The sun beat down over the Giants Causeway, NE Ireland as swimmers gathered together waiting to take on the 2 km West Bay Swim.

Over the years this swim has combined an overwhelmingly friendly atmosphere with the sense of keen competition while supported by the Causeway Coast Kayak Association and the RNLI. As with every open water swim around the world, the event organizers are always indebted to their rescue support.

But the West Bay Swim was unexpectedly held up this year. However, race director Jeff Wilson was not worried due to the slight delay in the arrival of the kayakers. When a flotilla cruised their way around the headland, they were met with a supreme clap and cheer from swimmers who were eager to take on the 13°C water.

After a brief greeting to the kayakers, the swimmers took off, guarded and guided by two Olympic silver rowing medalists Richard and Peter Chambers.

Herding the swimmers along like two experienced dolphins with their calf, the lightweight men’s four medalists came along to support their colleagues and offer their water expertise to open water swimming.

Richard and Peter were fresh back from the London Olympic Games, but the duo relished anonymity and just wanted to enjoy the day out in the sun with their friends. Wilson asked one of the swimmers if she liked her rescue cover. “They were lovely,” she smiled. “Who were they?”

After the swim, the Chambers brothers paddled off into the distance around the headland back to their base, happy with their day out. Open water swimming is richer for their presence at a local swim. “It isn’t everyday swimmers get in the water with Olympic medalists,” reported Nuala Moore. “But it shows that when it comes to the water, there is such mutual respect for each other’s goals – be it the Olympics or a 2 km swim at West Bay NE coast of Antrim.”

Report courtesy of Nuala Moore.

Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source