As interest in Bobsprit swells, I think it's best to be clear about
some things, even if my participation here will be quite limited here
for the next few months....

While everyone here is suddenly a retired Mark Spitz who repairs cruise
ship propellers underwater and using sea sponges for air....I'll
actually define my swimming ability honestly.

I currently weigh in an 215 lbs at 6'3 tall. My upper body is comprised
of longer muscle strands, which gives me good initial power well beyond
that of most men. At the age of 12 I passed a swimming test for
certificate allowing me to join in advanced water sports at PA private
camps. I was one of the youngest to pass.

Currently I'd rate my swimming ability as "good" but not exceptional.
There are folks who get to swim everyday. That means their muscles are
really in shape for that specific activity. No part time swimmer can
match this. I clean my own keel and can hold my breath longer than most
people. Under reasonable temps I could swim from even the widest point
of the LIS back to shore, which I think is a very basic capability for
folks who singlehand coastal. You should be able to swim a few miles
with ease and I don't think it's unreasonable for every sailor to be
capable of swimming 5-8 miles at least.
I'm not a fast swimmer, but I'm strong in the water and confident. Two
years ago we had a friend swimming near the boat suffer a panic attack.
It instantly eshausted him, but I was easily able to pull him from the
water. If you can't do this you shouldn't be on the water.

RB
35s5
NY


RB
35s5
NY

As a former certified lifeguard, I've rescued 3 people from almost certain
death by drowning (not including my water safety instructor).

During my certification test, after treading water for an hour, I was
instructed to approach the (flailing) instructor and make a rescue, after
assessing the chances of doing so successfully. Unbeknownst to me, the
instructor planned to use me as an example (because I was the biggest male
in the class) of how a panicked swimmer can turn on even the strongest
rescuer. He did teach me a good lesson but he learned one as well. I broke
free of his trap by breaking one of his ribs, at which point, I had to
actually rescue him. It turned out that being a wrestler is a lot like being
a lifeguard. Who knew?

In my youthful arrogance, I foolishly tempted fate by experimenting with rip
tides and other fast moving currents. I'm still a very good swimmer, but
like you Bob, I'm not a fast swimmer. That's ok though, I use the extra time
to assess the approach and rescue, and fatigue the struggling victim.

Scout


"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
ups.com...
As interest in Bobsprit swells, I think it's best to be clear about
some things, even if my participation here will be quite limited here
for the next few months....

While everyone here is suddenly a retired Mark Spitz who repairs cruise
ship propellers underwater and using sea sponges for air....I'll
actually define my swimming ability honestly.

I currently weigh in an 215 lbs at 6'3 tall. My upper body is comprised
of longer muscle strands, which gives me good initial power well beyond
that of most men. At the age of 12 I passed a swimming test for
certificate allowing me to join in advanced water sports at PA private
camps. I was one of the youngest to pass.

Currently I'd rate my swimming ability as "good" but not exceptional.
There are folks who get to swim everyday. That means their muscles are
really in shape for that specific activity. No part time swimmer can
match this. I clean my own keel and can hold my breath longer than most
people. Under reasonable temps I could swim from even the widest point
of the LIS back to shore, which I think is a very basic capability for
folks who singlehand coastal. You should be able to swim a few miles
with ease and I don't think it's unreasonable for every sailor to be
capable of swimming 5-8 miles at least.
I'm not a fast swimmer, but I'm strong in the water and confident. Two
years ago we had a friend swimming near the boat suffer a panic attack.
It instantly eshausted him, but I was easily able to pull him from the
water. If you can't do this you shouldn't be on the water.

RB
35s5
NY


RB
35s5
NY

Scout wrote:
During my certification test, after treading water for an hour, I was
instructed to approach the (flailing) instructor and make a rescue, after
assessing the chances of doing so successfully. Unbeknownst to me, the
instructor planned to use me as an example (because I was the biggest male
in the class) of how a panicked swimmer can turn on even the strongest
rescuer. He did teach me a good lesson but he learned one as well. I broke
free of his trap by breaking one of his ribs

OUCH!!

... at which point, I had to
actually rescue him. It turned out that being a wrestler is a lot like being
a lifeguard. Who knew?


I bet that'll larn him.

Lifeguard training is a very good idea for sailors. If you
hang around the water long enough, you'll almost certainly
be in a position to rescue somebody sometime.

I've pulled a bunch of people from the water, don't know if
any of them were certain to drown without me though. The
weirdest rescue is when I brought a person out of the surf
by crawling along the bottom.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
Scout wrote:
During my certification test, after treading water for an hour, I was
instructed to approach the (flailing) instructor and make a rescue, after
assessing the chances of doing so successfully. Unbeknownst to me, the
instructor planned to use me as an example (because I was the biggest
male in the class) of how a panicked swimmer can turn on even the
strongest rescuer. He did teach me a good lesson but he learned one as
well. I broke free of his trap by breaking one of his ribs

OUCH!!

... at which point, I had to actually rescue him. It turned out that
being a wrestler is a lot like being a lifeguard. Who knew?


I bet that'll larn him.

Lifeguard training is a very good idea for sailors. If you hang around the
water long enough, you'll almost certainly be in a position to rescue
somebody sometime.

I've pulled a bunch of people from the water, don't know if any of them
were certain to drown without me though. The
weirdest rescue is when I brought a person out of the surf by crawling
along the bottom.

That's a new one on me!
Scout