“Beach Closed”. Challenging surf conditions greeted us this morning.
Some caught a rip around to The Point as shown in this photo:
… while most walked around to the steps at half way:
A few fun splashes kept us on our toes (or holding tightly to the rail!):
… and we bobbed, rocked and rode the chop over to Shelley Beach:
Even the A-Team discussed their route back. Your own safety in the water is paramount!
The splash half covered my lens as I was taking this photo:
“Images in the mirror are closer than they appear” – the waves were a lot bigger than they look here!
After a year this is my final Bold & Beautiful blog as I’m moving from Sydney. I’ve had a great time! Merry Christmas everyone!
Anna Bananna 😀
Stats
195 swimmers
11 newbies (well done!)
21.1 degrees
B&B Notice Board
2016 Calendars
The 2016 B&B calendars are now on sale. Get your copy from Ian any day at the swim, or order online HERE. They make a great Christmas gift for family and friends, here or overseas. This year the calendars are even more impressive in a larger A3 format, all for the same cost as last year – just $15 each.
Parking
B&B members do not have permission to park in any car spot or bay that belongs to the surf club. Please adhere to this rule. There is plenty of parking in the Council car park at no charge to you.
Summer Badges
There are now three badges available for those swimming in summer:
# 1: Saturday 5 December kicked off the 6 km summer badge swims. These are on every Saturday during summer.
# 2: There is one 10 km swim in December, February and March 2015/16. The first 10 km swim was on Saturday 12 December. Watch the blog for details of the second 10 km swim, to be held in February.
# 3: Our new badge, the Shelly Triple, involves a triple lap of Cabbage Tree Bay (i.e. swim to Shelly Beach and back to The Point three times – total 3.5 km). This swim can be completed any day and should be logged on the i-log system. Since this is designed for those who are unable (or unwilling) to do the longer swims, this badge is only available to those who haven’t completed a 6 km or 10 km swim during the season.
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. Also, if you have a bit more experience, keep an eye out for new swimmers who might need company. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
18 comments
roger
26/12/2015 at 11:24 am
Good luck with your new teaching position down south next year, Banana … wishing you a happy and successful year – and career 🙂
Snorkles
26/12/2015 at 11:27 am
Thanks Anna for being part of the blog team!!!
Great photos of half way – calendar shots for sure!!
DWSS
26/12/2015 at 12:01 pm
Great Blog Anna, thank you. You have done some fantastic blogs in your time.
We all appreciate that you have given up your time.
We wish you all the best and don’t forget to come back and visit.
Richard
26/12/2015 at 12:14 pm
Spoke with the life guards thismorning who needed to rescue 2 Swimmers after Closing the beach and asking B and B not to swim from the Club. not happy campers ‘one in all in’ I think we need to listen to the life guards if they ask the BNB not to swim from the beach (despite what abilities we have) we should all follow suit and go across to Shelly of half way. If you are a strong swimmer and want to run the gauntlet do so but use another cap and go at 630 or 730 so the group continues to fly under the radar. the life guards will be approaching Council about today. Not everyone is going to agree = but a consequence could be the council could ask the Bold and beautiful to provide hired life guards and some other expensive regulatory requirements like they did 15 years ago if anyone remembers the shelly beach Biathalon run by Barry Golding and Brian Dale which killed the weekly Friday night swim/ run.
Tim
26/12/2015 at 12:34 pm
Thanks for blogging!
I think a firm talk about the risks and options needs to be given on a day like today before the swim. Also that we need to swim as a group and not do whatever the crap people were doing today floating around and leaving Shelley when they wanted to.
Bootycampbuffman
26/12/2015 at 1:45 pm
Love your blogs Anna ! It’s been great having on the blogging team,but who will fill your empty banana peel ??
Good luck with your new teaching posting !
Btw I agree ! we shouldn’t put anybody at risk for the sake of a swim !
Cya
Buffy
Jenny Holmes
26/12/2015 at 3:16 pm
As we need and appreciate help from the life guards when in strife, I too believe that we (B&B) should respect the judgement of the life guards and not go in or out through the surf when they declare the beach closed. We don’t want or need a bad reputation for disobedience or to damage our relationship with them, MLSC or the public – or put life guards at unnecessary risk. Some people weren’t aware that the beach was closed. Sometimes we can over-estimate our ability and under-estimate the strength of the current and I feel sorry for the people who needed rescuing. It would be a shame to jeopardise something as fun and worthwhile as B&B. I can hardly imagine life without it now!
Mike Crawford
26/12/2015 at 5:23 pm
Having been involved in organizing many ocean swims and have swum in many more ocean swims events,one simple rule applies .When the professional lifeguards close the beach the event is called off. Why do some in B&B feel they are exempt from this common sense rule?
Elizabeth X
26/12/2015 at 7:21 pm
Agree, great pics and thanks for your energy in blogging for us
Elizabeth X
26/12/2015 at 7:28 pm
Unfortunately this time of year and Boxing Day in particular is notorious for King tides and big waves. That combined with the enthusiasm of summer and holidays bringing people that aren’t regulars out to play can be a bad combination.
I know that part of the problem today was an asthma attack, not just the size of the surf and that other pink cappers were on hand to help
I wonder if we can take the initiative to suggest some procedures that might circumvent situations like this in the future and present them to the Lifeguards/ council so that we show we take their concerns and safety seriously and also so that a response is not too draconian to the detriment of our wonderful group/swim
Elizabeth X
26/12/2015 at 7:31 pm
Just as not all moslems are terrorists also not all B&Bers feel they are exempt. More often than not we all swim to our abilities by going in from half-way or Shelley. Some who do go out in the rough surf are as strong or perhaps stronger than the Lifeguards and know the risks they are taking and accept the responsibility. Its a shame to tar the whole group because of an unfortunate incident
Barry
26/12/2015 at 9:14 pm
The first photo highlights the fact that the beach was closed and almost glorifies the fact that people still swam.
I wasn’t there this morning but this is deplorable behaviour. Boxing Day in particular ‘notorious for King tides and big waves’?! Simply untrue.
If you’re going to swim when the professionals are saying do not, take your pink cap off before this wonderful community group is painted as a bunch of irresponsible ocean users setting a terrible example for children, tourists and inexperienced swimmers.
richard
26/12/2015 at 9:48 pm
Elizabeth during your bronze didn’t they teach you that the Council life guards have the final say in regard to the safety of the beach. you seem to be suggesting that if you are a good swimmer and you are wearing a pink Cap that you don’t have to listen to the life guards, as an individual you can swim at your own risk / when you have a pink cap on you have a higher level of responsibility as you are now part of a group.. The fact that most swimmers do look up to the better swimmers in the group and that some swimmers will follow their example/Leed = If they are going to run the gauntlet so might others who are not as capable. If the beach is closed and the lifeguards have asked us not to swim on the front beach as a group, maybe those that are, use another cap and swim at a slightly different time so their is no comeback on The PINK caps.
Ian The slower
27/12/2015 at 4:37 pm
did anyone else notice that soon after the BandB swimmers were all back at Manly LSC, that a Manly LSC bunch of 15 + competitors with fluoro pink comp vets, swam out in the rip and back with the surf numerous times under the same beach closed conditions with no apparent water safety arrangements (no IRB ready, no jetski ready, no rescue tubes apparent and still only two lifeguards there setting up the beach) – basically the same routes in and out followed by a few BandBers.
Who does ,Beach Closed’ apply to? Is it a universal edict or not?
Elizabeth X
27/12/2015 at 7:47 pm
No that’s not what I am suggesting at all Richard and there is no need to mock my efforts to do something to help the community. Please take further misinterpretations and accusations etc offline and don’t air them on the blog
Elizabeth X
27/12/2015 at 8:10 pm
I am not sure that the interpretation that there is a glorification is correct and that is the complete opposite of all my experiences with the group and what’s written on the bottom of every daily blog. The blog clearly says that most people went from half way and I know some went in and out from Shelly. The second pic shows only a small number going around The Point.
I believe my comment re dangerous conditions often at this time of year is factual so don’t appreciate being publicly called a liar. Am happy to talk to you offline about this.
I think most of us are in violent agreement that we want the best for the wonderful group which is usually extremely responsible and self regulating. In my experience its one of the really fab things about the group the way some always look out for others.
Elizabeth X
27/12/2015 at 8:11 pm
Ian I have an interesting insight re this. Catch me at the swim and I will let you know. Thx
Camille
28/12/2015 at 3:40 pm
Ian the people who were involve in the rescue were competitors from Manly Lsc , they helped Manly lifeguards. They performed a mass rescue putting themselves at risk . I would be thankful that they were actually here training .
It’s part of their training to train in those conditions and it is supervised and authorised by coach and lifeguards beforehand .