2023 Frogman Swim Division 7 Facility Miss Daisy Assists in Annual Event.

By George Papabeis, Flotilla 74, Brandon

Miss Daisy’s mission started with a 5:30 AM dockside muster at Salty Sol Park (aka Gandy boat ramp). Because of the low air and water temps, Mustang survival suits were issued to the crew consisting of coxswain Dean Bell, Flotilla 79, Tampa (not shown); Joe Silva, Flotilla 75, Apollo Beach; Miguel Anibal Marquez-Reines, Flotilla 79, Tampa; Charles Lambeth and Joe Primosch, Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach; George Papabeis Flotilla 74, Brandon (not shown); and trainee Steve Williams, Flotilla 74, Brandon. Photo by George Papabeis

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary facility Miss Daisy and its crew assisted in the 2023 Frogman Swim. The Miss Daisy crew consisted of coxswain Dean Bell and boat crew members Joe Silva, Miguel Anibal Marquez-Reines, Charles Lambeth, Joe Primosch, George Papabeis, and trainee Steve Williams.

The 3.4-mile endurance swim is an annual fundraiser for the Navy Seal Foundation. The event had layers of support on land and water from law enforcement, first responders, wave runners, jet skis, and kayaks with two aid stations on either side of the swim route in Old Tampa Bay.

Miss Daisy’s mission started with a 5:30 AM dockside muster at Salty Sol Park (aka Gandy boat ramp). Because of the low air and water temps, Mustang survival suits were issued to the crew and coxswain. The air temperatures saw frost in certain areas of Tampa Bay overnight, but by start time, the air temperature reached a balmy 48° F, with water temperatures at 62° F. The first task assigned to

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Miss Daisy was to escort a group of jet skis and wave runners from the boat ramp across the bay to the event start. Among the onshore festivities was a very impressive pinpoint parachute drop on a small strip of sand in the deployment area.

Approximately 170 swimmers deployed in six separate waves. Each swimmer had a designated kayak escort. The first wave started at 8:30 AM, with each following wave at 10-minute intervals. The first wave consisted of a unique “deployment.” Swimmers wore body armor and towed a pack, simulating conditions that special forces might encounter in the field.

Early on, the crew of the Miss Daisy noticed a kayak whose operator had a concerned look on her face. She had lost her swimmer. We had one of the wave runner operators call in the incident by radio, and Miss Daisy ran a parallel course to the swimmers while the crew kept a lookout for the “orphaned” swimmer. Fortunately, as previously stated, there was an overabundance of support craft. A few swimmers were picked up by wave runners and were taken aboard support vessels when they could not continue. The Miss Daisy tracked forward and back along the line of swimmers half a dozen times.

As the end of the line was past the halfway mark, we were informed by a kayak operator that a swimmer was in distress. This was confirmed by a kayak operator holding her paddle in the vertical position, a recognized distress signal. The swimmer had developed bad cramps in his legs. He was taken on board and taken to the finish line at American Legion Post 138, where he could receive medical treatment if needed.

The crew of the Miss Daisy exercised caution while transiting the narrow channel due to shallow waters on either side. After disembarking the swimmer into capable hands, the crew of the Miss Daisy came upon an orphaned swimmer who informed us that she had lost her kayak escort. A quick check of her participation number revealed that she was the

Breeze

swimmer who had separated from her kayak escort earlier. At 11 AM, any swimmers still in the water were picked up by support craft since this was the official end time of the race. The Miss Daisy made a leisurely transit back to the dock, whereupon her crew debriefed and disbanded. Ω