Chesapeake Bay Swim Needs Volunteer Kayak Spotters

[Pc4sun]

Hi All,
The Great Chesapeake Bay Bridge swim needs kayak or boat volunteers to spot swimmers this coming Sunday. Last year I participated as a kayak spotter and it was very rewarding, especially when your in the middle of the Bay in two foot swells and there is a swimmer panicking with nothing to hold on to but your kayak. Kayak volunteers are integral to the success of the swimming challenge because we can get right in amongst the swimmers unlike the boats who have to stay outside the bridge parameter. The race starts at 9:30am for the one mile swimmers and then at 12:30 for the four mile swimmers. You could fish early then spot the swimmers!

If you think you'd like to participate, please email mikesafh@gmail.com. Here is the link to the swim. http://www.bayswim.com/index.html

Peggy

[azmdted]

Peggy,
Thanks for the info. I followed the link but didn't see a map of where they are swimming. From your post it sounds like they are swimming from Sandy Point out under the bridge, is that correct? If so, that's good info as Sunday is my first chance in six weeks to get out and that's exactly where I was planning on fishing. Are there any boat/kayak restrictions in place that day in that area, if that's where it is?

Ted

[Pc4sun]

Peggy,
Thanks for the info. I followed the link but didn't see a map of where they are swimming. From your post it sounds like they are swimming from Sandy Point out under the bridge, is that correct? If so, that's good info as Sunday is my first chance in six weeks to get out and that's exactly where I was planning on fishing. Are there any boat/kayak restrictions in place that day in that area, if that's where it is?

Ted

Hi Ted! Thanks for asking about the swim. The one mile race starts at 9:30 on the Eastern side of the Bay Bridge from Hemingway's restaurant beach and ends there as well (they leave the beach and swim a loop 1/2 mile out then back to the beach). It is over at 11am. Then what I usually do is peddle my kayak under the bridge over to the other side (Sandy Point Beach) to spot the 12:30 swimmers swimming under the bridge for the 4.3 miles over to the Eastern side. Many other kayakers do this too. The swimmers are exhausted by the second or third mile and watching them is important. They don't have floatation. The boaters have to stay outside the boundaries of the bridge pilings (center span). The kayakers paddle/peddle amongst the swimmers, trying to stay out of the swimmers way, kinda on the outskirts of the swimmers, but close enough to grab them if they are floundering and in trouble. If that is the case, you drag them over to the boats that are waiting to help. There are jet ski's flying around making sure everything is OK too. Kayakers are really needed.