Bringing your gloves lets you swim for longer

Yes indeed, the fantastic three arrived on Saltdean beach ready to do battle with a sea shrouded in a very heavy fog. Clearly (or not so clearly), venturing out too far was not going to be viable. And this was the way it turned out for me, as I quickly discovered I had forgotten my swimming gloves, so was unable to do much more than take a quick dip.  Oh dear! Instead it was left to Joan and Sara to do the honours, and they acquitted themselves admirably.

I am not sure what Sara got up to, she disappeared into the fog and Joan too seemed to venture slightly out of sight at times. So, I acted as coast guard keeping a watchful eye from the shoreline. A fly-by by eight cormorants in formation signalled all was well (unless I imagined that bit - it was a tad cold).

It was jam tarts for the hardy swimmers kindly supplied by Sara. All home-made. There then followed a rather interesting discussion about, er ... various things, that I have been told not to repeat here, as doing so would result in a "chinese burn" which, Sara informs me, is an art in which she is expert.

Gulp!

Swimmers: Joan, Sara and Paul C (watcher)

Time In: 7:07

Time Out: 7:25

Air Temp: 7C

Sea Temp: 7C

Found: Iron Hildi and Pete the Bike - missing since September 2010

A dull and drizzly morning witnessed the return of Ollie and warm water specialists Hildi and Pete. After much deliberation we all headed down to the beach and into the wet stuff. The tide was very, very low indeed, so much so it had practically disappeared. I, for one, just hoped there wasn't a tsunami on the way.

Ollie and Joan were the brave souls who skipped the wetsuit. Myself and Sara were the hardier swimmers who ventured out furthest and stayed in the longest. Pete and Hildi were perhaps the pluckiest by choosing to swim in temperatures ordinarily a long way outside their comfort zone.

There were no cormorants flying overhead today just a selection of gulls looking for some easy pickings. The waves were breaking a long way out, and whilst not that big, did make for a brisk swimming experience if you had your mouth open at the wrong time. The current was not strong, but ever-present, leading Sara to swim in diagonal lines with the hope she would be end up swimming straight.

All back in at various intervals during the next half hour where we enjoyed tea and carrot cake, generously provided by Joan. Many thanks.

There was talk of the big 8K swim later in the year, tentatively pencilled in for the first weekend in August. Pete suggested a swim down the River Cuckmere and into the open sea. Interestingly this was something I had actually planned to do myself at some point having first nutured the idea during a school field trip in the area many years ago. Watch this space.

I believe we will be reverting back to 7am starts next week now that the mornings are  becoming lighter and the opportunity for longer swims is now presenting itself.

Air temp: 7C

Sea temp: 7C

Swimmers: Ollie, Joan, Hildi, Sara, Pete and Joan

Time In: 7:24, Time Out: 7:59

"Ee-up lass, that's just champion!"

Pete indicating to Joan that he has finally managed to zip up

his wetsuit over his hot water bottle.

Ollie now regretting not bringing his.

How many SSF ladies does it require to take a photograph? :)

Sara demonstrating one of her chicken's attempt to fly :)

Joan promises an extra portion of carrot cake

to the first person to complete their swim

Looking forward to Spring swims

This morning was misty and chilly. A wispy watery haze blurred a giant sun struggling to reveal itself.  However a long tide on it's way  appeared to apologise for Wednesday's FURY, inviting us in as it made it's way up the shingle. Sara, Paul and Joan slowly negotiated their way through piles of submerged seaweed and into deeper water.  Birds, Birds, Birds! There were fulmars, common black headed, herring and blackbacked gulls, soaring overhead and numerous cormorants gracefully toing and froing in formation and swathes of beautiful red beaked, black and white oyster catchers skimming the surface infront, behind and overhead as they searched for new feeding gounds as the incoming tide washed over the rocks. Joan spotted 2 long necked grey birds in the distance (which Sara thought might be gannets or Brent geese of which large flocks had recently been spotted) dived as Sara pounded her way towards them unknowingly. After we had had our 'fill of the sea' Sara had her roll in the briny 'sans' wet suit and water temp. taken with a new piece of vital equipment - a thermometer with an attached string to ensure no more thermometer loss! An exhilarating and enjoyable morning's swim. See you next Wednesday. Ollie, us hardy ones swim in well below 1,2,3,4,.......... and that's not air temperature!

Air temp: 3 C
Sea water temp: 6.5 C
wind speed: 8 mph. E

Sara Paul Joan
In: 0720
Out: 0740

Sara completes her Channel swim,

Paul gets his toe stuck under a rock

It's a dirty job ...

A bright sunny morning with moderate wind speed, exhilirating wind-chill factor and a very restless sea. The three of us head down to the beach, mindful that perhaps today may not see us actually do any swimming, as those waves do look incredibly fierce. It is an easy decision to make, but body surfin' will be just as fun. Just then, we are greeted by the now traditional fly-by of comerants in V formation. The scene is set.

The tide is coming in, although not expected to reach its zenith until 9:30am according to Sara, who has an encyclopedic knowledge about these things. I go wading in, determined to show some steel in front of the ladies. I am promptly thrown back onto the shingle by the first wave I encounter. Undeterred, in I go again. I repeat this spectacle several times before Sara advises me "not to go in". Not much chance of getting past these waves, but I foolishly decide to try one last time.

It is at this point that the mother of all waves, certainly as tall as me, gathers up pace, pauses for a second as it rears up in size, then smashes down on top of me. I am thrown face first into the shingle, spun around several times before finally surfacing again, just in front of Joan, who looks visibly unimpressed. It is then I notice that this wave has deprived me of my goggles. Wow! That's some power. Obviously no hope of retrieving them. But we continue rolling around and surfing like children, thrown this way and that, up-down-side-to-side, laughing and joking. It is fun !!

Eventually we all decide to call it a morning and head back up the beach to get changed. As usual Sara reprises her role minus wetsuit. But Joan is looking for a volunteer to take sea temperature readings. Its a dirty job but Sara gamely obliges. Within seconds of getting into the sea this instrument is torn from her grasp by the angry waves. It is a stark reminder just how powerful the sea can be. The lost items can easily be replaced. Us human cannot.

See you Friday.

In: 7:24  Out: 7:49

Swimmers: Joan, Sara and Paul C

Air Temp: 7C

Sea Temp: Not recorded

Joan warming up in her dressing gown

Calm blue sea

Now you see it ...

Joan: Now don't lose it Sara, that thermometer was given to me by my great Uncle Bulgaria

Sara: (Yawn) Whatever.

Hi Sara, can you have a look for my goggles whilst you're out there? Thanks.

On your marks ... get set ... scarper !

I can feel something wibbly wobbly down here

Oh bugger, I've lost the thermometer

 Maybe if I pretend I've got a fiddler crab stuck in my swimsuit Joan will go easy on me

 

Pah! I send a girl to do a woman's job! I'm calling the coastguard.

 

The joy of swimming

A dank and drizzly morning, just the type of conditions that inspire SSF to do their stuff on a Friday. The usual suspects arrived as normal, suited themselves up  (except for Joan who does not own such an item) then headed out into the wet stuff. A little choppy with the usual garibaldi currents, but nothing to worry about. The tide still a couple of hours from its minimum: Sara and Joan's knowledge of up-to-the-minute tide tables is very impressive.

Sara and I debated whether the swim to France was a go-er, but again I had to be at work so we opted to leave this for another day. After some swimming between the groynes,  we floated like a couple of dead bodies staring up at the heavens whilst contemplating what the rest of SSF were missing. It was here that Sara stressed to me that my earlier references to albatross were clearly wrong as they do not inhabit these parts. The animal in question was probably a "Fulmar".

On swimming back to shore, something knocked deliberately against my right side. Turning around I could see nothing, so I could only speculate what it might have been: a conga eel ? A jellied eel maybe? A basking shark or even a mackeral? It will have to remain a mystery.

The sea is getter warmer, now a whopping 8.5C. Perfectly swimmable using a wetsuit. Really there are no excuses for anyone now. Summer is on its way.

In: 7:20am

Out: 7:50am (Sara in for a second swim).

Swimmers: Paul C, Joan and Sara

Jam tarts and a cup of tea

I was first to arrive - just - a shade ahead of Joan in her monster truck. Only three of us today, our leader Ollie is away in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Sara, Joan and myself congregated on the beach ahead of our traditional Wednesday morning swim. Temperatures climbing rapidly now, air temp is 8C and the sea was 6C, which means the hardcore temps (40F = 4.4C) are now at an end for the season. All gets warmer from here on out.

Conversation started between Joan and Sara regarding massages and the use of "wibbly-wobbly" things. I have to confess that my ear plugs were half way in at this point, and whilst I hastily attempted to remove them (this was difficult as I had my swimming gloves on), I fear I missed the remainder and the context of the conversation, so must remain blissfully intrigued....

Straight into the sea, almost low-tide so a long trek out to some deeper water. A little bit chilly, some brisk waves and quite a dragging sort of sideways current. Sara headed off to France though I was in two minds as to whether I should follow her. Problem was that I had forgotten my nose clip (due to earlier distractions) and also needed to be at work by 9:30am latest, so I wasn't so sure I could get back across the Channel in time. Sara obviously had similar concerns because she turned back after around a mile or two. Actually the sea temperature is not too bad, quite swimmable in a wetsuit.

We all floated for a bit and stared at the heavens. No morning sun, although there were a flock of cormorants and a friendly albatross stopped by to say hello. Around 25 minutes later we all headed in and enjoyed some of Sara's home-made jam tarts and cups of tea. Sara headed back in sans wetsuit, but I felt no inclination to do so as I needed to be at work by 9:30 sharp. We agreed to move the start time to 7:15am going forwards as the mornings are getting noticeably lighter now that Spring is on its way.

Time In: 7:35

Time Out: 7:59

Swimmers: Sara, Joan and Paul C

Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!

Quick, someone talk me out of it

Shoulders under

I've actually had enough but can't get out

Now I would walk 500 miles, then I would walk 500 more

Oh dear, I'm turning into a block of ice

Joan thawing out a frozen Sara

Hallucination anyone?

This morning was a little cold and damp, a persistent southerly wind added a chill factor and a slightly hardcore element to the impending swim as the four of us met at the tunnel and swaggered on to the beach.  Sara, Joan, Paul C and Ollie came to a stop beside the western groyne and surveyed the sea (yes, Paul C was there bang on time!).  A brown, mirky garibaldi sea (with currents in – thanks to Sara for the definition) that presented 2-3 ft waves.  The tide was half in so at its fastest, clawing itself up the beach with every wave.  Joan was having none of it, and tore off down the beach, first in and then the three remaining went in slowly with Ollie squawking like one of Sara’s chickens as the water rose above his thighs! It was chilly, later tests showed it as 5 degs, a 1.5 deg rise from Monday.  How can this be?  Well, after a bit of chat we learned form our own Yoda that due to the southerly winds the sea has warmed slightly even in as short a time as 2 days.  It didn’t feel that warm but the mercury never lies!!!!  Sara and Paul set off into the wind being a little wary of the swell and tidal currents, whilst Joan and Ollie began discussing the finer things you can get up to in Singapore. Wonderful chat over a plummeting body temp.  then I went in to get dressed and some time later we all re-grouped on the beach.  Paul and Sara went in again without suit to get a final blast.  I was trying to explain how the cold feels when in longer than a dip – perhaps this is better articulated in the blog so here goes…. Upon entry you think this is bloody freezing. After 1 minute you think this is intolerable.  After 2 mins you begin to numb to the cold.  After 3 mins your heart settles and you relax.  After 4 mins you forget the cold and take in the beauty of it.  After 5 minutes you start to feel cold.  After 6 mins you think can I grab 1 more minute before I have to go in.  possibly not, as after 7 minutes I’m usually on the beach.  Sometimes I don’t get to 7 minutes!  You’ll have to ask Joan what happens at minutes 8, 9 and 10, as I just haven’t been there.  Halucination perhaps?  Tea and chat then played out, incorporating alternative careers for people in the pharmaceutical industry,  summer garden parties, swimming coaching in the endless pool and an xmas bash.  I was very close to title’ing this one J£sus my nuts are freezing, but went for the more gentle philosophical debate on hallucination at cold temperatures. 

 

Swimmers: Ollie, Joan, Sara and Paul C

In: 7:35  Out: 7:55 after two dips!

(words contributed by Ollie, video by Joan)

Cold water training part 1

Cold water training part 2

Cold water training part 3

Cold water training part 4

Cold water training part 5

A birthday swim puts the cold into Winter

I had made a New Year's resolution to be, if not early, then on-time. But alas, I continue to arrive late and today was no exception. There was a good birthday turn-out for both myself and Paul W. Having struggled to overcome a rather debilitating bout of man-flu these past 10 days (couldn't even use the remote control at one point), I had convinced myself that I would not be joining the ranks of the hardcore elite today despite it becoming customary to do so. However, air temp was 1C, sea temp 2.5C, no wind, overcast but otherwise perfect conditions for shedding the wetsuit.

On the beach the crowd consisted of: Paul W, James, Helen, Ollie, Sara and Joan in various states of preparedness. My birthday colleague Paul W was actually not immediately present, but was instead running up and down the beach in his wetsuit attempting to get warm for the ordeal ahead. I had not the time for any such luxury so, after a couple of false starts headed in to join the others. Sara and Joan, as always, were very impressive. Sara heading straight out to sea, Joan swimming towards the east groyne. And young James went in, which was highly commendable given the sea temperature. Paul W and Ollie amused themselves nearer the shore. I gave chase to Sara who was, by this time turning  and heading back in. "On your last birthday did you expect to be doing this today?" asked Sara helpfully. "No", I replied between coughing fits, "not any day. Sure is nice though". After around 10 minutes of this, I decided to err on the side of safety and headed back in, with Sara following.

Now I do remember lemon drizzle cake, chocolate brownies, tea, limericks and going back into the sea without a wetsuit on. But I just cannot remember the order in which it all happened. However, I do recall Sara leading the charge and encouraging me to be honourable and do likewise - sans wetsuit. There was an expectant look in the eyes of those present, so despite my misgivings I opted to do my duty, praying that I wouldn't require a pickle jar to store any bits of me that subsequently fell off.  There then followed the spectacle of myself cavorting and contorting on the stones as I struggled vainly to remove my neoprene body armour. And by the time I had, Sara was back out. Hmmm, OK, so I have to do this thing solo. Well, I did go in and have the photographs to prove it. Thank you to young James for doing the honours, he is a fine photographer in the making and took some great images - far better than mine.

All in all, a great birthday swim. Thank you everyone for the cards, cake and kindness and making it a great day. Really appreciated. Ah yes, we must not forget the birthday limericks from Sara the Water Weasel. Firstly Paul W:

There was a triathlete named Paul,

Well hung and terribly tall,

At least that's what he'd say,

We will find out one day,

When he's swimming with no trunks at all !

Oh I say vicar ! ... next up is Paul C:

There once was a swimmer named Paul,

He'd improved in no time at all,

But we'd learnt to scoff,

At his threats to strip off,

Freezing sea round his balls did not call !

Cheeky ! ... Finally, the evidence - some photographs of our big day !

Ollie rehearsing for his upcoming X-Factor audition

Ollie wondering if the sea feels less cold if you clench your buttocks hard

Look at the size of that wave, maybe I shouldn't risk it?

Does it still count if I don't put my shoulders under?

Certain bits of me have just disappeared, and I am not talking about the sharks.

Try and look natural Paul, there are ladies present

Just take the photo kid - I can't hold my stomach in much longer!