20/6/14 – The Snorkel Queen

It’s the Winter solstice tomorrow folks! After tomorrow the days get longer!

The Drinks Express is celebrating with a 6:20am special swim, where budgies are optional, and Drinky himself is guaranteed to go nude!

That’s right ladies – form a guard of honour for the return lap when they hit the beach!

It was another beautiful morning – not too cold with a slight to touch us up and make sure no-one stays asleep

 

One of those Winter sunrises…

 

Soph was jumping out of her skin – er suit – almost….

 

Ness was taking Billy for a drag…

 

Sometimes busting a couple of MJ’s moves can keep you warm before 7 o’clock

Brucy arrives as usual… they look like they’ve had a fight 😉

 

 

 

 

It’s important to have tinted goggles if you don’t want to see what’s underneath…

 

Rusty and Dr Becky putting it out there…

 

Shelley was bubbling..

 

The Snorkel Queen comes up for air –

She has been known to breach when in a playful mood…

 

 

Attracta spotted this beast lurking near the bottom – A Smooth Stingray with a 5ft wingspan

 

 

 

 

The short-tail stingray or smooth stingray (Dasyatis brevicaudata) is a common species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It occurs off southern Africa, typically offshore at a depth of 180–480 m (590–1,570 ft), and off southern Australia and New Zealand, from the intertidal zone to a depth of 156 m (512 ft). It is mostly bottom-dwelling in nature and can be found across a range ofhabitats from estuaries to reefs, but also frequently swims into open water. The largest stingray in the world, this heavy-bodied species grows upwards of 2.1 m (6.9 ft) across and 350 kg (770 lb) in weight. Its plain-colored, diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc is characterized by a lack of dermal denticles even in adults, and white pores beside the head on either side. Its tail is usually shorter than the disc and thick at the base, with a midline row of large thorns in front of the stinging spine and dorsal and ventral fin folds behind.

 

The diet of the short-tail stingray consists of invertebrates and bony fishes, including burrowing and midwater species. It tends to remain within a relatively limited area throughout the year, preferring deeper waters during the winter, and is not known to perform long migrations. Large aggregations of rays form seasonally at certain locations, such as in the summer at the Poor Knight Islandsoff New Zealand. Both birthing and mating have been documented within the aggregations at Poor Knights. This species isaplacental viviparous, with the developing embryos sustained by histotroph (“uterine milk”) produced by the mother; the litter size is 6–10. The short-tail stingray is not aggressive but is capable of inflicting a potentially lethal wound with its long, venomous sting. It is caught incidentally by commercial and recreational fisheries throughout its range, usually surviving to be released. Because its population does not appear threatened by human activity, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed it under Least Concern.

 

 

 

 

..and a bit of a play with one of our regulars… Mary!

 

 

 

…and the cuttlefish…

 

 

 

 

 

Stats:

Swimmers: 142

Newbies: 2

Water: 19.2c

Sunrise: 6:59am

Sunset: 4:54pm

Have a great weekend 🙂 Nick D

Week 4 of the Winter Badge season.

There are 14 weeks in the winter season.  To qualify for the prized Cold & Bold Badge you simply need to swim 20 times within the season ensuring you have swum in aminimum of 7 different weeks.  So, attempting to do it all in the first few weeks does not count!!  Make sure you use the i-Log to register your without wetsuit for the WWW badge.

B&B i-Log

The B&B i-Log is the best way to capture your swims!!  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 (This is not a link so please copy and paste into your email). He will check that your email address is activated on the attendance register then send you info on how to get started.

Staying safe

There may not be any waves just at the moment, but are you prepared for their return? 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.

If anyone can support the Bear Cottage swimmers next weekend and support them by paddling next to them from Manly to Bondi please comment below!