WHY IS TRAINING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?

COVID-19 has had some significant impacts. Whilst we would be able, under the COVID-19 regulations, to operate training from step 3 of the Government’s plans (earliest date of 4th July), upon reflection, the risks associated with such a large group were too great. Furthermore, the restrictions that we would have to put in place in order to be COVID secure were not in line with our values as a group. Watch my video posted on 20th June for further information.

WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY PAID?

If you have already paid, you have a number of options:

  1. Have a full refund (please get in touch)

  2. Roll-over your fee to 2021

  3. Use your fee to pay for the basic training subscription for the remainder of the season plus one of our ramp up camps. It’s probably easiest if I book this for you, so get in touch if this is what you want.

WHAT IS ON OFFER?

There will be very limited training offered in Dover this season. What we would like to encourage is for you to train safely (never train alone) closer to home. Whilst we can now drive as far as we want within England, it doesn’t mean that we should. This year we will need to take more responsibility for our own training using friends and family around us (there are no social distancing issues with people from your own household) or connecting with other swimmers in your area to buddy up.

We’re still here for you though.

I’m keen that you ramp up sensibly, and if you want assistance with that you could join one of our two ramp-up camps at the beginning of July (see below).

For some, swimming in Dover Harbour is good for mental wellbeing and whilst you’ll do your main training elsewhere, I will provide opportunities for short training sessions in the harbour on Sundays.

The main way we can help is by really exploiting the power of technology to still feel connected. Here are some ways that we can do that:

  • Help with creation of your training plan

  • 1:1 calls to talk through plans and progress

  • Weekly community calls

  • Mentoring system

  • Buddy finding

  • Weekly blog - those who subscribe to one of our packages can send in the details of what they’ve been up to and be included in the round up blog each week.

  • Keep active within the facebook group

RAMP-UP CAMPS

Most of us have had a forced extended break from training. Some have found open water to train in since the initial lockdown restrictions were lifted, though for many that has been short swims.

When we train together in Dover, there are always people to check your progress who know the signs to look out for for issues like SIPE or hypothermia. With post COVID-19 complications to think of as well now, these camps are there to help you ramp up your training with support from experienced beach crew. You can then take your training to somewhere local to you with support from those in your household or with a training buddy.

You will need to bring your own uniquely identifiable feed bottle. Your shoes should be capable of being put in disinfectant and should be clearly identifiable.

WEEKEND TRAINING

We are not offering the normal weekend training this year. What will be on offer are two opportunities to do short swims (2 hours) each Sunday. The group size will be capped to reduce risk to swimmers, volunteers and locals alike.

Your shoes should be capable of being put in disinfectant and should be clearly identifiable.

We are offering one special night swim. We’ll start at 10pm on Friday 10th July and finish at midnight. There are additional safety precautions. All swimmers will be required to wear two adventure lights (not red). I suggest making the one attached to your goggles flash and the one on the back of your costume a static light, that way you can all work out the direction that other swimmers are pointed in. Additional lights will be placed on some of the buoys and our special light up DCT buoys will also be out.

The circuit will be smaller. Paul will be on the water on his lit up kayak and we ask that you report your numbers in to him as you go past him on each lap.

Our experience from previous night swims is that we are able to see where all swimmers are from the beach. Therefore we can spot if anyone strays outside of the swim zone. There will be radio contact between the beach and kayak.

NIGHT SWIM

In a normal year I would stand up behind the railings and get everyone to gather round so that I can give the safety briefing for the session. This briefing gives you information about the weather forecast and any impact that or other events has on the swim, plus any other information that is pertinent. With the social distancing requirements, even a small group would be very dispersed for a briefing conducted in that way.

The plan for this year is to upload the safety briefing to the relevant event page on this website. I ask that you read it before attending training. I’ll put it up no later than the evening before.

For the training camps, I will also send the briefing round on the WhatsApp group.

SAFETY BRIEFINGS

SIGNING IN

For as long as I can remember, we have signed people into training using manual records. For the last couple of years we have progressed to more substantial signing-in books, ensuring that we have permanent, though manual, records of everyone that swam and how long they swam for along with the conditions on the day.

This year it would be unsafe to use paper records that are passed from person to person and can’t be sanitised. With thanks to Geoff Gardener, we are going to be trialling a new app that we’ll use on an iPad. Over time we hope to add to the features of this app, which I think you’ll also enjoy - it won’t just be an app that I’ll benefit from but you will too.

There are two things in particular that swimmers who are need to the group need to do:

  1. Sign a disclaimer. When we have our new app up and running and completely integrated, this will be done through that app. In the meantime, we are using our existing LoveAdmin system. Please request membership through this link. I won’t use this to request payment, as payment is taken upon booking a training slot. It is purely to capture the disclaimer. No disclaimer, no swim.

  2. Assessment swim. I need to know that you are a competent open water swimmer. The first part of your first swim will be observed. 99.9% of people are perfectly capable. I just recognise that there is a possibility that someone migrating from the pool or calmer lake or river conditions or warmer water, may not find the transition quite so straightforward.

NEW SWIMMERS

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PPE?

The volunteers will all be wearing appropriate PPE during training (face coverings, aprons and gloves). This is primarily to protect you and members of the public. We will also be sanitising everything that we use multiple times each session. It is important that you comply with instructions around things such as where to place your kit bag, shoes, feeding bottles etc.

As we are wearing PPE to protect you and each other, we would also ask that you arrive at the beach wearing a face covering to return the favour.

We will provide hand sanitiser for volunteer and swimmer use.

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

You should not come to Dover to train if you, or anyone in your household, have COVID-19 symptoms within the last 14 days or if you have been told to self isolate. Please cancel any sessions that you have booked to release the capacity to another swimmer.

We will take the temperature of all swimmers and volunteers upon arrival. If you have a temperature of more than 37.8C you will be asked to return home. It would be within everyones interests for you to check your own temperature prior to leaving home.

OTHER SUPPORT AVAILABLE

You may already know other swimmers local to you who you can buddy swim with. If you don’t and would like assistance in finding a buddy swimmer, this is one of the options in the subscription packages, please get in touch with Jon Southey or Melanie Holland (or email me if you need to be put in touch).