Kayak support for IM 70.3

I was a kayak volunteer at IMLP in 2010.  Fun job!  

My tips:  make sure you go to the restroom before you are sent out.  A full IM is obviously longer than a 70.3, but I think we were expected to be on the water around 5:45 for a 6:55 race start and naturally were out there beyond the 2 hr 20 minute cut-off time, not getting back on land until close to 10 am.  

Another tip: be prepared for any sort of weather.  It rained on and off the entire time we were on the water and I was glad for rain gear since it isn't too warm in the morning.

Your kayak group captain should give you tips on boat positioning (don't get too close to the athletes, it's easy to drift toward them by forgetting to maintain your posted area) and what to do if someone needs to grab on (encourage them to grab the bow, not the side or they could tip you).

Otherwise, have fun!  It is a great job and very exciting to be part of the action and able to help out.

Oh geez yes. Yes yes yes. I seriously debated jumping out of my kayak and peeing in the lake for the last hour when I volunteered, and at the first possible chance I scurried out and found a bush. Gotta stay hydrated if it's sunny too so that didn't help. I think it's pretty self explanatory, like keeping a watchful eye all around you, and your supervisor will tell you anything that isn't blatantly obvious. There was a current when I did it and I had to do a lot of back paddling to stay in the same position. Stick around for the last couple of people and you'll end up shadowing them the whole time, and they'll thank you for it. Mix up a few margaritas from your kayak and you'll make a few friends too

Leave your cell phone on shore!  I volunteered at a tri where I was part of the water support.  A friend who is very experienced in adventure racing and all things outdoors was getting into the kayak to set the markers and promptly flipped it over with her cell phone in her pocket.  

As others have said, be prepared to be out there quite a while.  Sunscreen, plenty of water, maybe even a snack (packed in a waterproof bag).  

Your volunteer captain should provide a set of WRITTEN instructions (in your case, in something waterproof) for what you should be doing, when you should be doing it, how to relay a message, etc.  For example, if you have to provide assistance to a swimmer, is there someone who takes over once you get them to shore or a power-boat or do you get them to the shore and they're on their own for getting to transition and formally withdrawing from the race?