Body surfin, two dunks and some birthday brownies from Sara

Today was magnificent. I have a major buzz coming home today. The weather was perfect, waves lashing against the shore, the sea mist coming in and an air temp of about 6C which was higher than the water temp (more on that later). Sara, Joan, Ollie, Paul W and James huddled under the shelter of the cafe and prepared for the swim during which we were treated to some lyrical genious of a birthday limerick crafted by the cake bearing Sara.  I'm going to keep you in suspense...go and read it on the site....but suffice to say a dare was offered to go in without the clothes! Anyhow, no time for cakes and talking yet, we had to earn those goodies so we waddled across the dimly lit stones. I always wonder if the cars passing by above take a double look to see us heading out to sea. We sheltered by the right hand groyne and our lifeguard james kept track of air temperature. The gang went in with Ollie faffing, trying to run lengths of the beach to warm his body.  At that point James and Ollie were joined on the beach by a tall dark man appearing through the mist....Paul C !!  His unmistakeble deer hunter hat gave his silloutte away and once ready we made a charge for the sea.  I turned to see Paul W pull off a very worthy body surf, must have travelled 10 meteres or so until grounded by the waves.  There was a steep step down about 2metres from the shore.  Go over that and you were in, shoulders under, ridin' the waves!  A strong undertow kept us in check as we bobbed up and down like horses jumping over fences at the national. After about 10 mins we gathered back on the beach and took a water temp reading - a fabulous 2.5 degrees!!! We doused our feet with warm water. But then to the dare....Sara stripped down to the swimming cossie and off came the booties, we all looked the other way wondering when the shedding of layers would stop, but alas, you would have to be madder than a march hare to go any further, so at that point sara took the plunge and went for the body surf. Her plunge into the worlrd of no wetsuit! Completely exhilarated and on top of the world, we swaggered up the beach to the shelter of the cafe and had another rendition of the limerick and handed around the brownies.  And just for sara, right on cue, a fliy past from seven cormerants that we had booked earlier. Well done lads. A fine, lifeguard-assisted swim, an amazing chocolate brownie, good laughs and some surfin, I urge the rest of you to head down there, there is no better way to start the day.....next swim 7:30 Friday. 
...and murmours of a monday morning swim in the pipeline.
 

Sara's limerick for her own birthday:

There once was a swimmer named Sara,

Wore a wetsuit, she rarely went barer,

But today she's 46,

So it's time for new tricks,

Skinny dipping, go on, why not dare her!

Birthday girl Sara and assorted gang members

Birthday girl Sara and a change of photographer! (sun wasn't shining, its just the flash)

Other news and dates to look forward too for a cracking year ahead....
* Brighton Swimming Team (different from the well known Brighton Swimming club) contacted me to arrange joint swims and events so something to consider.
* I would like to gauge the group to see if you would like me to organise a meeting with a channel swimmer.  What it takes for the training, nutrition and mental strength etc. This can be completely informal and even over a coffee in the white cliffs cafe.
* Recruitment drive - this year I would like to add numbers to the club so we can have better events and get use of one of the beach huts.
* A new Social secetary - would anyone like to become a social secretary (in the loosest sense of the title) to organise the odd pub outing or curry night?  Doesn't have to be a serious effort at all but I failed at the first pub outing so maybe my skills aren't in the social sec side of things!
* Snow is on the way on long distance forecasts, if so, we have a professional photographer that wants to capture the group and give us some free pics for the site so watch out for that...
* April 6th - I would like to put this date out there for a full reunion or the club.  Come on down for the first mass swim although you are very welcome to join in before then.
* A saturday in June - I have been asked to organise a Swimming Gala for under 16s....all welcome and some novelty races for everyone to get involved.
* July - I'm keen to do a guest swim with the very friendly and like minded folks of Brighton Swimming club. This will be a 1km swim around Brighton Pier at 7:15 am.
* July/August - A Saltdean to Rottingdean 1 mile mass participation race coupled with a kayak race with the folks at Martlett Kayak Club.
* End of August - The now famous Saltdean to Marina swim
* A Saturday/Sunday in September - the chance to register a Saltdean - Marina - Saltdean time. 8 km - hopefully some guest appearances from Swim For Tri and East London Tri club
* Any other requests I'm more than happy to add to the calendar...

(written by Ollie)