Practical scenarios
Eight situations an observer may meet on the water. For each: what the observer does, and what still waits for AMSA’s adopted rules.
Pilot. Observer accreditation is running as a pilot under AMSA’s draft rules, which the founders have not yet adopted. Decisions record the rules version they were made under.
How settled is each point?
- Founders’ decision
- Decided by AMSA’s founders in October 2026. Still to be written into formally adopted rules.
- Draft, proposed
- Part of AMSA’s published draft framework or observer expectations. Proposed, not adopted.
- General practice
- Widely accepted marathon-swimming or maritime practice. AMSA’s own wording is still to be confirmed.
- Requires policy approval
- Not decided. Not examined in the assessment until AMSA adopts a rule.
The swimmer touches the support boat
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Draft, proposed
Record the time, position, duration and circumstances, including whether the touch gave support or rest, photograph it if you can, and report it. The reviewers decide its effect.
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Requires policy approval
Whether a touch ends a Traditional Skins or Assisted swim, or can be excused, is not yet decided.
The swimmer receives physical assistance
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Founders’ decision
Neither category permits physical assistance or propulsion.
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Draft, proposed
Record exactly what happened, who gave the assistance and for how long, and report it.
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Requires policy approval
The consequence for the swim is set by the adopted rules and the reviewers.
GPS tracking fails
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Draft, proposed
Note the time of failure, switch to a backup if there is one, record positions by other means (for example the vessel’s chart plotter) at regular intervals, and document the exception.
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General practice
Never reconstruct a track afterwards and present it as recorded.
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Requires policy approval
Whether a swim with an incomplete track can be ratified is not yet decided.
The swimmer changes swimwear
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Draft, proposed
Record when, what changed and why, and photograph it. The category was fixed at registration, so report the change; do not alter the category in the log.
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Requires policy approval
How a change of swimwear affects the category or the result is not yet decided.
The observer loses sight of the swimmer
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General practice
Tell the skipper at once: this is a safety matter first. Record when sight was lost and regained and what was done.
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Requires policy approval
How a gap in observation affects ratification is not yet decided.
The skipper orders an emergency intervention
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General practice
Do not obstruct or delay it. Record the time, reason, who ordered it and what happened, and report it to AMSA.
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Requires policy approval
Whether and when a swim may resume after an intervention is not yet decided.
The swimmer abandons the attempt
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Draft, proposed
Record the exact time, position, reason and how the swimmer left the water, complete the log and submit the evidence. An unsuccessful attempt is still documented.
The observer has a personal relationship with the swimmer
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Draft, proposed
Declare it to AMSA before accepting the assignment. AMSA decides whether you may observe the swim.
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Requires policy approval
Which relationships rule an observer out is set by the Conflict-of-Interest Policy, once adopted.