21/2/14 – Mermaids and Sea Monsters

Happy Friday morning! What a week we have had, with 4 straight days of beautiful clear water!

The surf and weather forecasts are looking good for the next few days, so if you’ve been thinking of swimming and haven’t quite got around to it, get your ass down here because you’re missing out!

There has been so much action since Monday, sit down, turn the phone off and get comfortable because there’s a lot to get through!

Beautiful morning with a colourful sunrise and just a hint of freshness in the air…

Sterling is looking in fine form – (I think one of his daughters might be dressing him) as he tries to get another edge over the competition.

Nice work mate 🙂

Oompa had quite a fascination for Jane’s crutch, and even indulged in a little sniffing and some chewing

(CRUTCH I said…)

Lauren and Kaley led the fashion stakes this morning (sorry Sterling) We love the new style – good for surfing as well apparently.

Please take note of how to put on your cap correctly..

The Boyz…

And Jeff.. had to put him in! What a great asset he is to us – the perfect B&Ber!

.. oh and captain off the all conquering trivia team!

Oops.. this pic was not meant for release…

This is Soph – it’s her 40th today! There are many pics of the festivities as Soph and Anna Alvsdotter were both born on Feb 20!

People born on February 20 are often thoughtful and receptive personalities, with the ability to immediately tune into the moods of those around them, adjusting their reactions instantly. Highly ambitious, they are sure to stand out in their career, at home, or on the social scene. They have an appealing personality and an easy charm, but it’s impossible to dismiss them as superficial because behind their looks and charm there is always great intelligence.

People with a February 20 birthday have a great deal of compassion, instinctively dealing with anyone—whatever their background or social status—with great understanding and warmth. In some cases they can become oversensitive and impressionable, unable to separate their own emotions from the emotions of other people. This is because they identify so much with the viewpoint of others that they risk losing their own perspective in the process. It is vitally important for them to learn to protect themselves from over-identification. Before the age of thirty, this tendency to merge completely with other people is emphasized, but after the age of thirty they become more assertive, confident and self-protective.

There is a danger when people born on this day do become more aware and confident of their ability to instinctively relate to others that they can misuse it. It is important therefore for them to learn not to compromise themselves or take advantage of others in the singleminded pursuit of their goals.

Yeah right!

40 can be 2×20 right?

Hi Washbrooks! I really just put this on for Julie – if she reads it!?

This good looking swimmer reminds me of another that used to swim with us called Jules Mackin

Uncanny resemblance ….

Calendar shot for the marketing department…

Here they are at Shelley… 🙂 xx

 

We all sang..

 

And then there was a “Let’s go!”

OK now we get into the Monsters and Mermaids section…

Here’s a new way to sneak up on the Flathead..

We had squid…

 

Now… Maybe one or two days in a year of swimming, do you see something truly breathtaking.

This is a Wobbegong spotted in between a couple of very large rocks, which came out for a swim to let us have a look at it.

This animal was 8-9 feet long … a leviathan. I didn’t know they grew that big.. it was very special seeing this beast!

 

 

 

 

We’ve had 4 days of aquarium conditions! … here’s some of the Mermaids..

 

Liz Jones

Heather H (various nicknames)

 

 

 

Sparkles 🙂

 

Bullseyes!

 

This little guy is a Girdled Parma..

The dorsal fin of the Girdled Parma has a long-based spinous section and a tall, short-based soft-rayed portion. The body is covered with large ctenoid scales. Colouration of the species changes with growth. The images show the typical adult body colouration of a grey to brown body with a white bar. Juveniles are yellow and blue with a faint bar.

Size range: This species grows to 20 cm in length.

Distribution: It is endemic to Australia, occurring from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

And this is a “White Ear”

Standard Common Name: White-ear

Alternative Name/s: White Ear Scalyfin

Identification: The White-ear changes colour as it grows but always has a white blotch on the operculum that gives rise to the common name. Young juveniles are orange with neon blue lines, and a blue-rimmed ocellus on the dorsal fin. As the fish grows the blue lines become less distinct and break into spots. The bright yellow colour gradually fades resulting in the adults colouration which is yellowish-brown to grey or black.

Size range: The White-ear grows to 20 cm in length.

Distribution: It is occurs in Australia and New Zealand.  Its Australian distribution is from northern New South Wales to north-eastern Tasmania.

Some diamondfish

Stripey Goatfish

Sea Monsters…

 

The PJs are back!

 

 

The teeth of the Port Jackson shark are one of its most distinguishable feature. Unlike other sharks, its teeth are different in the front and back. The frontal teeth are small, sharp and pointed, while the latter is flat and blunt. These teeth function to hold and break, then crush and grind the shells of the mollusks and echinoderms that this species feeds upon. Juveniles of the species have teeth that are sharper and their diet has a higher proportion of soft-bodied prey than adults.^[3]

Beautiful Fiddler..

 

Massive Eagle Ray from Tuesday – 3.5-4 feet across..

 

 

 

 

 

And the duskies… these are all the same shark – from Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly – the festivities from this morning 🙂

 

 

Stats:

Swimmers: 160

Newbs: 4

Water: 21.5c

Sunrise: 6:35am

Sunset: 7:41pm

Have a great weekend everyone 🙂 – Nick D!

Pictured here at the Presets..

 

 

February is Heart Research Month, and we’re raising $1 for every kilometre we swim during the month.  

We need to start kicking this along!  The swimming is going ok, but a little more for the $$$$ would be great. Here’s the update…

https://redfebrelay.everydayhero.com/au/bold-beautiful-swim-squad-manly

 

B&B i-Log

Almost 50% of swimmers are now using the B&B i-Log. Log your swim ANYTIME of day using this really efficient and easy way to ensure your swim is recorded in the daily attendance and on the Pacific Challenge. To get started, send an email to Ian Forster (ugoboyo@gmail.com). He will check that your email address is activated on the attendance register then send you info on how to get started.

 

Summer is going, going . . .

The last Summer Badge Swim for this year is the 6km this coming Saturday!  If you want that badge be at the usual meeting spot by 6.45am for a briefing from the designated swim leader.  The usual route is to Freshwater and back, depending on conditions on the day.  The swim kicks off at 7am with the regular mob.

 

Bolderdash

This daily swim to Queenscliff and back DEPARTS the surf club at 5.50am.  As these are generally intimate groups, please WAIT for everyone in the water before heading off.  Do buddy up with someone – great to be with someone who has the same pace – that way everyone is ‘accounted for’ at Queenscliff.

 

Staying safe

Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly!  While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits.  Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf.  To read, or even download, click here.