Monday 12 May 2014 – Sylvia said, “I know the names but can you please fill in the gaps”

Meet Sylvia (originally from Sth Aftrica) who drives almost every day from St Ives with her husband Reg. They swim at 6.20am so they can return to the beach with the Drinks express before heading off to work before 7.30am. Sylvia loves the blog and its characters but she told me, “I know the names but can you please fill in the gaps. I always leave early so never get a chance to meet them “.

 

Hear is Reg and Bruce (who also swim with Sylvia).

 

I met Sylvia at Kathryn Jackson’s teary farewell last week. Here is Kathryn with Clare & baby Macguire who featured in the blog “Drinky where are you?” earlier this year.

So Sylvia, today’s blog aims to “fill in some of the gaps for you”.

You are not alone in reading the B&B blog, since Jan 2014 it has accessed at least once by over 45,500 people from 20 countries!!

We’ll start with the 7am A-Team racers. Meet the Spaniard, Marc Pasques from Barcelona, 2013 Spanish Surf Lifesaving NationaL Iron Man Champion. The Spaniard is hard to beat especially in his wetsuit. BTW Marc is currently in Columbia with a Mennonite Peace Delegation.

Incidently Kathryn Jackson is touring South America on her way back to Sth Africa and hopes to meet up with the Spaniard in Columbia.

 

Meet Sean Daly possibly the fastest (no wetsuit) swimmer (but he only swims with B&B onThurdays), he podiums in numerous Ocean swims each year , e.g. Terrigal & Nth Steyne.

 

The Bishop, Thursday Blogger, Tim Giovanelli, a 400m specialist who often wins gold @7am.

 

Scotty Mellis (won gold this morning by a whisker), teaches at Stella Maris College Manly.

 

Irish Alex won Silver today.

 

The girls in the A team push the pace and podium when they so choose, here is their moto>>

 

Meet speedster and swimmer of the day Kara Clarke. Kara can turn on the speed at will as she competed in the final of the 200m backstroke Australian swimming championships mulitple times. Here’s Kara keeping warm with Ali Kruger.

Many try to keep up with Swedish Sarah seen here on a Swedish podium (in red) with Malin (also a B&Ber in white)

 

 

Sophie Coombs has also won gold at 7am and is The Sydney Wedding Celebrate in another part of her busy life.

 

David Panton, put his age down to 43yrs in the recent Byron Bay swim to give John Paul & Sterling an even chance.

John Paul & Sterling use Body Glide or wetsuits to gain an advantage in the 7am race.

 

Syvlia, here are some other B& B characters for you to meet:

Bernhard & Mariah

 

Drinks Express Queen and early (5.30 or 6am)  swimmer with a light legend Fiona aka Madam Bikram (I’ll explain the aka another time).

 

Vanessa Wilton and family whose daughter, Bella,  recently won the u16 Billabong Oz Grom surfing championship.

Adam Moore (real estate agent) who some how convinced Sabine to swim with him at 6.30 this morning.

Rob Rowe and Ali are also Drinks regulars 

For those who slept in here are Storch’s notes for this morning’s 6-7am free Booty Camp. Whose tummies can you recognise?

Photogapher Ollie Friedman captured this sun burst shot of the 7am crew for me, thanks Ollie.

 

 

Along with Sterling, John Paul & Dave Panton, a contingent of B&Bers swam in the 2.5km Byron Bay Swim on 4 May, including Julie, Sandy Jenny, Simon, Rob & Bruce seen below as well as John Forster, John Bryan, Brett Riddington and others…sorry if I missed your name.  Everyone should put The Byron swim, held on the 1st Sunday of May each year, on their bucket list, a great swim and fantastic pre-winter holiday distination .

Have a great week everyone!!

Simon (seen here in full flight towards the Byron finish line).

 

Stats:

Swimmers: at least 55

Newbs: 3

Water temp: 21.2 deg C

Tomorrow’s Sunrise: 6.38am

Tomorrow’s Tides: Hi-6.55am (1.51m) (good chance for Scotty’s Passage), Lo-12.53pm (0.45m)

 

B&B i-Log

Really if you haven’t been using the B&B i-Log then you must be new!! Almost 75% of swimmers are now using the B&B i-Log. 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

We have had seen the return of some serious waves and rips this past week! Were you prepared? 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.