Friday 4 February 2019 ever changing – today is foggy Friday

The sea is different everyday in some way. There have been some big waves, strong currents, very cold water as well as sun and sand. And we cope by adapting according to our own ability. It has been hard for everyone to do summer badge swims though. Today there was a whiteout – after we set off at 7 am, a sea mist came over. We could not see anything. Some people swam true to Shelly and some swam out to the horizon or where it should be

The title today comes from newbie Winnie who with Belinda who had their first swim today at Shelly but usually swim at North Sydney pool which is nice. They nailed it. Wow. We have some fabulous people swimming with Bold and  Beautiful.

Newbies Belinda and Winnie – nailed it

 

And for Craig it was the double whammy – Craig’s birthday (in black Speedos) with his entourage as well as his 500k!

 

happy birthday Craig

 

The temp was a bit better today than it has been (below 17 some days!)

 

Our inner west reps

 

Graaant and (I forgot)

Henrietta greeting some newbies. Welcome. What a day you picked

Here we have a swimmer from Wagga Wagga who is doing a comparative study between South Steyne and Wagga Beach (where I have been). Welcome to you! your brother gave you a good recommendation

 

Danny and Michael

 

These guys are proficient ocean swimmers and not learners like me. There is room for us all.

A cantoo graduate swimming with BB like many of us incl me.

My former next door neighbour from Lane Cove Mario – also a former cantoo – whose swim buddies moved to Bowral etc and then realised that it is too far for the swim. Lucky he has lots of others to swim with!

Jason and Rob

Swim out in the fog says Michael – swimer is thinking I don’t think so

Craig’s surprise entourage – swimming to celebrate his birthday and 500K. Now they will be addicted too

Encounters with early swimmers

Here is my acquaintance Bronwyn in wetsuit with another swimmer. Bronwyn is able to tell what the conditions are before getting in! That is my objective

The in-demand shower scene

Off we go

See the change as we enter – the background quickly disappeared

Out in the water, you could not see very far

I could see plastic though

Finally at Shelly – it was clear

in the water

Lucky Winnie and Belinda had their first swim when Michelle was in the country – lovely photo. Michelle and the others had been to the bower. In that mist!

On the way back

Here is a swimmer who was on the wrong course

So it was not my goggles after all

Also

It used to be that you could not tick for a double at all and bolder dash before December, and then there was a limit on who could get a triple badge, but all that changed. So wouldn’t it be a good idea to change summer badges to Spring-Summer badges so you can do your 6 km swim when it is calm and nice?

What a good idea

 

 

Management  notices

Swimmers 780

newbies lots

 

 

SUMMER SWIMS

As the Summer long distance swimming season approaches, it seems appropriate to explain what it takes to earn a Summer badge. Three long distance swims are on offer:

• The 6 km swims are held every summer Saturday morning starting with the 7 amswim. The first 6 km swim was on on Saturday 1^stDecember and happen very Saturday
• There is a 10 km swim once a month over summer also starting with the 7 amswim. Dates for these will be announced in the blog. The next will be announced ASAP
• If these swims are too long for you, you can try a Triple Manly to Shelly swim any day during Summer (distance 3.5 km) from 6.30or 7 am.

‘Try a Triple’.  Do the Manly to Shelley return swim 3 times non-stop and earn a triple badge.

Please note, Badges will be awarded to swimmers completing any and/or all of the 3 swims at the times and dates stated above and throughout the Summer months.

You will earn a badge if you complete these swims and log them in iLog. The system will only record authorised 6K or 10K swims that are logged on the appropriate days. Badges will be presented at the Summer Badge Ceremony in March. If you are unsure of the routes and protocols for these swims, please ask at the desk before you swim. When swimming these longer distances, we request that, for safety reasons, you stay with the group. We also request that you do not swim in dangerous conditions. The quest for a little cloth badge is not worth putting your life at risk. Enjoy your swimming

 

Operation Crayweed Grass planting in Cabbage Tree Bay

If you are interested in supporting/assisting this initiative by way of signing up to be a CV (Citizen Volunteer) please read on.

The SIMS (Sydney Institute of Marine Science) Project Team expect to start the preparation work in late January and in February.

Assistance could take the form of on-land prepping as well as snorkeling assistance helping the netting get secured etc. SIMS/U.NSW do however have strict compliance paperwork to be prepared/signed off on before commencing such assistance.

If you are interested in becoming a CV to help the marine regeneration initiative could you please send your full name, mobile number and email to Dorset Sutton (Project Sponsor) at suttondorset@gmail.com.

Dorset will forward you by email the paperwork required to be completed. At this stage actual prep/dive dates are not know, but we are interested in seeing how many potential CV’s we’ll have.

Forms will also be available at B&B Board each morning at our swim.  See Dorset at the swim.

 

 

 

 

 

What I have been reading

I am reading Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly.

Also, Being summer, I saw the documentary Aaquaman ( that’s how they say it). It follows the same plot as Barbie’s A Mermaid Tale  ( not that fluff Mermadia). It has curious casting choices like Nicole Kidman asthe Queen of Atlantis who has zero chemistry with the light house keeper with whom she conceives Aaquaman himself. But maybe it was because she is as inanimate as Barbie.