Bristol Penguin Olympic Swimming Club

Open Water Swimming

2022 Open Water Programme

Here's the information about the Bristol Penguins Open Water Swimming Programme for 2022. Click on the link to find outabout our weekly Sunday morning sessions at Cromhall Quarry Lake. 

/bposc/UserFiles/Image/QuickUpload/open-water-sessions-2022-24-4-22-update_062059.pdf

The sessions are open to all Swim England affiliated members who are at least ‘club’ level swimmers. Entry level is for swimmers to be at around Stage 9 of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming and be at least 10 years old. Anyone not a member of a swimming club may also apply to join sessions. Sign up by completing this google form: - 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NKsXqv7GNZrvlLak1y8ZOwSzM0QvkmC0IzHdU7KIhts/edit

    

Use of wetsuits / temperature of water

Swim England rules / guidance around wetsuits is based around water temperatures as follows

  • 20oC and above – no wetsuit.

  • 18-19.9 oC – choose to wear a wetsuit or not.

  • 16 to 17.9 oC – wetsuits are compulsory

  • Temperatures below 15.9 oC – no competing and we will risk assess if any swimming can take place.

We expect temperatures to be 16 to 20oC.

Swimmers will need a wetsuit for the outdoor sessions. These can be purchased or hired. Website links to wetsuits:

https://mywetsuithire.co.uk/   https://www.triwetsuithire.co.uk/

Note – Bristol Penguins have a small collection of wetsuits available for those who wish to borrow one (free of charge). Alternatively, wetsuits can be purchased or hired from a range of suppliers. 

Helpers needed

For each session we need some volunteers to assist generally encouraging the swimmers and being spotters.

We also need helpers to run the club champ event in 2022 (more details to follow).

Photo below is from a session at Clevedon Marine Lake ans the photo on the right is taken from one of our indoor skills sessions. 

   

Helpers for Club Champs

We require the following helpers before and on the day of the championships. Please indicate if you can help.

  1. Admin support

  2. Act as a timer, and spotter to track each swimmer and count their laps. Note lots of people needed for this. You don’t need to be qualified.

  3. Someone to start the races and judge the finish. You don’t need to be qualified..

  4. General helpers to keep an eye on swimmers’ welfare.

  5. Make nice (nut free) snacks for swimmers to eat after racing!

  6. A photographer.