18/11/2013 – T’was a dark and stormy morning

Just 39 swimmers braved the elements this morning with rain and big seas.

I planned to do the Balderdash and get some photos but the other early morning swimmer only had time for a Shelly swim, so I had 2 options, either swim it alone or join Storchy’s boot camp.  After watching the sets for a while with the Queenscliff Bombora breaking way out to sea and the SouWester whipping up the chop up at the far end of the beach I decided boot camp was looking good. I asked Storchy what sought of torture he had in store for his troops this morning and after he told me the sea was suddenly not looking so menacing anymore.

So I set out alone for Queenscliff and once past the breakers it was easy going with nice clean seas and a following breeze. About half way down the beach though, I realized the breeze was turning into a gale and I started to wonder what it was going to be like swimming in the other direction, so I turned around to give it a try. Hmm, not so easy going back the other way and that bommie is breaking a long way out, I think I will go back see if I can catch a wave instead.

The surfers had the best of it with Derek telling me that he had the best rides he has had in ages. I watched the South Curl Curl surf boat take off way out the back and come screaming past me. A couple of waves later and I caught one of the smaller waves and rode it all the way to shore.

Doesn’t look too bad really!

 

Nothing much at the point.

 

Well ok there were a few sets!

And it doesn’t often break right at the point like that!

 

There’s the surf boat onthe way out and Derek is out there on his board somewhere, there is a video of the surf boat at the end of the blog.

 

The usual early morning culprits were there.

 

 

Just a handful of 6:30 AM swimmers, a couple more walked around to halfway.

 

The bower was working.

 

and so was the beach!

 

There goes the Queenscliff Bombora

 

It looks more ominous as you get closer!

 

Only the Die Hards turned up early.

A few brave souls start to arrive

 

 

Just follow that Sea Gull

 

One of the 6:30 swimmers coming in says just swim over towards the point, it’s easy.

 

I wonder if he was being completely honest?

 

The closer you get the bigger it looks!

 

Sorry Fifi but I had to can the first photo as Helen went out and took her Air Brush with her

 

The view back to the beach on the swim out

 

And the view out to sea

 

We must be mad.

 

Where did everybody go?

 

We made it!

 

Yahoooooo!

 

Explaining the finer points!

 

Chris et al

 

King Neptune???

 

No it is just Derek!

The South Curl Curl surf boat catching a wave!

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Stats

Swimmers: 39

Newbies: 0

Water Temp: 19.8 degrees

Sunrise:5:44am

Sunset:7:36pm

High Tide: 10:19 AM 1.67 M

Low tide: 4:54 PM 0.39 M

Swell: 7 Foot from the ESE

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B & B Christmas Party

The B & B “Mad Hatters” Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday 3rd December at 6.30 pm in the Moonshine Bar (2nd Floor) at the Steyne Hotel. All swimmers and partners/friends are welcome (no under 18s unfortunately). Wear your craziest hat or other headwear. No need to be shy as we will have the whole bar to ourselves. Finger food will be provided and drinks will be at bar prices. Lots of fun and dancing are guaranteed, with a band featuring one of our very own swimmers. Come along to find out who it is. The cost is $10 per head, with all proceeds going to the running costs of the B&B. Don’t miss out. Bookings are essential. Book HERE now so you don’t miss out!

B & B Attendance Login App

The new B&B Attendance Login App is live!! Using the App you can log your swim (only if you did swim), between 5am and 9am on the day of the swim.  No need to tick the attendance sheet as the App does that for you.  As swimming with the B&B has become the coolest thing to do, using the App will reduce the queue for the sheets so you will never be late for the 7am call.

To get started, please send an email to Ian Forster (ugoboyo@gmail.com) requesting to have your account activated.  You will receive detailed instructions how to operate the system. No badge, but bragging rights for being an early adopter.  Happy ticking.

Badges, badges and more badges!!

Summer Badge season is just a couple of weeks away!! The sign of a committed ocean swimmer is a B&B 6km or 10km Summer Badge.  The 6km swims take place every Saturday in summer.  The first 10km swim is proposed to be held on 14 December.

Cleaning up the Bay

Michelle Sparkes is organising a Clean Up Cabbage Tree Bay Swim on 1 December. This foraging swim is being held to reduce the rubbish in the Bay with the aim is to protect the marine life from ingesting or becoming tangled in nasty plastic.

Have Fun more with the Pacific Challenge

Our website guru, Magnus Butlin has developed a fun new page which shows a different take on the Pacific Challenge. The new page shows each swimmer’s progress over the last week (or fortnight/month/two months) in terms of their position on the leader board.

The bumps chart can be accessed from the Pacific Challenge page via a button in the top right hand corner. Take a look and see how many people you have passed in the Pacific Challenge in the last few weeks:

http://www.faulconbridgesoftware.com/bb/pub/bumps.htm

The ‘divisions’ listed are the columns currently shown on the Pacific Challenge page. At this stage, only the first five columns (300 swimmers) are shown.

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.