What Is A Fetch In The Open Water?
Once of the most frustrating elements for open water swimmers to deal with is wind and the resultant surface chop or whitewater. Whether the wind is blowing against, with or laterally, the wind waves are obstacles for open water swimmers to overcome.So when mariners talk about “fetch“, what do they mean?
Fetch is the area of ocean or lake over which the wind blows in a constant direction, generating waves. Fetch is an important factor as wind waves develop. Waves increase in height when fetch increases.
But there is a limit of 1,600K. Wave heights do not increase with increasing fetch beyond 1,000 miles.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.
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