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.