Joseph Oakes and Gary Emich wrote a new book Open Water Swimming – Lessons from Alcatraz.

Oakes and Emich wrote the book for those who are encouraged “to enjoy the wonderful feeling of success that comes from completion of the great, difficult and classic swimming challenge” of swimming from Alcatraz Island to the shoreline of San Francisco.

“Alcatraz swims have been our obsession for many years,” writes the co-authors.

“Read on and devour what we have prepared for you.” We read on and, in fact, very much enjoyed the insights and background to Alcatraz swims from the perspective of swimmers, escorts and race directors.

“We have seen too many unqualified swimmers trying unsuccessfully to swim from Alcatraz. In that time our Alcatraz Safety Crew has had to rescue well over 1,000 swimmers, many of whom should never have been out there foolishly endangering themselves and those around them. Bravado has its place, but not at Alcatraz.”

Wise words from the long-time friends. Over the past three decades Joe, a Fellow of the British Royal Geographical Society, has guided more than 30,000 swimmers from Alcatraz. he has finished open water swims around the world, including a swim from Russia to Alaska (the opposite direction of Lynne Cox’s 1987 swim in the Bering Strait), 130 marathon runs, 51 ultra-distance runs and 6 Hawaiian Ironman triathlons.

Emich holds the record for the greatest number of Alcatraz swims, 751 crossings without a wetsuit or fins. He has swum in the Amazon, Peru’s Lake Titicaca, Scotland’s Loch Ness, Fiji and the Rottnest Channel Swim as well as done English Channel, Catalina Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim and Swim Around Key West relays. He is also the creator of the word aquapreneur and writes from Inside Triathlon and USA Triathlon Life magazines.

These co-authors know what they are talking about and present it in an enjoyable, educational, engaging package.

Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association