07/07/2020 – More Swimmers Said ‘Beautiful’ Than ‘Friggin’ Freezin’!

‘How was the swim?’ I always ask swimmers as they appear at the top of the ramp, usually beaming brightly and glowing… Today the resounding answer was ‘beautiful!’ It was very cold though, probably 15.5 again… but endorphins were flowing and nobody (really) complained! It was calm, incredibly clear and awesome to be out there, under that stunning sky and in that incredible ocean!

We’re still staggering our times as due to covid the official swim isn’t on at the moment, so this was the 7am ‘crowd’. Usually we’d have about 150 going in at this time!

The lovely Justus and Suzie, father and daughter…Justus was telling me the other day what a lifesaver the swim has been to him as he didn’t know anyone when he came here from SA about 8 years ago. Now because of our wonderful swimming community he has loads of friends!

Even in mid-Winter so much going on in our little corner. Yoga is back on and is free and open to anyone every Tuesday and Thursday.

Brave ladies coming in from an early swim.

I swam with the gorgeous Nat Sengchan today, mother of 5 sons and ultimate positive, inspiring person. She’s had a tough few years with surgeries, rounds of chemo, losing her hair etc but she’s back!

It was an absolute treat to swim with her,over the green sea grass  and through schools of Luderick and Mados.

We saw a couple of Wobbies. Love the way they perch sometimes vertically or folded in two between rocks!

The huge Smooth Stingray was around again. We saw him covered in sand but others saw him swimming today

The crayweed is flourishing by the shed. The fish love it!

As it was SO clear today you could make out the pattern on the Groper’s backs and they looked bluer than ever!

Lisa and the Luderick

Suzanne

Errol (taken at the weekend)

That sky! One swimmer remarked that we don’t need to be at the National Art Gallery. We’re IN a Turner painting!

Dave, Pete and Bones go out as we go in.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASo does Di

Annie and Roz

Michael…(It’s his birthday Saturday shhh)

The post-swim shower,M&M aka Michele and Martin

Dave has had a hair cut and his girlfriend is even more in lurv!

Larry with fellow iceberg Janet post-swim. Larry ditched the wetsuit a couple of years ago and hasn’t had a cold or sickness since!

Have a great day folks!

Lainey

Swim Anywhere, Any time to qualify for your 2020 Once Off – Unique – Covid Winter Challenge

Due to Covid-19 and the current government guidelines limiting the number of people allowed to be in a group, Bold & Beautiful is still currently suspended.

But we recognise many of our swimmers are still swimming at various times and locations, and it is more important than ever to remain fit, healthy and connected.

As such, B&B is offering this unique, one off, Covid 2020 Winter Challenge Badge, kindly designed by our amazingly creative swimmer, Linda from Manly Mac Art.

To qualify for your Covid Winter Challenge Badge you need to swim 20 times across 7 different weeks of winter, between 1st June – 31st August.
If you are swimming at Manly, any time of the day, please continue to log your swim as Manly – Shelly Swim, this swim will not only count towards your Covid Winter Challenge Badge, it will also continue to count towards the Pacific Challenge.

If you are swimming in any other location, anywhere in the world, please tick your swim as ‘Covid Swim’, this will give you a special 19m on the Pacific Challenge and will count towards your Covid Winter Challenge.
Log your 20 (or more) swims without a wetsuit and you will be eligible for the special 2020 ICC (Ice Cold Corona) badge.

YOU MUST LOG YOUR SWIMS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE YOUR COVID BADGE(S)