Manhatten Island Marathon Swim (Kayaker Support) By Jules

I awoke at 2:00am and got prepared for my 2 hr ride into the city. The ride was quiet and no traffic at 3:00 on a Sat! I got to lower Manhatten(Battery Park) near the WTC memorial. Here we unloaded our boats and parked into a nearby garage. After check in and getting our assignments we mingled took our last bathroom breaks, then carried our heavy boats about 1 block to the North Cove Marinia

After a breifing from the the Swim Staff we one by one entered our boats from the floating docks. Then paddled 1/2 mile south to South cove. My Swimmer George found me (We had called each other the week before) and threw down his lucky swim goggles. We didnt know if they would float so I was relived to catch them. After waiting for what seemed for ever the swimmers entered the water and the race begain.

To find our swimmer we had to search them out by little numbers on thre cap. I found George,Our support boat and my partner Kayaker all before we got aroud the battery. around the battery into the east river,and under the Brooklyn Bridge was our first leg. The water is uasually rough here but not today, it was a pond.

After the east river we hit Hells Gate it too was a pond,from there we went into the Harlem River, It was a cespool quite nasty and I’m glad I wasnt swimming in it! It was here that we learned via marine radio (We all were required to carry one) that several swimmers didnt make the time cut and were pulled. The tide at hells gate turned and the were literly swimming in the same place for 45 min!

It was my job to feed George so I sprinted to the support boat got the food bottles,sprinted back, Got his attention, thew the bottles and assesed his condition by asking questions and such. retrieving the bottles .back to the support boat then back on station. It was alot of work and he ate frequently. We continued down the Harlem and at the mid way point was a rest stop for Kayakers, One would paddle ahead rest/Go to the bathroom,Eat then meet up when we got there. I was good to go so I stayed with George and didnt stop,Instead I peed in a bottle in my boat under a bridge with a bunch of ladies looking down! I should have looked up first.

Before hitting the Hudsen George stopped in front of the Columbia U “big C” for a photo because his son goes there and donated some money for Georges charity.(What a guy he even had to swim back up the current to get it!!) Into the Hudsen were at times we were hit by 4 foot wave frome the side and 3 foot rollers from the front. it was interesting to paddle,watch George, and feed him, so I didnt take photos for this leg. At

 At the end it calmed down a bit and we saw the city George finished 18th (he is 54 years young!) MIMS is the longest open water swim in the world and brings in world clas athletes from around the world. I’m looking foward to next years swim. Tis is one experience I’ll never forget. I did get to escort George all the way to the finish guiding him right up to the ladder (My partner got out at the Kayak take out point north cove) I paddled up the current back after it was well woth it to cheer him on.Unfortinatly my camera battery died so I didnt get the finish shot!