoholic/caffeine-free drink
  • water and/or sport drink
  • quick source of food energy (e.g., sport gel or bar)

2. Logistics

• Event date and time are coordinated with ocean tides to minimize the potential for swimming against strong currents. However, all swimmers should be prepared for the worst possible swimming conditions (including strong ocean currents, chop and waves).
• The race will be cancelled if the conditions are considered “unsafe” by VOWSA or the Vancouver Lifeguard Society:
  • small craft warning
  • fog
  • thundershowers
• To ensure that the race is not cancelled, phone (604) after 5:30 am the day of the event.

3. Boat Crew

• Each swimmer is responsible for arranging his/her own motorized escort boat and support crew.
• Boat should be large enough to safely extricate an injured swimmer from the water.
• Support crew consists of one dedicated adult driver and one designated adult spotter.
• Support crews are responsible for complying with Canada Coast Guard safety regulations for the operation of marine craft:
• All crew must wear a life jacket or personal floatation device (PFD) at all times.
• Each boat should have an extra lifejacket or PFD available for the swimmer.
• Race numbers will be provided at the pre-race briefing. Please make these numbers visible to VOWSA & Jericho Rescue at all times.
• NEW: Boat pilots will require a Canadian Boating License, as required by Transport Canada.  Boat rental businesses will need to see this.

4. Starting Procedures

• All escort boats position themselves south of the Jericho Rescue boat located 400 meters South of Sandy Cove 10 min. prior to race start. The escort boats with the fastest swimmers (estimated) should position themselves furthest from the beach.
• prevents unsafe congestion for swimmers in the staging area
• crew will begin escorting their swimmer after he / she passes Jericho Rescue.
• IMPORTANT: crew and swimmer should work out a system to identify each other at the marker; Jericho Rescue (e.g. race number displayed on crewmember).

5. Escort Procedures

• Escort boats must remain with swimmers at all times during the event.
• Boats should be positioned 5-10 meters beside the swimmer.
• There is to be absolutely no drafting behind any escort boat. Swimmers caught drafting will be disqualified.
• Relay exchanges will occur at the side of the escort boat. The next swimmer will enter the water before the previous swimmer exits.
• Except in the event of an emergency, escort boats are not permitted into the swimming area at Kitsilano Beach. This area is clearly delineated by a line of red marker buoys that are positioned 200 meters off of Kitsilano Beach.
• At the completion of the event, escort boats can anchor themselves outside the Kitsilano Beach swimming area. Otherwise, mooring is left to the discretion of the marine craft operator.
• There is temporary 3-hour mooring available at the False Creek government dock located on the north side of Granville Island.
• Under no circumstances are boats to dock or drop crew off at the Kitsilano Yacht club.
• Support crews must have a cellular phone and/or marine radio to facilitate contact with the Vancouver Lifeguard Society (VLS) rescue craft. Your cell phone number will be recorded at the pre-race briefing.

6. Emergency Procedures

(a) Under what circumstances are swimmers directed to abort their swim?

• at anytime they are directed to do so by Jericho Rescue, medical team or race officials;
• there is a 4-hour time limit for completion of the course – swimmers who have not completed their crossing after this time will abort their swim and report immediately to the medical team at the finish line.
• when Jericho Rescue considers race conditions to be unsafe;
• when the crew considers their swimmer to be at risk for injury;
• when swimmers become too exhausted, cold or injured to continue swimming;
• when a swimmer does not wish to continue swimming;
• any swimmer who is experiencing symptoms ranging from mild to moderate hypothermia or hyperthermia.

(b) How should crews monitor swimmers during the event?

• All swimmers and their crews must familiarize themselves with the signs, symptoms and treatment for hypothermia (please refer to the handout “Hypothermia” and ensure that your crew has it on hand on race day).

Assessing Your Swimmer

• Ask swimmers the following questions:
  • Where are you?
  • What is your name?
  • What is the date?
• Monitor the swimmer for:
  • uncontrolled shivering
  • clumsiness
  • muscle stiffness
  • irrational or confused speech

(c) What should you do in the event of an emergency or if your swimmer decides to abort the swim?

• • Immediately contact Emergency Service as above. If you are unable to contact the lifeguards by phone or radio, you should wave your arms sideways (“jumping-jack” style) to attract their attention and/or alert nearby crews who can relay the message for you.
  • If the swimmer is unable to remove himself/herself from the water, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO EXTRICATE THE SWIMMER ON YOUR OWN. WAIT FOR THE LIFEGUARDS (exception: you have the lifeguard training to do so without jeopardizing your safety and the safety of the swimmer).
  • Immediately contact Jericho Rescue & VOWSA at Kits Beach (Numbers as provided).
  • Report directly to the race officials and medical team at Kitsilano Beach.

7. Marine Traffic

• The course crosses the Ports Canada shipping lane. VOWSA has a permit from the Harbour Master to conduct an event through this body of water. However, if you encounter marine traffic in this lane, you should immediately contact vessel traffic communications at 604-666-6012.
  They do NOT close shipping lanes during the race. We are allowed to cross “…subject to no interference with commercial marine traffic.” Therefore the onus is on each safety boat operator not to allow his swimmer to get in the way of shipping, because shipping has the right of way at all times.
  STAY CLEAR – Participants must Stay 50 Meters Clear of all Commercial Vessels, Navigational Buoys, And Harbour Operations at all times.

8. At the Completion of your Swim

• All swimmers will follow the direction of the medical team at the completion of their event. This is done to ensure that each athlete is safely monitored during the re-warming period. No swimmer shall leave the triage area at any time without the approval of the medical team.
• If a swimmer decides to abort the swim it is mandatory that you check in with the medical team at Kits beach to avoid concerns of a lost swimmer.
• Stay warm and replenish your body with food and drinks donated by our sponsors.

Congratulations on conquering English Bay!