Since before the turn of the twentieth century, ocean swimmers have had aspirations of "Swimming the Light." The route chosen by these early adventurers, and dreamers, went from the bridges in Charlestown to the Boston Light, on Little Brewster Island, in the outer Boston Harbor, a distance of twelve miles. In 1907, a Boston Light Swim Race was inaugurated. Of the twenty-seven swimmers who dove in at the Warren Bridge in Charlestown that year, not one succeeded in touching the shore of Little Brewster Island. The very first known, and documented, swimmer to succeed in reaching Boston Light from Charlestown was Alois Anderle, in the Boston Light Swim Race of 1909. Anderle was 40 years old and a native of Austria, then living in New York City. His time was 5 hours, 40 minutes. Once other swimmers learned from Anderle's success that this marathon swim was possible, others followed with successful swims to Boston Light. Even though victory became more common after 1909, however, most of the contestants still failed to stay the whole course. In fact, of 435 starters of the Boston Light Swim Races between 1907 and 1941, 363 failed to reach the Light, most defeated by the cold and choppy water, and the seemingly endless distance involved. This book covers the Boston Light Swim Races for the years 1907 through 1941. After the race in 1941, the event was shut down for the duration of the war. Even though World War Two ended in 1945, the swim was not restarted until 1976, when Boston marathon swimmer, Jim Doty, took it upon himself to reorganize it. The Boston Light Swim Race continues, alive and well, to the present day. The percentage of contestants finishing the grind nowadays is much higher than that of the early era. This may be attributed to several factors, not the least of which is the shortening of the course to eight miles. Other factors may include: a greater knowledge of tides, currents and other conditions; the evolution of more efficient swimming styles and strokes. The swim is considered an excellent test for the aspiring English Channel swimmer. The conditions of both swims are similar, with cold and choppy water. The two main differences are the shorter distance, and the scarcity of stinging jellyfish in the Boston swim. Nevertheless, many swimmers have based their decision to make the trip to England upon their experience in the Boston Light Swim. Neither swim is a test for the faint of heart, and the simple attempt at either one is, in itself, a significant measure of success.

This manual contains vital information for parents including:
*How to select a qualified swim instructor and what to expect from the instructor.
*What makes a successful swim program and how to locate one near you.
*Determine the proper age to enroll children in swim lessons.
*Benefits of small group and private lessons.
*Advantage and disadvantage of parental involvement with lessons-parent /child instruction.
*Getting what you pay for.
*The importance of follow-up lessons for several years including stroke instruction classes.
*Water safety tips to prevent fatal accidents.
*Disadvantages of floatation devices for young children.
*Proper diving safety tips.
*Caution when allowing children to visit someone with a pool or body of water nearby.
This manual will inform parents on how to eliminate the anxiety and discomfort often associated with swim lessons. Parents must understand that the first phase in preparing their child for a successful experience with swim lessons is to accept responsibility in the child's learning process. This manual will help prepare the parents with that responsibility.

Waterman is the first comprehensive biography of Duke Kahanamoku (1890-1968): swimmer, surfer, Olympic gold medalist, Hawaiian icon, waterman. Long before Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz made their splashes in the pool, Kahanamoku emerged from the backwaters of Waikiki to become America's first superstar Olympic swimmer. The original "human fish" set dozens of world records and topped the world rankings for more than a decade. Kahanamoku used his Olympic renown to introduce the sport of "surf-riding," an activity unknown beyond the Hawaiian Islands, to the world. No American athlete has influenced two sports as profoundly as Kahanamoku did, and yet he remains an enigmatic and underappreciated figure: a dark-skinned Pacific Islander who encountered and overcame racism and ignorance long before the likes of Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, and Jackie Robinson. Kahanamoku's connection to his homeland was equally important. He was born when Hawaii was an independent kingdom; he served as the sheriff of Honolulu during Pearl Harbor and World War II and as a globetrotting "Ambassador of Aloha" afterward. In Waterman award-winning journalist David Davis examines the remarkable life of Duke Kahanamoku, in and out of the water.

A special 3rd edition has been released to mark the 100th Anniversary of the scuttling of the German Battle Fleet (16th June 1919). This definitive guide to Scapa Flow has been expanded and updated. Scapa Flow has international acclaim as one of the top five wreck diving locations in the world. Lawson Wood's anniversary edition has been fully revised and updated to be the most comprehensive guide to Scapa Flow. The shipwrecks are a mixture of battleships, cruisers and destroyers from the German High Seas Battle Fleet scuttled towards the end of WW1. The direct action of the British Admiralty saw a further 43 ships sunk during both world war conflicts to block the entrances to Scapa Flow. For divers travelling to Scapa Flow this is an essential guide containing information on all the dive sites together with a complete historical guide. Visitors to Scapa Flow will find Lawson's guide an invaluable investment.

Leisel Jones is rightly regarded as one of the greatest breaststrokers ever. At just fifteen, she won two silver medals at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000; she went on to win gold at Athens and Beijing, and at London 2012 became the first Australian swimmer to compete at four Olympics. For the first time, Leisel candidly describes what it's like to be thrust into the limelight so young. She reveals the constant pressure she was under - from coaches, from the media and from herself - to be perfect. Despite the highs of her swimming stardom, she suffered depression, and at one time planned to take her own life. In London, criticised in the media for her weight, and appalled by the bulling and dysfunction in the Australian swim team, Leisel nevertheless handled herself with great composure. She has emerged with maturity and good humour, having finally learnt how to be herself and live with confidence. Body Lengths is the inspiring story of an Australian sporting hero, told with humour, optimism and style.