15/09/2012 – Ring of Luck

Over 130 Bold & Beautiful swimmers

Enjoy another magnificent morning with absolutely perfect swimming conditions !!

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Everyone gathered at the point to form a ring of luck for Ben to be encompassed by as he starts the final part of his 15 month journey towards France.  Ben is heading off to Dover this week, to climatise for a couple of days before he takes on
his solo English Channel Crossing on 23rd September (or thereabout, weather permitting).

Ben’s purpose for this epic challenge is to raise money for Opportunity International Australia.  Where the money is lent in very small loans (~$100) to women in India and the Philippines, and training provided to assist them to start and run small businesses so they can support their families and provide education and better
standards for the next generation.  It’s a hand-up, not a hand out.  They repay the loans (97% repayment rate) which are then recycled.

GOOD LUCK TO BEN & COLLIE who’s still over there waiting for a break in the weather, we are all willing you to France, every stroke of the way when you can deservedly celebrate with Annette’s Maureen’s and Nicolee’s beer coasters at the end with a nice cold beer or three !!

You can follow Ben’s progress via Twitter @nuttybutnicely  On Facebook here  Or follow the boat’s progress via live GPS here

Just love these beautiful days, they make taking photographs so much easier, everything just looks lovely with the sun shinning on it.

The water’s clear, calm and stinger free, so no excuses not to come down tomorrow to be part of the photo shoot for the Telegraph commercial as part of our regular swim 🙂

Manly Relay for Life is on at Keirle Park starting today at 2pm, where 15 of us are
participating in a B&B team to walk for 18 hours around the park to raise funds and awareness for cancer
research.   So please come down any time to keep us company, enjoy the fancy dress… or if you’d like to sponsor us for this great cause please do so HERE thank you.

Russell M forwarded on this interesting article in the Telegraph on why it’s the time
of year when a dip in the sea is more likely to bring an “Oh My God!”
than an “Aaaaaah, that’s lovely.” To
view it click here

Leisa took my Mother out for some sneaky swimming yesterday afternoon, Leisa has some hidden talents, she managed to get Joan to swim all the way from Half Way Beach to Shelly… Fantastic achievement Leisa, oh and not a bad effort Mum 😉

• Next monthly B&B special $20 Bluewater dinner is on Monday 24th September, bookings are essential so please book in here asap.

• October’s monthly happy hour drinks and nibbles at Murray’s is on Wed 10th Oct, so please rsvp here and come and join in the fun.

Water Temperature 16.5
Air Temperature 10.0
Sunrise 5.54am
Sunset 5.47pm
High Tide: 7.22am
Low Tide: 1.18pm

To read Michael’s tips on how to stay safe in the surf please click here

James Pittar is celebrating 20 years of The Fred Hollows Foundation by swimming 20kms, with 20 swimmers, to raise $20k !!

Some of you may know James Pittar, he’s a blind guy who has completed
many challenging marathon ocean swims.  James is a local guy, living in
Seaforth with his wife and daughter.  James is undertaking a huge swim
solo from Collaroy-Manly on Sunday 23rd
September to raise money for the Fred Hollows
Foundation.

Yep that’s right; a blind swimmer, swimming offshore, to raise money to bring sight to others !!
James
has organised this himself with very limited support.  19 swimmers,
including a couple of B&B swimmers, Fiona and Oliver, have already
signed to help James with a
commitment of raising $1,000 each and joining James in final 2kms of his
swim from
Shelly to Queenscliff, finishing at North Steyne.

James has said he would dearly
lovely to also be accompanied by an additional sea of pink B&B caps,
following on behind for those last 2kms !  James plans
to arrive into Shelly Beach at 11.30am, conditions permitting.  So if
all interested swimmers could please arrive at Shelly by 11am in order
to join James in the water at 11.30, hopefully arriving at North Steyne
SLSC ~12.30pm where the Foundation and North Steyne SLSC will have a BBQ
ready to feed all hungry swimmers !

PLEASE COME DOWN AND SUPPORT JAMES, it would be great to see lots of you there.   Also, if you would like to donate to James’ efforts and support this great cause, please do so here at James’ fundraising page.