Crew chief

noun - A crew chief is the lead member and captain of a support crew, a group of individuals who provide support for a channel swimmer on a channel crossing or for a marathon swimmer or relay on a non-stop swim in an open body of water or channel. The crew chief assists and leads a team that can consist of an escort pilot, physician, coach, feeders, trainer, friends, family and pace swimmers who help the swimmer by mixing and preparing food and hydration, providing navigational instructions, taking and sharing periodic stroke counts, serving as a pace swimmer, cheering, applying lanolin or vaseline, and other duties required during the channel swim or marathon swim.

Usage

The crew chief stayed up all night helping the swimmer cross the Catalina Channel.