Sylvia Lacock is a veteran open water swimmer and USCG-licensed captain whose dedication to safety, community, and adventure led her to co-found Pacific Open Water Swim Co. in 2017—now the most trusted provider of professionally escorted open water swims across San Francisco Bay and Lake Tahoe.

After an injury during her 2016 English Channel attempt, Sylvia began training in San Francisco Bay, and quickly found demand for organized, safe, and supportive swims. This sparked the creation of what became a pioneer in marathon swim piloting and coaching.

Today, Sylvia draws on 20+ years of year-round Bay swimming experience and extensive marathon and channel swim credentials to expertly plan all routes, manage risk, and coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard. She and her team have collectively piloted over 350 unassisted marathon swims, including numerous crossings of Lake Tahoe and iconic Bay routes like Alcatraz and Angel Island.

At Beyond the Breakers 2025, Sylvia will offer attendees a pilot’s-eye perspective on the indispensable relationship between swimmer and pilot—what to ask, what to prepare for, and how to build the trust that makes challenging swims not just possible, but safe and memorable.

For more from Sylvia check out her website Pacific Open Water Swim Co. or follow them on Instagram!