
They are the selfless, professional guides of the marathon swimming and channel swimming world.
Below is a all-too-short listing of some of the more experienced pilots around the world (included retired and deceased pilots):
* Alison Streeter (English Channel)
* Altino Goulart (Azores and Cape Verde)
* Andy King (English Channel)
* Antonio Montiel Martin (Strait of Gibraltar)
* Bob Andrieux (Santa Barbara Channel)
* Brian Meharg (North Channel)
* Leonard Hutchinson (English Channel)
* Charlie Gravett (Jersey)
* Charlie Lehr (New York)
* Chris Osmond (English Channel)
* Dave Whyte (English Channel)
* Des McLean (Western Australia)
* Duncan Taylor (English Channel)
* Earl Sandvik (New York)
* Eddie Spelling (English Channel)
* Eric Hartley (English Channel)
* Fred Mardle (English Channel)
* Greg Elliot (Catalina Channel)
* Greg Porteus (Hudson River)
* Greg Wise (Catalina Channel)
* Ivan Shigaki (Molokai Channel)
* Jeremy Gooding (Hawaii)
* Jim Dixon (Maui and Molokai Channels)
* John & Lisa Matthews (Farallon Islands)
* John Bartlett (Florida Strait)
* John Defoe (Vancouver)
* John Pittman (Catalina Channel)
* Kevin Sherman (English Channel)
* Lance Oram (English Channel)
* Matt Buckman (Molokai Channel)
* Michael Oram (English Channel)
* Mike Bewley (Santa Barbara Channel)
* Neil Streeter (English Channel)
* Nelson Wood (English Channel)
* Paul Foreman (English Channel)
* Paul Luuwai (Maui Channel)
* Paul Newman (English Channel)
* Peter Reed (English Channel)
* Quinten Nelson (North Channel)
* Ray Brickell (English Channel)
* Ray Cooper (English Channel)
* Reg Brickell, Jr. (English Channel)
* Reg Brickell, Sr. (English Channel)
* Sebastian Sanchéz Rios (Strait of Gibraltar)
* Simon Ellis (English Channel)
* Stuart Gleeson (English Channel)
* Vito Bialla (Farallon Islands)
* William J. Long (English Channel)
* Wolfgang Schlosser (Beltquerung)
* Bob Olen (Straits of Florida)>br>
* Mitch Olen (Straits of Florida)
* Mark Sollinger (Straits of Florida)
* John Bartlett (Straits of Florida)
Photo above shows Brian Meharg (right) with North Channel swimmer Howard Keech (left).
Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source