Boaters should have experience in open water and be comfortable in choppy and/or windy conditions.

This event is NOT for individuals who are beginner kayakers or canoeists.

Inexperienced boaters can compromise the safety of both swimmers and other boaters.
 

What to Expect

The morning of the swim, you will launch your boat at the Ithaca Yacht Club, paddle to the eastern shore of the lake, and accompany a group of swimmers back to the yacht club.

Swimmers will be grouped according to their swimming pace in "pods" of 8 to 10 women. You will be assigned to a pod and, with other boaters, will guide that pod across the lake. When you register, you may indicate the name of a swimmer you wish to accompany. Please note, however, that we cannot guarantee that all requests will be honored. Also remember, you are responsible for a group of swimmers, not just one swimmer.
 

Registration

Only registered boaters and their passengers can participate in the event. It is important to include the name(s) of those who will be in the boat with you at the time you register.

		Secure Online Form
		Boater Registration Form (PDF: 90K)

 

A Volunteer Boater Agrees to:

• Register as a volunteer boater.
   
• Sign our liability waiver and publicity release.
   
• Attend the briefing meeting before the event. Attendance at this meeting is mandatory for boaters and their passengers participating in the event. The meeting for kayakers and canoeists will be held on FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 at 6:30 pm at the Ithaca High School in a large lecture hall. Meeting participants should enter the high school building at the Lake Street entrance and will be directed from there. The large parking area on Lake Street will accommodate everyone attending. The meeting for powerboaters will be held on THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 at 7:00 pm at the Ithaca Yacht Club. Our insurance coverage for this event stipulates that if you do not attend this meeting, you cannot participate.
   
• Have a personal flotation device (PFD) for him/herself and at least one extra PFD to throw to a swimmer.
   
• Have in their boats a whistle; sunscreen; and water. (Suggested places to purchase whistles include: Puddledocker's, Dick's Sporting Goods, or EMS.)
   
• Wear a Women Swimmin' baseball cap at the event. (Please note: hats will be ordered only for boaters and the passengers named on the registration form; passengers not named cannot receive a hat.)
   
• Arrive at the Ithaca Yacht Club at 6:00 am in time to launch his/her boat by 6:20 am on August 8 (Rain Date: August 9).
   
• Escort swimmers across Cayuga Lake, following the instructions given by the event organizers.
   
• Pick up a colorful "Ask me about Women Swimmin'" button at Hospicare, Satori Day Spa or Handwork.
   

• Raise money for Women Swimmin' (raising money is NOT required in order to be a volunteer boater).
   
• Receive a prize for raising money for the event.
   
• Enjoy breakfast at no charge after the swim.
   
• Spread the word to friends and family who may be interested in participating in this fun and worthwhile community event!
   

A training clinic for kayakers participating in Women Swimmin' was held on Monday, July 27 at the Ithaca Yacht Club.

This optional event was mainly for the benefit of less experienced and first-time boaters, but all participants were encourageded to attend.
 

Kayak Safety Team

Experienced kayakers may volunteer to be on the Kayak Safety Team (KST). Paddlers who have had safety training (capsize recovery and boat re-entries), or who would like to learn these skills, AND who have a kayak with airtight flotation compartments fore and aft, or a sit-on-top kayak, are invited to join this team.

These upper-level trained kayakers will act as team leaders, each assigned a pod along with the other kayakers. These leaders will offer assistance and support for swimmers throughout the swim. For more information please contact Louise Adie at vesla2@aol.com.

The mandatory training session for members of the Safety Kayak Team was held on SUNDAY, JULY 26 at Taughannock Falls State Park.
 

Important Downloads

		Boater's Manual (PDF: 476K) We encourage all boaters to read the Boater's Manual. The manual provides additional information about our mandatory meeting, fundraising, parking and driving directions, and what to expect the day of the event.

 

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