Over 100 Bold & Beautiful swimmers, probably a record for a harbour swim!
(full stats will be uploaded later on today or tomorrow as Jules is away)
5 swimmers did the 6km swim
19 swimmers did the 10km swim
Brendan did 13km! 2 early trips to Shelly + the 10km
Nice conditions (that is if you pulled out before the last km!), flat in the harbour, cloudy but warm outside and water was very warm too.
Let’s first start by thanking the angels of the day, Maureen Rath and Annette Willow for the picnic and the logistic, and Robert and Karen Grozier and Yasmin Maksut for escorting the swimmers, and finally Dave for leading the pack! You guys did a terrific job and we all thank you for looking after us so well!
Maureen & Annette:
Karen & Robert:
There were over 100 swimmers who did the 1.5km to the Little Manly point and back to the East Esplanade. This is a little longer than the Shelly swim, so well done to all!
7:00am start:
24 people then decided to keep going, 5 of those did the 6km and 19 carried on to complete the 10km. It was a great swim, the harbour was flat and the water so warm.
Swimmers arriving at Quarantine Station beach:
Annette and Maureen were waiting for us at Q Station beach with plenty of drinks, food and smiles!
Did I mention the water was warm? Was it really Sheri?
Dave was in charge today and as per the photo below, the instructions were very clear “Try not to get to close to the ferry!” Dave you did a wonderful job, thank you!
Last kilometre under heavy rain, thunder and lightenings…
There is a river running across the beach!
Well done Champions!
The only incident to note today is Brendan’s injury. He was mauled by an oyster but kept going for 2 hours. Geez it is true what they say about the harbour, after James and his urchin encounter last week, we have Brendan and an oyster today!
And if you think you think you had a miserable last 30min of the siwm under the thunder, lightenings and heavy rain, check out what misery really looks like:
Air Temperature: 24
Sunrise: 6.05am
Sunset: 8.07pm
High Tide: 7.28am
Low Tide: 2.15pm
PS: if you noticed some frenglish sentences in this blog, it’s just because I (Gaetan) wrote it while Jules is away 🙂
19 comments
Anna Alvsdotter
January 21, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Mais c’est absolument magnifique, Gaetan. Merci pour le blog et les photos d’aujourd’hui.
I thought all of the 10km were lovely even though we did get a bit wet towards the end. But I do agree the enjoyment was due in large parts to the outstanding catering, love and care from our splendid support crew. Big thank you!!
Anna Alvsdotter
January 21, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Btw, David was our other oyster casualty, nearly needing his arm amputated, but being one of the brave B&B swimmers, he just carried on without regard for the pack of blood thirsty s#*%ks hot on his little waterlogged heals.
Robin T
January 21, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Thanks again Maureen and Annette and Rob and Karen. We couldn’t keep going without our picnic at halfway and it’s comforting to have guidance from the paddle board and kayak.
Great job on keeping us all on the straight and narrow Dave. That threat to make the excursion out off Quarantine 1km instead of 400m if there was any more complaining was inspired and needed.
Thanks for the company to the B&B 10km swimmers as well.
Tacomajim
January 21, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Well done, Salty Superheroes! And no echinoderm encounters! One must be careful when coming ashore on these adventure swims. Great photos, video and commentary, Gaetan.
Michael [EX CI]
January 21, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Well done everyone!!
Can I add my thanks to Maureen and Annette who are real angels and ‘pearls beyond price’. Your contribution is REALLY APPRECIATED by all of us who swim.
Also really appreciated were Bob and Karen and Yasmin accompanying us on craft. When the lightening was crashing and the rain was absolutely p*****g down, I thought as I swam along “now where would I really like not to be??” You all deserve a medal.
Lastly thanks to all who swam for your company and good cheer. Its what makes it fun and really worth doing.
On the subject of the stats. They are up. I only have 18 names for the 10k and so someone is missing. Please let me know on the blog and I will fix it.
Similarly with the 6k, I only have 3 names and I think there should be 5. So again please let me know on the blog and I’ll correct it.
ABSOLUTELY LAST, I have accidentally given all the 10k swimmers a credit for the 6k. It looked so nice on the attendance record that I left it for the moment. However don’t get too excited as I will probably change it back after discussion with the empress.
Michael [EX CI]
January 21, 2012 at 2:45 pm
I think it was the same oyster that got Brendan. I saw it behaving very aggressively and steered clear of it.
Michael [EX CI]
January 21, 2012 at 3:01 pm
I’m back again!!
We really all should thank Gaetan for a great job with the blog. Very well done with great photos and fabulous video.
Also to be thanked is Adolf H [Dave] Adams for taking control of the group. Even though he turned into a bit of distance Nazi, so we can be certain we did 10k. I personally would have been very upset if we had been 100m short, so the extra out to Flagstaff point to correct that was just what was needed!
Little Tiger
January 21, 2012 at 3:05 pm
I had to put in some of the ticks, I do believe I’m to blame for all the extra ones. Great job to all those who swam, the kayakers, standup paddlers & supporters. Lots of fun today, feeling great after a long hot shower.
Impressed by the help from the Quarantine staff. THANKYOU !!!
Michael [EX CI]
January 21, 2012 at 3:11 pm
BTW the water temperature was 24.4c!!!! YES!
For all those who doubt the veracity of my thermometer you will note that the offshore buoy is recording 24.2c.
Tired Sam
January 21, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Hear hear thanks Annette and Maureen, the worms and banana kept me going. The footage is great Gaetan!! Maybe I am the missing name from the 10k as I changed my mind after the 6k….
Anna Alvsdotter
January 21, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Re thanking Gaetan; sorry Michael, I forgot you don’t speak French 😉
Gerd
January 21, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Not quite sure if I really enjoyed the 10K, but I now I have got another batch which I can proudly wear back in Germany. A big thank to our leader Dave and the entire support crew. I never thought that I will swim 10K in my life.
And….probably now, a few hours later, I think I enjoyed 🙂
Neil
January 21, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Many thanks to all that supported the swim it is very comforting knowing someone is in command someone is watching and the cooks and welcoming committee are there rain and shine. Very enjoyable day.
Michael [EX CI]
January 21, 2012 at 5:32 pm
I don’t but I read it ok!
Sherieli
January 21, 2012 at 5:45 pm
A huge thanks to the water crew, Rob, Karen and Yasmin you guys did a great job making sure we were all ok!
And to Maureen and Annette first of all, thank you so much for the towel and blanket and hot cuppa – it definitely helped! And, secondly thanks for the refreshments you guys are great. Good luck with the Monavale swim tomorrow, here’s to great conditions 🙂
Thanks to everyone that made a special trip down to Q Beach to see us all too – big effort, especially my lovely husband, Princess Pete for looking after Brigitte so I could swim, and having a hot water bottle (which really was for warming B’s bottle if she needed it)
And last but not least, Dave thanks for leading us all. You did a great job.
Michael [EX CI]
January 21, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I think the missing name from the 10k swim is the chap 2nd from the left in the first photo of the group. I have an idea this may be Michael Winram. Can anyone confirm or reject???
Gaetan
January 21, 2012 at 9:11 pm
yes looks like him!
Pacific Jules
January 21, 2012 at 9:34 pm
A HUGE well done to everyone on today’s mammoth swim. Seems like you stormed it… Ok not funny, but I tried 😉
I did whistle and wave to you all from the ferry as I went past, just as Dave shouted lets go off the point as you were returning from the first lap. Yep I could hear ya Dave – great job, thank you !! 🙂
What a fantastic group of people we have amongst us. We really are soooo lucky, we’re never short of a lending hand regardless of the weather. Thank you to all the wet and supposed to be dry support crew today !!
Thanks heaps for writing such a great blog too Gaetan and thanks again in advance for tomorrow 🙂
Looks like it will be another harbour swim tomorrow as apparently there will still be lots of activity on the ocean side with the carnival.
Anyway, have a fab swim and see you all on Monday morning 🙂
Michael [EX CI]
January 21, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Sorry guys- Cleopatra says no! Only the 10k not 6k as well. Fair enough.