Thursday 27 December 2018: Happy 10th birthday Bold and Beautiful

It was Boxing Day in 2008, a group of six ladies met for breakfast at Bluewater Cafe to talk about Christmas and their plans for the new year.  The ladies talked about getting fitter and how they would love to swim in the ocean but were afraid to.  One of the members, Julie Isbill was a proficient ocean swimmer being a past winner of the Roughwater Classic, a 10km swim from Bondi, around South Head to Watsons Bay.  She offered to go with the ladies and help them gain confidence in the water.  They would meet at the Manly Surf Lifesaving Club at 7am the following day, December 27.  The ladies loved it and agreed they would meet again the following morning.  A few more friends joined them, followed by a few more and a few more.

The original five women who swam with Julie 10 years ago to start the B&B daily swim were at Manly Beach today to celebrate the 10 year anniversary.

Within a few weeks the group of five had grown to these, many of whom still swim today (this image was one of the early group photos of B&B swimmers).

Some of that group were at the beach this morning.

Today the group swelled to 680, with 25 new swimmers tackling the waves for the first time.  Who would have thought that from five friends swimming with Julie til today more than 10,000 people would swim with Bold and Beautiful.  There are three official groups each morning, one leaves at 6am, 6.30am but the biggest group leaves at 7am.  Everyone waits at the point for a “Lets Go” and off we swim to Shelly Beach, wait for the last swimmer and then with a “Lets Go” its back to Manly we go.

Every day, no matter the temperature or conditions swimmers embark on the journey.  If there’s bluebottles or conditions are too rough at Manly then alternative plans are made.  Safety is always the most important feature and we are always told to swim within our means and if we are unsure then go from half way or even Shelly Beach.

Over 10 years there’s been hundreds of sea life encounters, a pilot whale, dolphins, grey nurse sharks, turtles, eagle rays, cuttlefish, Port Jacksons, Dusky Whalers to name a few.

Today we celebrated Bold and Beautiful celebrated its birthday in style, with the five original swimmers joining us at Manly Beach for the 7am swim. 

Celebrations at Shelly Beach for some of the first B&B swimmers.

We even had cake, thanks Mary and to everyone else who contributed to the morning.

Anne tried to take a group shot off the point, but the waves made it quite difficult.

Unfortunately I have had trouble with my card reader so should be able to post some more great shots tomorrow.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to today and congratulations B&B on 10 years swimming every day.

Management notices

Temperature:  21.3
Newbies:          25
Total swimmers:  680

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.