Striking out into the Currents of Life

Surfacing

‘The world has a thousand ways of reducing us: some loud, some tender, some dressed as love, some as duty. There are times in life when it might feel easier to shrink. To believe this is the size of you now. 
 
But it isn’t. 
 
When life narrowed, I let the water show me the way. And I swam’ 
 
As she reached her late forties, Kate Rew found herself adrift on an ever-shifting tide of responsibilities: of financial and family worries, of health issues, of moments when she felt invisible, and others in which she felt hopelessly out of her depth. 
 
And so she returned to the one thing that had always been, for her, a cannon of joy in a complicated world: swimming outdoors, beneath the sky and through the elements. She swam with family, with friends, with strangers: up a cold Welsh estuary where the tide surges under low autumn skies, tearing the water to foam; down 24 kilometres of peat-dark river from the Arctic Circle where reindeer watch from the banks; in muddy rivers and ditches close to her Somerset home and in Guernsey sea gullies where clear waves towered above her as they powered through. 
 
Kate did not swim to make herself better: ‘life is not an illness and nature is not there for our therapy’, but she knew that swimming is a way of letting meaning sneak back in through the body. It connects us, grounds us, reminds us we’re alive. 
 
Open Water is a life-affirming story of reconnection (with people and with the world) and resurfacing. Taking us on an exhilarating, heart-opening journey through rivers, seas and reservoirs both close to home and further afield, it’s a book for anyone who has ever felt hemmed in or pulled under: a book about moving forward with the current and of not being afraid of what might be around the next bend.

Kate Rew is the founder of The Outdoor Swimming Society. Born on a Devon farm, she began river swimming as a child and hasn't stopped since. As founder of The OSS, Kate has founded three iconic open water events (Dart10k, Swoosh and Hurly Burly) and has spearheaded an international resurgence in swimming outdoors. Her first book Wild Swim was published in 2008.

‘The world has a thousand ways of reducing us: some loud, some tender, some dressed as love, some as duty. There are times in life when it might feel easier to shrink. To believe this is the size of you now. 
 
But it isn’t. 
 
When life narrowed, I let the water show me the way. And I swam’ 
 
As she reached her late forties, Kate Rew found herself adrift on an ever-shifting tide of responsibilities: of financial and family worries, of health issues, of moments when she felt invisible, and others in which she felt hopelessly out of her depth. 
 
And so she returned to the one thing that had always been, for her, a cannon of joy in a complicated world: swimming outdoors, beneath the sky and through the elements. She swam with family, with friends, with strangers: up a cold Welsh estuary where the tide surges under low autumn skies, tearing the water to foam; down 24 kilometres of peat-dark river from the Arctic Circle where reindeer watch from the banks; in muddy rivers and ditches close to her Somerset home and in Guernsey sea gullies where clear waves towered above her as they powered through. 
 
Kate did not swim to make herself better: ‘life is not an illness and nature is not there for our therapy’, but she knew that swimming is a way of letting meaning sneak back in through the body. It connects us, grounds us, reminds us we’re alive. 
 
Open Water is a life-affirming story of reconnection (with people and with the world) and resurfacing. Taking us on an exhilarating, heart-opening journey through rivers, seas and reservoirs both close to home and further afield, it’s a book for anyone who has ever felt hemmed in or pulled under: a book about moving forward with the current and of not being afraid of what might be around the next bend.

Kate Rew

A must for your reading lists ... beautiful

A really important, inspiring book, written by someone at the heart of the outdoor swimming movement that -- over the last fifteen years -- has encouraged millions of people to experience the wonders and friendships of Britain's rivers, lakes and seas. Rew's book combines hard-won, deeply researched information on how to swim safely and joyfully out-of-doors, with vivid first-hand accounts of swims in astonishing places and with remarkable people. Read on. Dive in.

The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook will be a treasured guide for anyone who wants to venture into British rivers, estuaries, lakes, and seas for a dip, a moonlit swim, or a great adventure. I loved this book!

Jam packed with info ... useful and inspiring to all dedicated outdoor swimmers

A great book for swimmers especially those who may be relatively new to the water

A really useful guide and an evocative dive into the pleasures of outdoor swimming. Glorious

'An important, inspiring book by someone that has encouraged million of people to experience the wonders and friendships of Britain's rivers, lakes and seas' ROBERT MACFARLANE 
 
'A treasured guide for anyone who wants to venture into rivers, estuaries, lakes and seas for a dip, a moonlit swim or a great adventure. I loved this book!' LYNNE COX 
 
Capturing the freewheeling spirit, community and wisdom that defines The Outdoor Swimming Society movement, founder Kate Rew reveals everything you need to know to explore rivers, lakes, seas and estuaries. Sharing tales of her own inspiring swims, Kate explores the rich and varied life of outdoor swimmers, from the physiology of cold to planning lazy hazy downstream swims. 
 
 An exquisite guide for beginners and enthusiasts alike, The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook will lead you to the shore and become your trusted companion for the adventures ahead.

Kate Rew

Praise for The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook

A must for your reading lists ... beautiful

A really important, inspiring book, written by someone at the heart of the outdoor swimming movement that -- over the last fifteen years -- has encouraged millions of people to experience the wonders and friendships ...

The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook will be a treasured guide for anyone who wants to venture into British rivers, estuaries, lakes, and seas for a dip, a moonlit swim, or a great adventure. I loved this book!

A must for your reading lists ... beautiful

A really important, inspiring book, written by someone at the heart of the outdoor swimming movement that -- over the last fifteen years -- has encouraged millions of people to experience the wonders and friendships ...

The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook will be a treasured guide for anyone who wants to venture into British rivers, estuaries, lakes, and seas for a dip, a moonlit swim, or a great adventure. I loved this book!

A must for your reading lists ... beautiful

A really important, inspiring book, written by someone at the heart of the outdoor swimming movement that -- over the last fifteen years -- has encouraged millions of people to experience the wonders and friendships ...

The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook will be a treasured guide for anyone who wants to venture into British rivers, estuaries, lakes, and seas for a dip, a moonlit swim, or a great adventure. I loved this book!

Books by Kate Rew

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