Captain of Courage: Meet the captain of #SwimforCourage
This August, BC swimmer Jill Yoneda is taking on an epic challenge—swimming 109km across the Georgia Straight to raise funds for Canuck Place care.
This is an incredible feat of strength and courage, and while she’s swimming solo, she has a wide array of support on and off the water. This includes her incredible boat captain, Peter Lovick—affectionately referred to as Captain Pete. Captain Pete is accompanying Jill and other crew members as a boat escort while she makes waves across the Georgia Straight.
We sat down with Captain Pete to learn more about him and his role in this monumental adventure.
How did you meet Jill Yoneda and learn about the #SwimforCourage fundraiser?
We heard about one of Jill’s previous swims from our son Matt who owns Geometry Integrated Health Clinic in Victoria. She was a patient there and had talked about the boat they had for her swim. Apparently it wasn’t ideally suited for this type of event and did not really provide much in the way of comfort for her and her crew. We looked into a bit further and contacted Jill to let her know we would be happy to help out with the Ocean Adele in any future swims. We provided the escort boat for Jill’s attempted double crossing of the Salish Sea, and here we are, six years later, working with her on another swim.
What inspired you and your wife Laurene to get involved with Jill’s fundraiser?
Just hearing about Jill’s courage and determination from Matt was enough inspiration for us to get involved. The fact that Jill was raising funds to help children and families at Canuck Place was also a cause that we could get behind. We have been involved in children’s charities ever since before we could afford to be.
Tell us about the crew involved and their responsibilities both with preparation and during the swim? How is the crew physically and mentally preparing for this swim?
Jill has put together a very knowledgeable and experienced crew for this swim. There will be an experienced expedition medical doctor, experienced paddlers and swimmers, a videographer, cook, and RIB operator. We have discussed the currents and tides that Jill will need to swim through with tug boat captains and there may be a retired RCMP marine unit member on board. It is very difficult to prepare for this event. It’s not every day that you plan a 50-60 hour non-stop event. That is non- stop for Jill, but the rest of the crew needs to be well rested and cared for so that we are all at the top of our game throughout the swim to home port safely.
We did a short practice swim with Jill and part of the crew. We tested Jill in Sansum Narrows and Porlier Pass to see how she would do in the currents and cold water. Jill said that the Porlier Pass portion was the most difficult thing she had ever done, but she is still on board, so what does that tell you?!
What are the logistics involved in preparing for Jill’s swim?
The logistics involved in a swim of this magnitude are many and varied. Each leg of the swim needs to be coordinated with all of the following legs so that Jill is not swimming against the current. Even a small current, as little as one knot, will almost put her at a standstill.
- Jill will need food and drinks delivered to her without touching a person or the boat
- She will need medical checks on a regular basis
- We will cross ferry and freighter routes, where there are tug boats out there 24/7
- We will need to stay in constant touch with Vancouver traffic
- The crew needs to be fed and rested up
- And who know what else!
Just when you think you have planned for everything, something new pops up. The one big unknown is the weather conditions as that can have a huge influence on Jill’s progress. We really can’t be to sure what the weather will bring us until the last few days before we head out.
How do you map out her route and what resources do you have to do so?
Mapping out her route for me was a no brainer. We take that route from the Island to our berth in Milltown many times every year. For the most part if you time it right and the weather cooperates, it has the most favorable current and weather conditions . We have a program called NaviNet on board, and both Laurene and I have Navionics on our computers and phones so we are always double checking our calculations. I have just recently discovered a new app called Predict Currents so I am looking forward to testing that out. Not sure how Jill will feel when she finds out she is the guinea pig.
What risks and challenges do you have to look out for and how do you plan for this?
I think the biggest risk we will have to deal with on this swim will be Jill’s health and safety. There are lots of things that happen to a person who is in the water for this long and that is why we have the best medical team available, bar none. I highly doubt that Jill would call an end to her swim if required voluntarily, so she has promised us that she will listen to the best medical advice we can provide. Barring that, she does have to listen to the Captain.
Could you talk about the community support and donations that you have received for the swim?
I can’t talk too much about the community support and donations that are being so generously provided. But I can tell you that every time I mention what we are doing, people’s ears perk up and they want to know more. I’m also surprised just how many people I talk to out of the blue have some sort of close connection with the Yoneda family and want to support Jill.
What are some of your most memorable moments or experiences from Jill’s previous swim?
Without a doubt my most memorable moment of the last swim was after a 12-hour effort to cross the straight we stopped to see how Jill was doing. It was a beautiful calm morning and Jill had just swam around the Merry Island marker buoy. When she swam up close to the boat, I was shocked to see what the salt water exposure had done to her mouth, eyes and face. My first thought at the time was, “well this swim is over”. After a little medical attention, without touching anybody or the boat, and we told her how much money she had raised overnight, Jill raised her hand and said “let’s go!” 14 hours later, she finally did call it off but had swam all the way back to Lasqueti Island. There was also the time when a humpback whale did a little circle back to see what all the fuss was about!
What does it mean for you personally to be part of Jill’s journey and to support her cause?
Both Laurene and I feel very privileged and honoured to be a part of Jill’s fundraising for such a valuable cause like Canuck Place. That means so much to us. It’s also pretty exciting to be a small part of such a huge effort that would mark the first time in a long time that anyone has attempted the swim from Victoria to Vancouver. If Jill makes it I will be proud to say I had a small part in her success.
Join Captain Pete in supporting Jill’s incredible journey and help make a difference in the lives of children and families at Canuck Place by donating to her fundraiser!