CS&PS English Channel wet suit swim RULES 

  1.        Management

  2.        Escort Vessels pilots/skippers & crews

  3.       Solo swim rules
  4.       Relay swims rules 

  Management.

  The Seacraft/ CS&PS (Channel Swimming & Piloting Service) office will manage the registration requests made for an English Channel swim        completed when the swim attempt involves a solo swimmer or a relay team member wishing to wear a wet suit.

• Contact for registration information and registration documentation is via:   csps.office@btinternet.com   or through our "Contact Us" page details in the left hand panel.

• Registration must first be made with a registered escort vesel managment team/ owner and will only be processed after, a swim reservation associated with a registered escort vessel has been submitted and confirmed by the skipper/pilot/managing agent .

• An application requires the completion of a CS&PS registration form, plus the indevidual personal registration documentation, a medical declaration and a assessment swim declaration for each swimmer. The documentation and fees must be completed within the time frames associated with the application.

• All registration formalities are to be completed in the year of the swim reservation - (from the 1st January onwards).

• Guidance, paperwork and direction plus any other information supplied on the web sites or by any means written or verble is made on a mentoring basis and without any libility or responsibility for the use of this content. It is supplied as a means of expansion of ideas and of the swim parameters. It is the responsibility of the persons involved to personally assess and use any informaton taking into consideration of  their own ability, limitations and decision. Abilities vary considerably from person to person.

• The Seacraft/CS&PS office interpretation of the content within the swiming and web site rules and any other question is final and binding.

• Your swim paperwork must be completed and finalised by the 31st of May. The Seacraft/CS&PS office has to be able to register all completed swim applications for the season with the British and French authorities by the first week of June, or earlier if required by the authorities.

• Assessment swim should be completed as early as possible  and submittede no latter that 14 days prior to the swim date period.

  Escort Vessels pilots/skippers & crews.

• Registered owners and their appointed managing agents / crews operate as totally independent and separate businesses from the CS&PS registration businesses as far as the actual swim escort services supplied by the escort vessels and their management teams.. 

• Owners/managing agents can apply to be registered with the CS&PS as recognised escort vessels by contacting the CS&PS office and submitting the required commercial forms and information as requested. CS&PS registration is resetricted in it ability to appoint registered escort vessels by the regulations and agreements in plce with the British and French government organisations.
   
• The recognised Pilots/owners and their Managing agents are responsible for the commercial certification and registration of their recognised escort vessels. It is the Managing agent’s responsibility to make sure that each escort vessel operating with CS&PS recognition is commercially certificated, well maintained and correctly insured and registered as required by law. Each escort vessel is to be operated by a suitably qualified ships master, pilot and crew who are to the required standards to operate within the parameters of their work commitment. 
  

• Recognised escort vessels must operate with a qualified ships master and a recognised CS&PS pilot onboard while escorting CS&PS registered swims and crossings.

• It is the owner/managing agent who are responsible for making direct pilot agreements and terms and conditions with the swimmers and team managers who require their services and under which the swim can take place.  The CS&PS has not involvement with or any responsibility for Channel swim reservations requests/ commitments from swimmers wanting to reserv a swim position.

• Only CS&PS registered Skippers/pilots who are registered with the CS&PS and hold the required commercial certification  will be recognised to pilot CS&PS Channel crossing attempts

• Only registered escort vessels with the required commercial certification, and appointed certificated ships master and CS&PS recognised Pilot onboard will be recognised for escorting CS&PS registered crossings.
   
• CS&PS registration documentation and certfication for recognised CS&PS escort vessels are to be produced within 7 days if requested by the CS&PS office.

• Skipper/Pilot/ escort vessel recognition will be reviewed on an annual basis. Pilot and escort vessel details will be registered with the British and French authorities on an annual basis by the CS&PS office. It is the responsibility of the pilot/managing agent/owner of the escort vessel to inform the CS&PS of any changes in circumstances which will invalidate the required qualifications and certifications.
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  SWIMMING RULES

1.    All the CS&PS registration application forms - medical declarations and  assessment swim forms must be completed for every swim or           crossing application within the date limits as laid down by the office.

   2.   For a swim to be officially recognised, the swimmer must enter into the sea from the shore of departure, swim across the English Channel

         to:      (a) finish on dry land, or     (b) to touch steep cliffs or shore structures on the opposite coast with no sea-water beyond.

         (c) Swimmers may finish in harbour water provided they land on a beach or touch a wall with no water beyond.

   3.   For finishin in Fram in the outer harbour paramerters of Calais new harbour extension  swimmer may complete the swim by touching the               Calais outer harbour wall if the circumstances are such that the swim might be aborted or stopped by the French authorities or if the ebb               tide will carry them back across Calais Harbour entrance.

   4.   For a multiple crossing to be officially recognised, the swimmer must, as soon as they make contact with the ground, land as directly as                 possible in accordance with rule 2/3 parameters refernce clearing the water.

         They must then return immediately to the water, where they may stand or sit for up to 10 minutes. During this time they must not be                        touched by any person, but may be handed food, medications or swimming apparel to be administered personally.

         They must then, in agreement with the pilot/crew, make the most direct and reasonable way to water deep enough in  which to swim, and               continue with their next swim leg. The time spent from the landing of the completed swim leg and before the return swim starts shall be                 added to the time of the subsequent crossing.
 
   5.   Every application for recognition of a swim must be accompanied by the escort vessel/ pilots chart positions and by the swim log report                  which should show any swim notes, recorded incidents, times, tides, method of feeding, etc.

 
   6.   The pilot/crew shall be in sole charge of the timing of the swim, preferably by GPS clock and shall be responsible for observing compliance           with the rules, the escort  a copy of the escort vessel's report log is to be submitted to the CS&PF office for ratification.
 
   7.   The timing of a swim shall start from the moment the swimmer enters the water continue until they complete the swim or retire as laid down            in the written rule
 
   8.   The Pilots/managing agents are required to advise the CS&PS office  with 12 hours notice of the possible departure of the escort vessel. If             an independent observer is requested by the swimmers/team 24 hours notice is required.

    9.   Solo swimmers must be 16 year of age for at least 3 days prior to a registered CS&PS swim tide period. Proof of age must be supplied                  with the swim application paperwork.

          The medical declaration must be signed by a parent /guardian for any person under the age of 18 years 3 days prior to the start of the swim

          as well as the signature of the swimmer.

  10.   All swimmers taking part in a solo swim must complete an officially observed self assessment swim for at least 6 hours in open water at a              temperature of 61F/16C or less within 18 months prior to the registered swim tidal period. The required assessment swim paperwork must            be submitted to the CS&PS office at least 14 day before the swim tide.

          An organised event considered to be to he required standard can be submitted to                the CS&PS office for consideration as an                      alternative assessment. 

   The use of drugs by participants in Channel Swimming, other than for therapeutic reasons in accordance with medical advice, is              regarded with complete disapproval and is considered contrary to the spirit of the sport. Any swimmer unable to participate without      the administration of banned drugs must submit their application to the CS&PS office within ample time for its consideration. The          CS&PS reserve the right to make random drug tests on swimmers with completed registration paperwork.

  11.   In no circumstances shall more than one swimmer at a time be allowed to make their attempt from the same pilot boat.
 
  14.   During solo swims a swimmer may be accompanied in the water by 1 person only & not accompanied at all until after the first 3 hours. This            accompaniment will be for a maximum of 1 hour & cannot be repeated until at least 2 hours have passed between accompaniments.
          The accompanying swimmer may swim alongside, but not in front, of the solo aspirant & must not impede the solo swimmer.
 
  15.   For health & safety and management reasons the pilot/skipper must agree to any request for a support swimmer before they are allowed              to enter the water.
 
  16.   The pilot/skipper can at they discretion request that a second swimmer join the solo aspirant outside of these times for a short period on                the grounds of safety or request a safety swimmer accompaniment at the very end of a solo swim if the conditions dictate. This is to be                  allowed even if the request is within 2 hours of a previous accompaniment.

   ASSISTED SOLO SWIM
  An assisted category swim will be to the same rules as a standard swim except for the allowance, by prior arrangement of the minimum                  additional aids or contact as is deemed necessary for the safety of the swim on medical, disability or other agreed grounds.

  An assisted category swim will only be accepted after prior agreement with the CS&PS office and any ratification will include the reson for the        agreed dispensation.

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  RULES FOR CHANNEL RELAY TEAMS 

  Relay team leaders are responsible for collecting and submitting properly completed forms, supporting documentation and fees within the              requested time limits. The CS&PS reserves the right to reject any submission which is incomplete and submitted by anyone other than the            Team leader.

  Relay swims will be divided into the same categories as solo swims - Standard and  Assisted. Any alteration from a standard crossing must be      agreed with the CS&PS office before the start of the swim.

  Relays teams of 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 will be recorded as "Special" team events.

 
  STANDARD RELAY TEAM
  (a)     Each standard team shall consist of 6 swimmers each swimming for 1 hour. Thev swim must be continious and changovers within the                    rules as written at the time

           The order of the swim shall be determined by the order of swimmers entering the water to commence their first swim leg.

           No team member may start their second swim leg before all the first leg swimmer have completed their first swim leg.

           Once all the first leg of the swims have been completed the same swim order must be maintained throughout the duration of the swim.
 
  (b)    Swimmers in relay teams shall be over 12 years old 3 days before the relay swim starts, and for registration purposes, the beginning of the            swim period their team is booked to swim in. They shall be under 16 years of age for at least 24 hours after the swim finishes for it to be                classified as a Junior Relay team swim.

 (c)     Swimmers must be 12 years of age for at least 3 days before they can swim in a relay and they can only swim in a standard relay team of              6 people. Proof of age must be supplied with the swim application paperwork. The medical declaration must be signed by a parent/                        guardian for any person under the age of 18 years 3 days prior to the start of the swim period.

  (d)    All swimmers taking part in a relay swim must complete an officially observed  self assessment swim for at least a 1.5 hours swim then                  leave the water for a  minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 1.5 hours – then return to the water and swim for 1 more hour in open water at            a temperature of 61°F / 16°C or less within a period of 18 months prior to the registered swim tidal period.

          The required paperwork must be submitted to the CS&PS office at least 14 day before the swim tide reservation.

          Proof of an organised event considered to be tot he required standard can be  submitted to the CS&PS office for consideration as an                      alternative to the assessment process. 
 
 (e)     Junior swimmers (over 12 and under 16 years of age) will only be allowed to swim in 6-person (standard),
 
  (f)     In no circumstances shall more than 1 team be allowed to make their attempt escorted by the same pilot boat.
 
  (g)    Each swimmer shall swim for one or two hours - 60 minutes or 120 minutes each time he/she enters the water as designated by the                       choice of the relay swim leg time period options. Relay teams swimming with 2 or 3 team members can chose the option of 60 minutes or            120 minutes.

  (h)    The change-over process from one swimmer to the next in a relay must take place every 60 minutes or 120 minutes if for a two or                           three person relay option, with the new swimmer entering the water on a signal given by the crew member at the end of the completion of             the required 60 minute or 120 minute swim period.

           During the change-over the new swimmer must enter the water from behind the swimmer completing their swim and swim  past the                       retiring swimmer.

  (i)      The swimmer that has completed their designated swim period of 60 minutes or 120 minutes must exit the water as quickly as possible                  and within a maximum of five minutes.

  (j)      Team members shall rotate in the same order throughout the swim.

  (k)     Pace-making or the use of a support swimmer is NOT allowed.

  (l)      The pilot/ships master may ask for the accompaniment of a safety swimmer at the very end of a relay swim if the conditions dictate.
 
  (m)    A CS&PS recognised Pilot/skipper must be present on any CS&PS Relay Team swim for it to be recognised.

  (n)     No support swimming is to be allowed on a relay swim

   ASSISTED CATEGORY RELAY SWIMS

   An assisted category swim will be to the same rules as a standard swim except for the allowance, by prior arrangement of the minimum                  additional aids or contact as is deemed necessary for the safety of the swim on medical, disability or other agreed grounds.

    An assisted category swim will only be accepted after prior agreement with the CS&PS office and any ratification will include the reson for the        agreed dispensation.

  SPECIAL CATEGORY RELAY SWIMS
   A Special category relay will be run under the same rules as a standard relay except for the allowance of the number of persons in the team.         Teams can be 2,3, 4, 5, people,  the realy team swim period must be 60 minutes for each leg with 4 or 5 team members.

   Teams of 2 or 3 persons will be allowed the option of choosing between 1 or 2 hour swim periods for the duration of the relay swim. The option     must be declared before the start of the crossing and maintained through out the crossing.
 
   

  Words imputing the singular only shall include the plural and vice versa.
  Words imputing the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.
  Words imputing persons shall include organisations.