A little bit of stress reduction

Hildi down to swim but Ollie in running kit. No sign of Joan, Sara, Emma or Paul (at least not before 7), and sea a bit rough to risk a solo swim to the buoy. Sat on the beach discussing the stress of modern life. Enjoyed the friendship and the wind in our hair. Hopefully regroup for a swim next Wed and hope for a return of the calm (weather and life) soon.

Ironman at last

Hildi too tired and it too complicated with polly's swimming to get down today to show off her first place ladies 40-49 trophy, but Pete there displaying his Forestman medal. At last, an Ironman! Now perhaps he can relax and enjoy the sea! Well done to all and hope all Wednesday swimmers enjoyed it.

The taper

Friday 22 June. Hildi and Pete getting ready for the Forestman and Sara for a relay. No swim for us although I believe others went in.

A Turn on the Buoy

Eight swimmers and two cyclists comprised today's turn out. Ollie there to organise and inspire (I still haven't located my deputy's yellow hat) after his cycle, but unable to lead us into the briny due to an attack of the 'Pete's' (a cold). Some discussion about whether fishing boats are allowed into the swimming area as we have seen this now on a number of occasions both morning and afternoon. Does anyone know? The memory of last year's fishing net entanglement still haunts some of us. Domino off on the under cliff while the rest of us entered the still blue water.

Low tide, just turned to make its way in. A long walk out to the easterly buoy but we were rewarded with beautiful water and a clear swim out to the easterly far corner. Emma nervous but swam there and back in company with Pete. Pete no doubt gaining pre ironman reassurance that he is not the slowest swimmer in the world and Emma gaining in confidence with every swim. From there a journey to the outer buoy where Sharon gave pre race coaching on turning round the buoy. The buoy which did indeed have a (I was reliably informed by Sarah) turn sitting atop it before it flew off. A few more laps and turn practice between these two buoys for Hildi and Sharon while Sarah and Alex unable to resist going further towards the sunrise to the 'outer limits' buoy. Hildi and Sharon having finished their technical work also lured out there to meet them and then a companionable swim back, meeting Pete on the way.

Dressing in sunshine and some of us a later start than usual so sloppy time keeping. Please let this be the start of summer!!!

Swimmers: Hildi, Alex, Sarah (suited for health reasons) Sharon (suited -for speed?), Emma, Pete, Stefan, Joan.
Time in: 7:00 
Time out: 7:50
Temperature: 15

Energy!

Hildi arrived at the beach having skipped her run and still yawning. Having lost her yoda last night swimming with Brighton Swimming Club (long story involving children getting wet and having nothing to wear home) she was feeling a bit out of sorts. We like our routines and our security blankets! Sea was bouncy and weather cloudy. Paul and Alex also present and Hildi suggested out to the west inner buoy and maybe widths of the inners from there. Paul still wobbly so in the end he opted for an extended warm up with Joan while Hildi and the Portuguese man of war ventured out for a good half hour swim. The sea was energetic and transferibg its energy to us. We would have stayed out longer as it was so lovely but Alex had an indigestion attack so we came in for safety. A big burp and he felt better - I'm sure he'll love me for saying that! Paul off to work and Hildi, Alex and Koan more leisurely dressing. Swimmers: Joan, Paul, Alex, Hildi Conditions: twelve? Cloudy with the threat of rain. Energetic sea, full of movement but great for a hard swim :-)

Response to a call to arms!

After Paul's call on the blog last week, a renewed attendance among the faithful on Wednesday. Ollie with Penny, Joan, Hildi, Emma, Sara, Domino and Anneka. No Pete due to illness or Paul himself due to work. Even the zealots have to take life's attempts to keep them away from their beloved sea! A calm day and Hildi and Sarah round the buoys. Swimmers: Sara, Hildi, Emma, Joan, Anneka Beach brigade: domino, penny, Ollie Water temp: twelveish

Where do we go from here?

It was stormy today, and low tide. Four of us arrived, Chief Hildi, Alex, Joan and Paul (myself). Not a morning for any serious swimming, three of us decided that early on. Alex, our champion chose to give it a try and swam out to the yellow buoys and back - at least I think he did - but either way, a very brave and competent swim in true SSF spirit. Not much else to do or say, one of those mornings where getting wet was really the only thing we could hope to do, with the whole morning having a wintery/Spring-like feel to it, not at all like the warmer climes that ordinarily characterise the month of June. However, I am happy to report that sea temperatures are warming up considerably.

Smile, its Summer already !

But ....

There has been much speculation in recent weeks as to the future of SSF, some of it whispered and some of it more vocal. As member #1 of SSF I feel it is time to raise this with the members.

Frankly people, we seem to be suffering a lack of numbers, interest and direction of late, and it is difficult to put a finger on it. Both Ollie and myself, one-time all-year-round stalwarts have been shadows of our former selves, making cameos at appropriate times, but largely abandoning the club to others more dedicated than ourselves. True, we all have our daily pressures, work and domestic situations to contend with and cannot always find our way to the beach on Wednesday and Friday mornings. And yes, the weather in the 2012 season has proven to be very unpredictable, and sea temperatures have been unusually slow to warm up. And what is the point of getting up early, heading down to the beach for a couple of windswept minutes in a very unwelcoming sea?

Back on Jun 2nd 2010 it was I who embarked on the first SSF swim, I recall that Ollie was injured that day so could not make it into the water. The following week we branched out onto our first swim, with Ollie trying to convince me that a trip to the furthese buoy was the best choice - and this was the one that marked the lobster pots a fair way beyond the back strait. What? I thought the sales bumph said "Beginners Welcome". After squabbling like turkeys, we compromised and, beginning from an adjacent beach, swam to the first buoy, which for me was quite an achievement. Further swims followed, new members Riccardo, Russell and Anita joined, and the group grew, reaching its peak at around 15 attendees at one stage.

Then there was the first swim to Rottingdean in July in some challenging seas, and I felt proud of myself for completing that trip. And, as a season finale, the swim to the Marina, which I never thought I would do. And who can forget that first winter season with Sara, Joan, Ollie and myself as the ever-present fantastic four? And the snow that started in November? Ollie dropped the wetsuit at the beginning of Winter, the rest of us (excluding Joan who never owned one) shed ours a short while later, braving the cold and finding levels of endurance hitherto unknown.

The following season saw longer and more challenging swims as we headed further afield. Records fell, Pete and Hildi joined the inner hardcore group and a season finale witnessed Alex and Ollie swim an amazing 8K from the Marina to Saltdean and back again. It was the crowning achievement, and perhaps with our Mount Everest being conquered, the mystique slowly began to disappear. The winter season gave us probably the coldest morning we had ever experienced in early February, where body parts were frozen solid and limits abruptly challenged and redefined.

So, now we are in the 2012 season. Whilst Hildi and myself managed a swim to Rottingdean at the end of March, there have been few other achievements of note, with membership (myself included) becoming sporadic and attendance difficult to predict.

So ......
What do we want to do and what do we want to be?

An organised group or an informal collective of swim buddies - or something else?

Should we become more organised, have semi-regular committee meetings and plan out the season ahead?

Should we take it in turns to be club President each year, instead of leaving it to Ollie to take responsibility?

The blog used to be my task, then it shifted to Hildi, but ideally we should all take a turn.

Should we meet at different times of the week? More often, less often? Evening, weekend, night, moonlight swims? Can someone co-ordinate this and take responsibility for checking weather and tides etc. ?

Should we have more or less focus on records and distances?

How about formal races and swims at different parts of the season? Trophies?

A social secretary to organise curry nights several times a year?

Community outreach? Some running maybe?

How about challenging the official Saltdean Swimmers to an event?
The website - yes, my job, and something I have been guilty of ignoring. What do we want to include? Events, swim records, members and their achievements, sea temperatures, weather, tides, personal bests - third-party events? Answers please.

And how about an English Channel Relay?

Or other relays across other stretches of open water?

Who will be the first SSF'er to swim the Channel?

We have completed two years, will there be a third?

Time for feedback.

A quiet one. Where is everyone and where is the Summer?

Paul and Hildi on the beach and Paul very concerned.  Surely last year we had more swimmers regularly here? Surely 2 years ago we had better conditions?  Speculation as to why this might be (the swimmers, not the weather).  Effects of the recession on people's jobs and work load, maybe?  Poor weather for good swimming?  Resolved with Joan when she joined us to make concerted effort to email round on Tuesdays and Thursdays to see who is coming.  Also to get website up to date ;-)

Joan joined us with her meagre shrimp pickings - one lovely large one but barely enough for a sandwich.

Meagre the adjective for the morning, really, as there was even a lack of water.  A very very low tide meant that Hildi and Paul ducking under waves to swim to the Eastward outer buoy were still able to stand in waist deep water.  On returning to join Joan at the inner buoy it was almost on the sand.

An enjoyable swim and lots of resolve to keep the SSF flag flying.  Maybe we need a committee meeting in the pub after the Forestman is out of the way?

Conditions: Low, breezy.
Swimmers: Hildi, Paul, Joan and a lone prawn

SSF celebrates its 2nd birthday and does the Jubilee weekend

SSF turned two and the Queen celebrated 60 years on the throne by giving us peasants an extra day holiday (unless you are a teacher peasant in which case it was during the holiday you already had).  What does SSF do with an extra day?  Gather together friends and family to swim and eat cake!

The plan was a commemorative 60 length challenge plus a monarchists vs republicans tug of war.  Unfortunately the tug of war rope was not available so we did some running about, paddling and wearing of royal family masks instead.  Conditions also conspired against us for the lengths.  For safety we had to swim concurrent lengths in pairs or more - except for Alex who clocked up a massive 12 lengths on his own in very choppy conditions.  We thought we would have to count some laps run by the children but at the last minute 4 more were clocked up by Emma and Tamsin (from Hove, actually).

There were cakes and sausages, fizzy drink and even whiskey.  Fresh caught mackerel from Joan. Fresh baked scones from Sarah.  Lots of fun with friends old and new.

Conditions: Windy and overcast with a little sunny spell later on.  LOTS of whitewater and powerful waves. Tide on the way out.
Swimmers: Alex (12), Ollie (10), Jon (4), Paul (4), Sarah (6), Pete (4), Hildi (6), Anita (6), Emma (2), Tamsin (2)

More photos from Stefan here http://brightonswimteam.com/ssf/20120603/

Anita and Alex lose track of time

After Edinburgh marathon last weekend I was only half expecting to go to the beach today for a swim.  In the end, the prospect of an additional hour with the weight off my feet won out.  And boy, was I glad later in the day when I got called up as a reserve for a gruelling race along the entire South Downs Way!  The SSF flag was kept flying by Anita and Alex.  With neither of them wearing a watch and with both of them enjoying the sun and the sea, Alex was nearly late for work.  But I think by the sound of it they had a great start to the day.