The Tampa Bay Frogman Swim is a 3.4-mile open water swim and fundraiser in support of the Navy SEAL Foundation. Kayakers support the event either as escorts for individual swimmers or in a general support on the water for groups of swimmers and kayakers.
If TBSK has enough people registered as kayak escorts, we will have a group presence with things like a table and banner set-up, or just hanging out and helping each other with logistics.
How TBSK registration works:
About being a kayak escort:
This is a very crucial role that serves as the swimmers’ first safety net in the event of distress. The kayaker escorts and guides an individual swimmer, provides needed assistance, communicates with boaters/wave runners if swimmer needs additional help. Additional kayakers not assigned a swimmer will be assigned as “rovers” with each swimmer wave. It’s of utmost importance that individuals volunteering for this role have extensive open water kayaking experience and skills for two important reasons…1) the kayak will be the swimmers primary point of reference/guide to stay on course and legally round each buoy, 2) and more importantly, the swim is subject to potentially hazardous weather conditions including rough seas and high winds that only an experienced and skilled paddler can handle. Note that the date and time shown here are for the actual start of the swim event. You will receive additional information about meet-up times, shuttle times, and other schedule-related information directly from Tampa Bay Frogman Swim. You will also receive an invitation to the post-swim party at American Legion Post 138, where the swim finishes.
This is a very crucial role that serves as the swimmers’ first safety net in the event of distress. The kayaker escorts and guides an individual swimmer, provides needed assistance, communicates with boaters/wave runners if swimmer needs additional help. Additional kayakers not assigned a swimmer will be assigned as “rovers” with each swimmer wave.
It’s of utmost importance that individuals volunteering for this role have extensive open water kayaking experience and skills for two important reasons…1) the kayak will be the swimmers primary point of reference/guide to stay on course and legally round each buoy, 2) and more importantly, the swim is subject to potentially hazardous weather conditions including rough seas and high winds that only an experienced and skilled paddler can handle.
Note that the date and time shown here are for the actual start of the swim event. You will receive additional information about meet-up times, shuttle times, and other schedule-related information directly from Tampa Bay Frogman Swim. You will also receive an invitation to the post-swim party at American Legion Post 138, where the swim finishes.
Links:
Talk to a past escort for insight: If you are interested in this event, but need more insight on being an escort, a good info source is TBSK member and past kayak escort TJ Grimes (TJ@wepaddle.org). Chad Dumke (dumkemail@gmail.com) and Anthony Sousa (explore@kayakant.com) also participated last year, but it was cancelled due to weather. They didn't get to escort a swimmer across as a result; however, they can share insights on event logistics.