7/3/14 – Is it Friday Yet?

Yes is certainly is!!

Beautiful, calm, 22.1c water to greet us this morning for the end of the work week swim.

The next few days will be SE swell, so it looks like it’s going to be flat at least until Monday!

We’re getting into that time of year where you can feel the seasons changing. This is a sunrise from this time last year….

 This was the actual sunrise this morning ….

 6:45 outside the surf club..

 Greg is looking very colour co-ordinated this morning …

 Elaine is packing cakes – who’s birthday is it this week??

 We’ve got triathaletes..

 

 Katrina’s got her serious swimmers on

 Zea’s smile is bigger than Luna Park

 Ths Sun is just starting to make itself felt as we walk almost all the way to the point..

 Jill and Bev were discussing the finer technical points of goggles..

 

 

 

So nice at the point waiting for the Boss to shout the command…

Brendan Maher – ex “the Submarine” swimming into the sunrise..

 Shelley bubbling this morning ..

Tomas’s birthday was shared with everyone (apparently he doesn’t like to be splashed)

 Tim with another false start this morning …

 ..gaining just that little bit of ground on the rest…

 Katrina is easy to spot again…

Underwater Action for this week…. (click on the pics for a better view!)

These are Zoanthids.. kinda like anenomes but slightly different. This is the description, which doesn’t really explain it in lay terms…

Zoanthids (order Zoantharia also called Zoanthidea or Zoanthiniaria) are an order of cnidarians commonly found in coral reefs, the deep sea and many other marine environments around the world. These animals come in a variety of different colonizing formations and in numerous colors. They can be found as individual polyps, attached by a fleshy stolon or a mat that can be created from small pieces of sediment, sand and rock. The term “zoanthid” refers to all animals within this order Zoantharia, and should not be confused with “Zoanthus“, which is one genus within Zoantharia.

They are among the most commonly collected coral in aquaria, easily propagating and being very durable in many water conditions.

Zoanthids can be distinguished from other colonial anthozoans and soft coral by their characteristic of incorporating sand and other small pieces of material into their tissue to help make their structure (except for the family Zoanthidae). The main characteristic of the order is that their tentacles are organised in two distinct rows.

 The squid have been around a fair bit….

 

 

 

 The Bengal Sargeants – probably the most curious fish in the bay.. are always hanging around..

 

 The bullseyes are always around the big rocks around from the point. They don’t like the light much so they tend to hang out under ledges and in dark places… 

 

 

 

 The cuttlefish was putting on a show.. maybe he knew Storchy was in the water….

 

 

 Too late! He’s promising to turn up to Booty Camp…

I don’t think he’s going to shake on it, mate…

 Sparkles is going in for a look…

 

Here’s a rare sight .. one of the Bay’s most elusive creatures to photograph in the water.

Some people have never seen it in it’s natural habitat, all indications are that it spends a lot of time in the bay but it’s only been seen by a few people..

In this pic you can see it swimming with the cuttlefish…..

These juveniles are Atherinason hepsetoides, the smallscale hardyhead, is a species of silverside endemic to the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Australia. This species grows to 9.0 cm (3.5 in) in total length. It is the only known member of its genus.

It’s unusual to see these fish this far north, as confirmed by Dr Walter Ivantsoff of the Australian Museum

I am almost certain that they are Atherinason hepsetoides. These are not common as far north I only have 2 records near Sydney. Their home is Tasmania  but there is a ” colony” at Greenpatch beach, Jarvis Bay.  These are very “sleek” fish with a very high number of midlateral  scales and a very protrusible  mouth. They are always marine and can go quite deep according to Peter  Last. Only other possibility is Atherinosoma microstoma but they are mostly estuarine.

 

Some more of the usual suspects…

 

Some Rock Blackfish near the point…

 

 The Sergeant Baker lurking…

 

 

 …and finally… speeches and cake for Tomas’ Birthday – He likes the All Blacks, but then again nobody’s perfect….

 

Stats:

Swimmers: 187

Newbs: 7

Water: 22.1c

Sunrise: 6:47

Sunset: 7:24

Have a great weekend 🙂 Nick D

 

2014 Summer Badge Ceremony

You’ve done the 6km and / or 10km swims, now come and collect your badges with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster.  Venue is the Royal Far West on Sunday 9th March straight after the regular swim!

To cover the cost of the sausage sizzle breakfast, a $5 donation will be payable at the gate.  Bookings are essential to ensure there are enough sausages.  Book here for Badge Breakfast

Badges are $10 each so if you could bring the correct money that will help the morning run smoothly, thank you.

The Badge Ceremony Breakfast will be shared with launch of an inaugural event for the Royal Far West.  Sydney law firm, Wotton + Kearney and FDC Construction & Fitout have joined forces to help raise awareness of the great work RFW does with the children of rural NSW, by doing a three day cycle from Dubbo to Wagga Wagga.

Teams from each organisation, along with former professional cyclist and Royal Far West’s ambassador, Scott Sunderland, will cover the 490km travelling a route from Dubbo – Trundle – Forbes – West Wyalong – Temora – and finishing in Wagga Wagga.

For further information on the bike ride: http://ridingforcountrykids2013.gofundraise.com.au/cms/home

 

Monthly Dinner at Bluewater – Tuesday 11th March at 6.30 pm

It’s Movie Night!!  And the stars are the B&B swimmers.  Don’t know if there will be a red carpet (maybe pink), but come and see Dr Salt. The movie was written and shot by Naomi Fryer late last year will be screened on the night.

With a limit on the numbers, bookings are essential.  The cost is only $20 a head which includes shared entrees, a selection of mains to choose (including a vegetarian option) and corkage (for byo wine only) and a little thank you for the staff. All beers, glasses of wine and deserts are an optional extra at the special price of only $5 each!

Do mark this must attend event in your diary, follow the link B&B Movie Night Dinner to book.

If you are in Byron Bay on the 9th March you can see the Bold and Beautiful movie there as well as that is where it will DEBUT!!  It’s called Dr Salt and here’s a link to details:http://www.bbff.com.au/programme-2014/?venue=360

 

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.

 

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.