Top tips for summer event swimmers:

1) Buy the right kit:

  Swimming in the sea is different to swimming in a pool.  The water in the UK is classified as cold and therefore needs to be taken seriously.  Take advise from like minded competitors and manufacturers to ensure you have the right kit for the right job.  This should, as a minimum include a wetsuit, goggles and swim hat but if you will be planning informal training sessions you might also wish to consider safety and rescue equipment.

2)Get in the sea:

 Every year we see it, someone has decided to enter an event, trained their hearts out in the pool but never stepped foot into the sea.  Then the big shock hits them when over 2000 competitors battle it out in cold, moving water, this could not be further from pool swimming.  Sea swimming required a whole new set of techniques, more stamina plus you need to be able to read waves and use currents to your advantage.  Giving yourself a few weeks to acclimatise is highly valuable when it comes to keeping you safe, let alone finishing the race.

3) Do your homework:

Every course is different and spending a little time researching is important.  Look at and learn the course layout as on event day it will be chaotic, check the prevailing conditions and try to understand how this could affect your race and don't forget to read through your pre-event packs and pay attention to what to do if you need assistance as this really is your lifeline.

4)Line positioning:

Getting a good start is paramount, however, sometimes it might be more beneficial to push back and take the start easier.  Usually the pro's will start up front and naturally funnel down to the less experienced.  Being honest with yourself and placing yourself in the right place could be more beneficial in the long run as it will save you being caught up in the inevitable pushing and shoving that is usually found in the center of the pack.  Also, if your not the strongest of swimmers, going hard at the beginning could have disastrous effects on you at the end when you 'hit the wall.'  Pacing yourself and making it to the finish is probably a lot better than having to catch a free ride ashore with one of our lifeguards!

5) Listen to the safety team:

Believe it or not even your event organisers and professionals have to listen to the safety team, why? Because when it comes to keeping everyone safe they are the experts and they are in charge.  As part of your registration pack you should be given some basic safety information, read this and learn it as it will be crammed with information set down by the event organiser and safety team saying what to do in an emergency.  Also be sure to listen to the safety brief.  Most of the time this is a repeat of the information you have already had but listen carefully, something might have had to change last minute and this is the last opportunity you will have to be notified.  Finally while afloat, listen to and obey the safety teams.  Remember they are the experts and they are there to do a job and that job? - to keep you safe!