swimming!

[el_carpo]

El Carpo,

Of those 2 examples it seems that liquor is more of a factor then their swimming ability.

Scott

I agree with you absolutely Scott. Getting drunk out on the water is far worse than not being able to swim but not being able to swim was the "final nail in the coffin," as they say.

Being able to swim well is even more important when you are talking about the ocean. As you Australians know, probably more than anyone else on earth, there are some nasty creatures out there. To put it bluntly, the less time you spend in the water, the less time they have to eat or poison you. If, God forbid, your boat has a major malfunction and you have an accident, and you find yourself in the water, it is much better to be able to swim back to your boat's hull (quickly and calmly) than to be struggling in the water trying to get to your boat. That struggling and thrashing might draw the attention of something that would be better left unawares of your presence. And wouldn't it just bite to drift into a jellyfish because you couldn't swim well enough to avoid it?

It's just a really good skill to have in general. I say that as a horrible swimmer, by the way. My swimming skills are close to that of a large rock.


I guess the way I see it is that the ocean can kill us in a heartbeat so we may as well have every tool available to us that can give us a chance. Swimming is one of the better ones (as are PFDs). Best option -- be a good swimmer and own a good PFD.

...........unless you're me in which case it doesn't matter because I'm so scared of sharks, I won't get within 100 miles of the ocean anyway!

[mitch92]

i remember when i was younger (can't remember what age, but am now fifteen and its been at least 6 or 7 yrs) i used to do swimming lessons with a mate. I sure am glad that i know how to swim because its just a heap of fun, but in saying that i know it is a skill that should be known.

Also agree that swimming in any swell or current is a lot different. have swam out to support boats that were anchored off the beach when i was outrigging and in the waves and current both fighting against me it was a hard 30-40m, my mate is a state-level representitive swimmer and i he was struggling as much as me, so i think it is very handy to know how to swim.