So how fast can you swim ?

[superheat6k]

Lunchtime visit to anchor at Osborne Bay, where we picked out spot at the western end, and down tide of most of the other 100 or so boats there. HW was ~ 12 noon, so by 1pm the tide was well turned and running about 1 knot to the north west.

Then a small power boat stops about 200m from us on our port beam, and within a few minutes a chap is over swimming, except he can't swim fast enough, and it is clear even giving his best Mark Spitts impression, the tide was flowing faster past his boat than he was making his way back. Fortunately other folk aboard who knew how to operate the windlass and get her underway to get back to him, but now ~ 200m from them.

Then about 30 minutes later a lady with a swim float, again not making the tide and fast approaching the end of the anchored boats. We called to her to come to our swim platform and even then I had to throw a fender on a line to retrieve her. Next stop was Cowes !

Of the boats with swimmers in the water only about half had the forethought to pay our a fender on a long line.

Apparently our guest advised the water was lovely, but she was surprised she could not beat the tide, and she says she regularly swims 3km in lake water, so not a casual or weak swimmer. She was duly collected by hubby on a small RIB, but even he was at least 400m from our boat when we collected her.

Be careful out there.

 

[ST840]

I don't think anybody could out swim a Solent 4 knot tide in full flow! Some people just don't get it. Even the paddle boarders on the Hamble river, the complete wallys you get down by swanwick staggers me!!

 

[Farmer Piles]

I like to both swim and surf. Surf on the north coast when the bulk of the tourists have gone back home, and swim down the hill from me in the Fal. In both scenarios currents catch people out - rip currents in the surf and tides in the estuary. I am a strong swimmer and can do a mile in 40 minutes or so - not that fast but alright for a 61 year old - but the tide running out of Restronguet Creek is over a knot. It's a slog to make headway against it.
People fail to realise that currents don't tire. When my girls and nieces and nephews were young I always impressed upon them that you will never beat the tidal flow. If you are caught in the ebb just keep swimming towards the shore and hit land wherever and walk home.
I appreciate one doesn't always have that luxury. I have towed people in from rips when I have been surfing, going across the flow not fighting it.
But as you say Superheat, be careful out there.

 

[Portofino]

I was once anchored in busy August between the Lerin islands off Cannes , A chap came swimming by , “ help me “
So I threw a rope and pulled him in .Portly Italian well cultured and well versed in Eng .Near 70 yrs old .
We gave the poor chap water and let him gather himself together. Total exhaustion .

” It ok my Captain will arrive soon “
Sure enough about 1/2 hr later , the guys stitying up by now from flaking out on our sun pad , a huge rib arrives the crew take the guy onboard , we say our good byes etc .
About 1/2 hr later the rib returns with a chilled bottle of champagne.He was from a big San Lorenzo further up .


Also here I often dived in lateral to the hull , come up composed my self , cleared my eyes etc and found myself 5 M from the bathing platform = strong current ! ……and done a Michael Phleps ( Mark Spitzs is passé ) to swim back .
You are ok just off the platform behind , it’s beyond that the current gets you .

You never know .

 

[Portofino]

The tell tale is the wind is one Dir and the boat another .