Swim Around Lido - Kayak escorts needed! Sunday, April 12th

[Rik]

Info about the race: https://www.flowswimming.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is a 7-mile race around the beautiful island of Lido Key. Each swimmer will have a kayak escort to provide safety, navigation, and nutrition to the swimmer. Swimmers can enter as either a solo swimmer or as a 2-person relay, where each person swims and paddles the kayak.

The course starts in the Gulf of Mexico in front of the Lido Beach Resort Hotel and takes you north along the beautiful beaches to New Pass inlet where you’ll swim by large waterfront homes and Mote Marine Aquarium up to City Island where you’ll turn right heading west, south-west to Coon Key in the Sarasota Bay waters. Popular Bird Key will be to your left as you make your way to Big Pass and the beautiful Lido Park. Exiting Sarasota Bay waters through Big Pass, you’ll turn right and head north in the Gulf along sparkling white sand beaches to the finish line at the Lido Beach Resort Hotel.

The pre-race safety meeting is taking place Sunday morning prior to the race. You can check-in then or come to our social Saturday evening from 4-6PM at the St. Armands Daiquiri Deck and check-in then. If you haven't already done so, each pilot will meet their swimmer during this meeting. The race is Sunday morning starting at 8 AM (pilots should plan to be there between 6 and 7 AM) with awards around 2 PM or so.

Go here to register as a kayak escort: https://www.clubassistant.com/club/clin ... &cid=63570" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The swimmers really appreciate the kayak escorts. Those of us that have done the Frogman swim have felt the gratitude. Don't get put off by the distance as these are very leisurely paddles. You'll spend as much time not paddling as you will spend paddling.

Side note: This would be a great opportunity to also be scouting for early tarpon.

[nowake]

I got to check with calendar but I'm going to try I hope the tides are right should be interesting swimming the passes with a moving tide.

[Rik]

Tides are perfect. Slow incoming while we paddle into New Pass followed by a flat tide for the next 4 hours.

[BigFlyReel]

Looks like a great day! Have you done this before, Rik?

[Rik]

No, Greg, I haven't. May even be the first year for this swim.

This one won't have current issues! The only real current flow, the early incoming, is when we'll be paddling into New Pass. We'll be riding any current there is.

[nowake]

Signed up. Is providing nutrition for swimmer like chumming for sharks with baloney sandwichs just kidding I imagine a 7 mile swim is not undertaken lightly

[Rik]

No, these will be serious swimmers. They have certain requirements that must be met and proven if you read the site. Even the 3 mile guys at the Frogman will say "that's a long swim". I expect that all of them will have a bag of 'nutrition' they give their kayaker.

[CoonHound53]

I am in! Just signed up.

[Rik]

Guys,

The race director, David Miner, reached out and they are really in need of more kayak escorts. It's a month away now. Please make a spot in your schedule to help with this.

And don't forget about this - Each volunteer pilot receives a free race T-shirt, post race meal, special gift just for the pilots, free beer, and a SWAG bag.

[Rik]

I got my swimmer pairing today. Who else from here will be out there?

[nowake]

I'll be there number 64