More records tumble in the calm waters

A bumper group appeared on the beach today, so many I was worried I hadn't brought enough flapjacks!
Those attending were given the choice of a chain-gang style of exercise where the last swimmer in a 3 or 4 sprints to the front while the others recover before they get to the back again and sprint to the front in turn.  It helps with Drafting, swimming in close proximity and often gives you some time to practice a drill during your recovery.  Altogether much can be gained and its also quite good fun and a little different.  We set off in a clockwise circuit of the buoys to try it out.  It all went a bit chaotic at first trying to sort out pacing but by the back straight we were like a team time trial all slotting in nicely, bar the odd swimming over your team, don't worry we're all friends ;-).

After regrouping following one lap we decided the clear water, lack of current and wind meant we had to do a timed circuit for the record books.  With so many of us there on one day it would have been a wasted opportunity, so those up for it found their place on the start lione all wanting to get on the feet of teresa for the first 10m.  3-2-1 GO!!!  Off we went clockwise.  We had already noted that the standing club record was Hildi on last years course covering the distance in 09:45 on 1st september 2010.  that day there was a slight current and a breeze so how would this still conditions favour the brave?
 I could only view the time trial from where I was, I saw Teresa head off fast and tried to give a burst at the start to get a clean turn on the buoy.  Rounding the first buoy I was able glance back and saw Hildi, sharon and Paul W all about 5 m behind. Rounding the second buoy I had settled into a stroke to last the estimated 500m course.Teresa had rounded the third buoy about 50m ahead of me and when I reached it and turned I could see Sharon had stretched out a bit of a gap from Hildi and Paul.  the last home straight felt quite tough, obviously trying to sprint the last 50m seemed harder trying to work against a receding tide.  I came in huffing and puffing and watch the other runners and riders come in.  A great effrot from all those that went for it.

Various other swims went on as I tagged Tracy and took over childcare while she slipped in for a dip, others set off on warm down laps, anti-clockwise swims and some rather more dignified bathing!

People seemed to enjoy the home made flapjack but I think it was the basking in the sun and looking at the bright blue water that gave everyone a high before heading off to start the day.

time trial results:  Clockwise lap 22-Jul-11.  Conditions still, clear water approxx 15-16deg.

We will try to re-do this in aug/sept in similar conditions (if that arises) to see where we have improved.
Teresa: 06:29 NEW CLUB RECORD
Ollie     07:55
Sharon  08:20
Hildi :    09:00
Paul W: 09:27
Dave:    09:40
Paul C:  10:27
judging the times we estimated the course to be approx 500m.

In: 07:10
Out: 08:00

Swimmers: 13 (new record): James, Paul W, Helen, Joan, Steffan, Paul C, Ollie, Hild, Anita, Sharon, Teresa, Tracy, Dave
non Swimmers: Penny - well she is only two!!

Time Trial for July

Great swim this morning.  We set off on time at 7:06 headng to the first buoy, as a warm up to the Rottingdean and Back swim.  Conditions were perfect, a tiny west to east current despite the tide going out and so a perfect chance to call it a time trial and try to beat two club records currently standing as shown on the website.

SALTDEAN TO ROTTINGDEAN BUOYS - 1100m
Paul Cockburn 00:22:39 (3sep2010)
CONDITIONS: Good. Wind-speed 10mph NE. Current: moderate left to right (east). ______________________________________________________________

SALTDEAN TO ROTTINGDEAN TO SALTDEAN - 2200m
Paul Winter 00:42:58 (8Sep2010)
CONDITIONS: Overcast. Low-tide. Wind-speed 8mph WNW. Current: moderate right to left (west). ______________________________________________________________

In the water, Sara, Hildi, Sharon, Ollie, Pete, Dave, Paul Joan and Steffan.  Everyone headed to rottingdean minus Joan and Steffan.  todays Conditions, Overcast. Mid-tide heading out. No wind. Current: very weak right to left (west).

We set off and Sara, Hildi, sharon and myself (Ollie) formed a lead group all pushing to stay up with Hildi who lead all the way dragging us there in that super fast suit with the union jack on.  There was no time for me to look around  and see where the others were, or take in the various bits of coastline scenery...this was a time trial and so focus on job in hand Armfield.  We took a very direct route to the buoy and stopped the watch shortly after hildi hit it.  At 22:37 - NEW CLUB RECORD FOR HILDI.  this was a delayed stop though (we hovered for a bit before stopping Hildi's watch), no actual time of hitting the buoy so this record stands - beat the old club record by 2 seconds.

next in were Paul C, then Dave then Pete.  split times for you guys? - let me know.

so the return leg, and after getting a ittle bit of a tow there, I managed to stretch out my stroke and take a small lead in the race back to the Saltdean buoy.  the houses on the cliff tops took ages to come and go but eventually we passed the last of them and had the cafe in sight.  It was Ollie, then Sharon, then Hildi then Sara all within a close distance, sprinting the last bit to reach that buoy that appeared before us.  And thats how it stayed as we reached the buoy and stopped watches.  As people came in they clocked their times with first four all coming inside the existing club record - GOOD SWIM!

Ollie - 41:38 NEW CLUB RECORD

Sharon - 41:44

Hildi - 42:04

Sara - 42:06

Paul C - 47:26

Dave - 50:00

Pete -  53:11

Back on the beach, Steffan had already left but the rest enjoyed amazing pastries and homemade power bars before dressing and making off to work.

Fridays swim is from 7 again so its a 6:45 meet on the beach.

Friday 15th July - Easy laps of Buoys

and so the normal format ensued this morning with a blitz to Rottingdean on the Wednesday and laps of the buoys on the Friday.  Most people race now at weekends so its a chance to take an easy swim and keep things ticking over.  In the water today doing laps of the three outer buoys were Dave, Hildi, Anita, Ollie, and Sara, with Joan and Steffan opting out of laps.  Joined also by our man on the ground Domino.

By the time we got out to the furtherst buoy we realised there was quite a current from the west, so the first lap was like a dream, we roared off.  Ollie in his wetsuit today with Anita and Dave with Hildi and Sara opting for just he cossie.

It was a hard effort all the way back from the most easterly buoy to the most westerly and so on the second lap we went the other way around and used the middle to break up the journey.  it was a bit like swimming the shaped of a bow (as in Robin Hood) as the three buoys where out of line.

After two laps we had really all ground to a halt and headed in to relax and prepare for the weekends swims, only to later find out they would both (pier to pier and Brighton Aquathlon) be cancelled due to adverse weather.

In: 7:13
Out 8:00

All Aboard the Train to Rottingdean

A lovely morning spent at the beach today.  For me (Ollie) it started with a high tempo 2.5k run to rottingdean and back to check out the course for the days swim and prepare for Sunday's Aquathlon on Hove beach.  I made it back to the carpark to be greeted by Pete and Hildi pulling in and working out what to wear for the swim which I announced was rottingdean and back.
We headed to the beach and with Hildi opting for the non wetsuit option in prep for the pier to pier on Saturday we guestimated times and conditions.  On the beach we were joined by Theresa - welcome! - for the first time who quickly got ready.  Joan arrived with Sara and Domino and after all ready, we headed to the shore.  I half had in mind a mass beach start that didn't really catch on but nevermind.  It was interrupted somewhat by Paul's late arrival and Steffan's fully clothed arrival so we just agreed to meet about 100m out.
Steffan joined us clothed in the sea opting to get some life saving fitness in, and Pauls late arrival meant he would decide to do a couple of laps of Saltdean buoys as he had missed the express train to Rottingdean.  Joan and Steffan also stayed at Saltdean to enjoy the 17 deg water.   On board the train to rotters was Theresa who really has a very good stroke.  Little or no drag, and a big catch, I want to see it close up if I can stay level for a few more strokes next time! - perhaps I need to ditch the baggy board shorts for something a little more figure hugging.
Other passengers on the train were me, hildi, Pete and Sara in that order as we rolled on to rotters.  through some rather stubborn current towards the last 300m we finally made the buoy at rottingdean.  theresa had stopped her watch on 20 mins, me about 5 mins behind.  We waited at the buoy for Hildi but turned to see we had drifted 20m from the buoy which confirmed the hard effort and the chance to nick a good time on the return leg.  After picking our sighting spots (the large crane at Telscombe water works) we watched as Pete and Sara had taken a wide loop to rottingdeean, perhaps wanting to get in some extra distance (rather than going of course I'm sure).  Sara fessed up to chasing a shoal of whitebait as she got back to her water weasel roots.  so on we went, for me I put in a relaxed 1st half and then went for it in the last 500m trying to hold on to the stroke as fatigue set in.  Trying to keep the core rolling, head tucked in, arms pushing all the way back to the thighs with the triceps starting to really complain as I rounded the final groyne and hit the beach.  theresa was already getting dressed up the beach and hildi about 150m behind me.  We ate delicious brownies on the beach as Pete and then Sara came in and all agreed it was a jolly good swim.  theresa confirmed she was back in 16 mins so that would be a 36 min 2.5km which is great to see.
Further chat about upcomming events mainly Pete's Alp d'huez on Wed 27th july.  It sounds like a tough one, we are all rooting for him.
ooh...and I forgot mention, very clear waters - we could see the sea bed all the way there and back even at 200m out, it was perfect!
so a little bit of everything today, until friday

In 7:10
Out 8:00
swimmers: Joan, Steffan, Paul C, Sara, Pete, hildi, Ollie, Theresa
non swimmers: domino

Don't mess with the skipper's daughter

Hildi arrived for a pre-swim run along the front to test her tri-suit and get her legs in gear for Newhaven Tri on Sunday to find Dave, Sara AND DOMINO - bag-carrier and supporter extraordinaire - plus CAKE already present! Going through the wind tunnel that some know as the subway, it was clear that the sea would be in a mood to take no prisoners and that anyone braving it would deserve said cake.

Soon joined by Joan and Paul who advised Ollie was doing something involving child-care. After zipping Dave into his wetsuit, we headed over the seaweed dumped on the westerly beach by the sea, and Paul plunged in. He avoided the waves with his trade-mark method of ducking beneath the wall of white-water (which we were to learn later characterises a wave known as 'the skipper's daughter') and Hildi decided to wait for two even larger waves to finish before she tried to follow him. Unfortunately these waves were followed by even bigger ones and by the time everyone was at the water's edge, it looked like only an idiot would go in. So we watched Paul enjoying himself. ;-)

Jealously we played in the waves until Paul was ready to get out. Sara sustained some grazing from being dashed against the pebbles and Dave's goggles were dislodged. Hildi and Joan just frolicking in the surf. Ollie turned up with Penny wrapped in a blanket to enjoy the spectacle and to agree that these were far from ideal swimming conditions - so we felt vindicated.

We stood by ready to grab Paul when he was dashed against the ground but he got out with relative ease and some poise - well done, Paul.

Back up the beach for a little jog for Hildi and some of Sara's home-made berry cake. The breakfast of kings - delicious despite Sara's attempts to sell it short. Protecting our eyes from the glare on Domino's white legs we tried to engage Penny in conversation (she was probably thinking what nutters were were but enjoying the cake).

In - Paul

Out - Ollie and Penny

Inbetweeners - Hildi, Sara, Joan and Dave

Temperature - wetsuits definately optional

Bit lumpy for some

Wed 6 July

Hildi, Ollie, Paul, Joan wetsuitless. Sara looking after herself in neoprene, accompanied by Pete. Water very warm. Someone even said, 'Like a bath'. A little bit lumpier than had been the previous few days so lengths between the inner buoys instead of anything further afield (it doesn't take much for us to have to play 'hunt the third buoy'), and Hildi's friend Teresa decided not to join us for her maiden SSF swim. Ollie very much back in the driving seat re the sessions and we practised turning (both ways) round buoys and sprinting.

Lovely lovely swim.

In and out - no idea

Water Temp - 'Like a bath'

Water temperature sheer joy!

A beautiful morning, blue skies and calm seas. An incoming tide and a little 'nip' in the air saw Hildi Sara Dave and Joan meet on the beach. Sara having done the forestman with Hildi recently and the Rottingdean on Wednesday, did not feel up to another Rottingdean return today and neither did Hildi. All four made their way out to the first buoy to the east and Hildi Dave and Sara swam clockwise around the four buoys. Sara decided on a gentle swim thereafter while Dave and Hildi completed another circuit of the buoys. We all enjoyed the morning and the swim. It was a super fresh start to the day as we promised to meet again on Wednesday with Sara tempting us with home made goodies. Anita, Sara's home made pies and cakes are much more enticing tha a duvet! See you on Wednesday!

In 0710
Out 0745
Sara Hildi Joan wet suit less and Dave sleeveless wetsuit
Water temp sheer joy!