We lost Guy Bain last week.  A comforting familiar face, a big smile and a person many of us trusted with our lives.

Guy was a part of the Big Bay Events team for nine years, and supported many of us while we chased our dreams, confronted our demons, had happy swims and faced some tough times.  Since his passing last week, I have not met a swimmer who does not have a “Guy” story.  And so, I would like to share mine

This photo was taken when Guy and Kyle supported my Three Capes Swim. I love it as it captures what the swim was about. A bit wild, fresh and a whole lot of fun. I also love it as Guys personality is on full display – a bit wild, fresh and a whole lot of fun. We swam (well I did). We laughed. And we revelled in the awesomeness and magnificence of this swim.  I only realised how long it was taking due to a head current, when Kyle mentioned that we may run out of feed (in other words stop messing around, head down and let’s close this one out).  I love this photo, I loved that swim and I am so happy to have shared it with Guy.

Guy crewed another swim for me a few weeks after this one.  After 45mins in I paused, and put my head up. He immediately asked if I was ok. My response was “I don’t know”. Thinking back, I can see the concern on his face.  I carried on swimming for another few minutes, stopped again, disorientated.  Guy and the Skipper were as  close as they could get given the chop and swell. He asked again how I was.  I think I responded “not good” and I know for sure that I promptly started swimming away from the boat.  My next recollection is that I was on the boat, wrapped in a blanket, sitting between Guy’s legs crying and vomiting while the skipper headed back to Big Bay.   I was apologising in between all the drama and in typical Guy style he kept saying “its ok my darling, its ok”. He was calm, he had the situation under control and was a much needed source of physical and emotional support.

The relationship between a swimmer and the crew is so intense and intimate. The crew are watching the swimmers every move. Totally locked into their rhythm, body position and the water movement. While the swimmer looks to the crew every second or third stroke. Attuned to their expression, whether their body language is relaxed or alert and trusting them with their life. It’s an intimate bubble that you exist in as you move through the water.  And then you get to the end, celebrate or commiserate or maybe both, and head back to your separate lives.  I knew very little about Guy’s personal life away from the water.  But I do know that we shared a love for the ocean, that I trusted him with my life and that we went on some incredible adventures together. 

Part pirate, part imp, a man of the sea, and very much part of our community. RIP Guy

Tribute by Tracey Steyn (CLDSA Chair person).

Photograph Credit: Matt Kennedy.