I KAYAK 4 U
Full Service Support for the Open Water Swimmer, Triple Crown and Open Water Races
bethbarnes@ikayak4u.com
ESCORT KAYAKER
(562) 413-3583
In Memory:
Francis "Fran" Crippen
| UNITED STATES MASTERS SWIMMING ARTICLE/JUNE 2011 http://www.usms.org/features.php?id=228 The Log California's Boating and Fishing News Kayaker’s Mission Is Accompanying Catalina Channel Swimmers |
|||||||
| By: Ambrosia Brody | Thursday, January 20, 2011 12:19:00 PM | |||||||
| Last updated: Thursday, January 20, 2011 12:19:00 PM | |||||||
|
LONG BEACH — Beth Barnes’ workday typically starts at midnight. While others are sleeping, she carries her kayak across the sand and prepares to paddle for more than eight hours across the Catalina Channel.
The Long Beach native realized her calling last April 27, when a swimmer asked if Barnes would accompany him in a kayak as he swam the channel. The day she said yes, Barnes said, is the day her life changed for the better. “In the process, I became hooked on the whole thing,” said Barnes, who learned to sail at Leeway Sailing Center. “Open-water kayaking has become my passion; my life.” Now, the mother of two acts as the eyes and ears for swimmers attempting to cross the 21-mile Catalina Channel. Armed with a paddle, light sticks and years of experience, Barnes leads the athletes safely from the island to the mainland. She and her 9-foot kayak act as a reference point and pilot boat for the swimmers, who follow approximately 3 feet behind her. Barnes watches for any signs of hypothermia, exhaustion or dehydration and helps ensure that each swimmer stays hydrated. A lead boat is also on the scene to assist with the crossing. “I spend the entire night in the channel with a swimmer,” said Barnes, who is promoting the importance of safety within the sport. “It is the most solitary situation I can imagine.” Barnes, who moved to Northern California to attend the University of San Francisco, swam with the San Francisco Dolphin Club before moving to Europe. Before she eventually returned to Long Beach, she swam along the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and in the Dead Sea in southern Israel. With 12 Catalina Channel crossings to her credit, Barnes has a deep appreciation of the open ocean and said she understands the challenges associated with swimming the waterway. While on the water, she removes debris, kelp and other hazards that could affect the swimmer behind her kayak. Boating traffic is an added concern for swimmers as they cross the busy channel. Barnes signals crossing boaters with a 5-foot flag that indicates a swimmer is nearby. Barnes’ top priority is safety for swimmers and kayakers alike. She has worked with local lifeguards and marine rescue consultants to better understand what gear to have on her kayak in preparation for emergency situations. One such incident occurred this year, when Barnes instructed a swimmer to stop due to signs of hypothermia. The swimmer spent two days in the hospital — but if it weren’t for Barnes, it could have been worse. “There are so many things that can happen out there in the open water,” Barnes said. “They need to find a kayaker who is really well trained, because they depend upon us.” Her passion to ensure the safety of her swimmers has positioned Barnes as the go-to person for bringing swimmers across the channel. Karen Rogers, an open-water swimmer from Lake Tahoe, hired Barnes for a marathon swim across the channel she plans to make on Feb. 5, 2011. “It is extremely important to have a kayaker in the water with you at all times,” said Rogers, who first heard of Barnes from past clients. “They help guide you — and they keep a really good eye on you.” Rogers has been competing in open-ocean swims for the past 10 years. In the past, she swam the 21.5-mile length of Lake Tahoe and the 23 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge to the San Mateo Bridge. This will be her first attempt crossing the Catalina Channel. “You are only as good as your team: It is so important to have the best,” Rogers said. Barnes has created a brochure and safety guidelines for kayakers who are accompanying swimmers during their swims. For more information, visit ikayak4u.com. |
|||||||
.jpg)
