Open Water Swimming
The ability to swim well in open water is essential for success in triathlon events ranging from sprint distance to Ironman. Starting, sighting, turning and drafting are a few of the elements that make swimming in open water unique and difficult to replicate in the pool. Open water swim performance cannot be gauged by personal bests which are clocked in the pool, to master the 'open water', specific training is essential. Whilst the club doesn't run a regular open water swim, members have access to a number of weekly open water sessions throughout the summer months all within easy reach of central Manchester. These include:
- Salford Quays
- Salford Quays Beginner Sessions
- Boundary Water Park
Salford Quays
Open Water sessions are run at Salford Watersports Centre (Salford Quays) on Thursday evenings throughout the summer from 7th May. Swimmers are able to swim for up to 1 hour at any time between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. The last entry to the water is at 7.45pm. The swim times are staggered to prevent queuing and to reduce the number of people who have to stand and wait for a swim.
To be able to attend these sessions you first need to visit the Salford Watersports website to download a registration form and return to them before you go for your first swim.
If you want to get in the water at 6:30pm then you are best getting to the centre well before this, as the sessions are normally very well attended. Otherwise, it may be worth waiting until the 2nd half of the time slot, which tends to be a lot quieter.
The swim course is a rectangle marked by four buoys, and is approximately 50m by 100m (i.e. one lap is about 300m). You swim in a clockwise direction.
For more information see the Watersports centre's website.
Salford Quays Novice/Beginner Sessions
From Thursday 11th June Triathlon England will be holding novice open water swim sessions at Salford Quays. These sessions will be coached by Man Tri Head Coach Rob Harvey, start at 6pm, last one hour and are aimed at people new to open water swimming. Places are very limited so booking is essential. To book please contact Salford Watersports Centre on 0161 877 7252 and inform them that you would like to book for the Novice/Beginner Session. Each session will cost £5 plus registration at the Watersports Centre.
Boundary Water Park
Open water sessions are run at Boundary Water Park each Thursday from 7th May though until 17th September. The lake is located near to the motorway network in South Manchester (CW4 8HT) six miles south of Knutsford on the A50. Sessions run from 6.30pm until dusk! For more details of the sessions visit - www.UberFitEvents.com
What will you need to take to the sessions?
- Wetsuit
- Trisuit or swim trunks/costume: to wear underneath
- 1-2 swim caps, one brightly coloured
- Goggles or Open Water swim mask
- Optional: Neoprene hat and boots if you really suffer from the cold
- Towel
- Flip-flops or old trainers: depending on the venue you may need to walk over rough to the water entrance
- 1 x 750ml drink (as a minimum)
- A warm change of clothes
- Slip n Glide or some kind of a lubricant to stop rubbing
Health Advice for Open Water Swimming
Water quality tests provide an indication of the suitability of a venue for open water swimming; however they don't mean that that there is a complete absence of potential pathogens. There are simple practices that triathletes should be advised to adopt to minimize risk of further infections:
- Cover all cuts and abrasions, however minor, with sticking plasters.
- You should not consider swimming if you have deep cuts
- Wash hands in fresh water before eating after you have swum
- Take a full shower at the earliest opportunity
- Try to ingest a minimum amount of water whilst swimming
- If you feel ill in the days/weeks following open water swimming seek the advice of a doctor.
Rules / Etiquette
Below is some good practice information for open water swimming. Please note that Open Water Event organizers may have guidance / etiquette that difference from that listed below, check before you swim with them. We have provided the good practice guidelines below for your interest as these will be applied to any session organized by Manchester Triathlon Club.
- A safety officer will be appointed before each session. This person will be responsible for liaising with the venue operator / owner to ascertain water quality issues.
- The safety officer has the final decision on whether a session can proceed.
- The safety officer will remain on the bank and not participate in the swimming activity
- Any incidents or accidents no matter how minor must be reported to the coach and/or Facility staff immediately.
- Advice the coach of any injury, illness or medical conditions before entering the water.
- The designated course will be clearly marked by buoys in the water.
- Swimmers must at all times navigate around the designated course as defined by the coach to ensure that that they are no more than 50m from the safety boat at any time.
- A ratio of one safety boat per 20 swimmers will be maintained up to a max of 80.
- Swim in pairs whenever possible to act as additional support for each other.
- There will be no swimming if the safety boat is not in position on the water and the safety officer and coach state it is safe to do so.
- The Coaching and/or facility staff reserve the right at any time to refuse entry into the water to any swimmer who is deemed unfit to take part.
- There will be no swimming if the weather conditions are severe.
- Swimming will not be permitted if the water quality falls below the recommended EEC levels for bathing.
- It is recommended that swimmers wear brightly colored swim caps, to enable identification.
- Diving is not allowed except in areas and at times designated by the coach
- Entry and Exit to the water is via designated points only. No entry or exit is permitted at any other point unless in an emergency.
- Always sign in with the session coach before entering the water and sign out when you leave the water.
- Swimmers should ideally be members of the BTA, ASA or BLDSA and provide proof if requested.
- At temperatures less than 11c no swimming will take place.
- Wet suits are mandatory at temperatures of less than 14c and must fit correctly and be suitable for the purpose of swimming.
- Sessions will not enter into water space used for other activities.