A 3.8 km open water charity race on Sunday round Joss Bay in Kent could according to the BBC have ended as “a very serious problem”, when “up to 80 people” were swept out to sea and had to be rescued, some of them nearly two hours after the incident. Only a few swimmers managed to finish the race, arranged by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and coaching and event company Votwo, in support of the RNLI. The rest of them had to be resqued by the RNLI, talk about proving your value, *ahem*.
Votwo are being more casual about it, stating shortly:
Date Posted: 29-Aug-2011
Joss Bay Long Swim
Well done to the two junior athletes Lauren Joy and Molly Dawson who completed the mile swim in 27:23 and 27:25 respectively.
In the 3.8km swim Paul Richardson won with a fast time of 51:25. Paul Newson came 2nd in a time of 55:13 and said the event was great training for his channel swim in a few weeks time.
Of the 53 swimmers that started the 3.8km swim, 25 were unable to complete the course after the tide changed and were retrieved by water safety craft. 6 completed the whole course with 22 retiring early. All swimmers were accounted for.
