Sunday, February 15, 2009

Little Bay ... What did you think?

The first outing of what could grow to become one of the great classics on the NSW ocean swimming circuit ... Malabar-Little Bay Stockland Challenge. Due to conditions, it was a circuit inside Long Bay at Malabar, rather than the full journey swim. When run over its full course, this swim offers a challenging, once-you're-out-you're-committed course around a broad, flat headland, and did you get a load of all that activity in the water off the headland? Not just backwash from the sou'-east swell, but there was movement there. "That water is really moving," said Willoughby hack Graeme Brewer afterwards, gazing out over the Pacific Ocean towards Auckland. There's a bombora out there, too. On an easy day, this swim would be a challenge. On a difficult day, you should consider seriously whether to attempt it.

Make no mistake, this will be a classic. This will be one of the ultimate challenges for the rank-and-file, journeyperson ocean swimmer.

Well done to Murray Rose and team on their first outing, pulling almost 500, indeed, making it a very healthy first time swim, although not the biggest. And well done to the Rainbow Club, the charity of benefit.

24 comments:

  1. This swim was awesome - loved it... well loved it apart from all those mutant jellyfish... Seriously though, the swim organisation was fantastic, it wasn't a hassle at all to catch the bus from and to the intended finishing point. Loved the entertainment and the BBQ. Atmosphere was neighbourly and fun despite the weather. Only thing missing was a break to get through and back in - although I'm sure that would have been there had we swum the original course.

    It was great that a corporate sponsor could actually deliver a community-feel swim, nail the organisation, and make people want to come back next year. Really impressed that the Rainbow Club were there and hopefully benefitting too, great way to raise awareness with a group of people that seem to be a pretty good, compassionate bunch (referring to us swimmers!).

    I was one of the few donning the 'S' - I reckon it works, heaps of people looked at my arm and then actually spoke to me - that doesn't normally happen. I hope this takes off, its all a bit of fun.

    Any chance for the next race we could get the prisoners from next door to do a bit of community service and clear out the jellyfish before we start?

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  2. Swimming thru a sea of embryos was a unique experience! Any good photos of 'them' Paul? Were they baby Port Jackson sharks? Well they were very big embryos and, if for the day we take a Right-to-life definition, that means we swam thru thousands of sharks, many dead but how many were still growing and where were there mothers? At the mouth of the bay to defend them? In this shark filled week this was a weird experience which I'll happily embroider to non-ocean swimming friends.

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  3. Great race though a little bumpy and so many jellyfish! Loved having Roy and HG along ...

    Any news on when results will be posted?

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  4. What a day. Had so much fun. A challenging swim with an interesting view of the floor. A good call to keep it in the bay, that chop and swell looked like it would have made it a hard swim around to Little Bay. Heaps of handouts: bottled drinks, fruit and free sausage rolls, plus a bag of goodies. It's been a while since a swim has been so generous and felt so welcoming. The friendly atmosphere at the end made it feel like a bright summer's day, even though it was raining. Murray Rose and the Rainbow club, I salute your splendid organisation skills and generosity.

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  5. Fantastic event , very well run and looking forward to next year already.
    I would love to hear what the "embryos" really are.
    The conditions although lumpy made the swim feel like a proper ocean swim even though shortened.
    The whole day was a great success especially loved the ample free parking so close to the event and the free buses to and from the swim start.

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  6. Great event and even better running than most considering a time first running. The jellies are SALPs. They have some cool benefits wrt Carbon reduction. Check em out ...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salp

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  7. The conditions? Bloody tough!

    The clubbies and swimmers? Bloody tougher!

    The event? Absolute gold!

    Thankyou organisers and volunteers, champin' at the bit for next year,

    Davo.

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  8. Huge Congratulations and thanks to Murray Rose and all the volunteers at the Malabar swim. EVERYTHING went smoothly from registration to transport and the race itself. The commentry during the race was a hoot, and thanks to Dave for the awesome photoes.
    I look forward to next year (hopefully) through to little bay and hope Stockland and other sponser will back up the event again. And to all those who, like me, got a bit of the heeby geebies swimming amongst the "Salps", I have lived in this area for 6 years, and never come across these ever before. I seriously doubt they will be joining in the party in the future.

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  10. I thought it was a very well organised, friendly swim, thank you to Murray Rose and his team.

    Call me soft but I found this one challenging - physically and mentally...dark skys, murky water, big unique Salps or Embyros (whatever they are) to swim through, plenty of chop and even currents to swim against and two shark attacks in the last week that sit in the back of your mind...i guess this is what makes us stronger, gives us a sense of achievment and gets us back for another ocean swim!

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  11. Any news on when results will be available and from which site - oceans swims or Malabar to Little Bay site?

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  12. Great organisation and great swim - pity we couldn't get around to Little Bay but there's always next year. I'll be back for sure. Superb event despite the conditions. It was my 3rd ocean swim ever after the Cole Classic and North Bondi - and I'm hooked. I was one of only 3 people that I saw sporting the "S", so not that many of us out there perhaps... I'm not sure about the SALP comment above. Talking to Mike Whitney at the end he assured me they were shark embyros. (repost)

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  13. Oh one more thing, since there's been talk recently about drafting and etiquette: to the guy in my age group who drafted on me (and I was towards the back) and then absolutely clobbered me on both calves before swimming past and away. Seriously, WTF? It can't have been an accident. The only disappointment on an otherwise excellent outing. What are these people thinking?

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  14. Brilliantly organised. By far the best of all the ocean swims I have done in the last few months. Bit scary with the jelly blubbers and the thought of sharks lurking about!!!
    Will be back to do again next time round
    lucy

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  15. Great swim. Organisation was very slick, shame we could swim to little bay but could defo appreciate it was a tad dicey on that side.

    Not sure if it was fear of being pelted by salps but my wave was super hasty which made for a good hard swim.

    Getting through the salps was a uniquie expereience and I was also suprised by the clarity when we got past the second bouy.

    Very tidy race indeed top marks!

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  16. It was nice of Murray Rose to acknowledge the 500 spartans who turned up for Sunday's swim in trying conditions. Link. http://www.smh.com.au/national/another-shark-at-bondi-never-mind-that-weve-got-jellyfish-20090215-887n.html

    My biggest danger on the swim came from a 50+ boofhead who cut left and smashed off my goggles at the 4th turning buoy. To be fair the swim announcer did warn us about the potential of injury from marine creatures (jellyfish?) and "other swimmers".

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  17. Its not roy, its Neil and HG. Neil and Roy look nothing alike!!!!

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  18. Great swim, salps and all. Well - "salps, plastic bag fish and who knows what else and all" might be more accurate, but if you go swimming in the sea after decent rain, you have to accept the water may be a little microbe-enriched. Hard to argue with the decision to stay in the bay, much as I would have liked to have gone on round the corner.
     
    Couple of highlights: good to see os.c's dedication to the cause. By the time my wave started he was shivering like mad but still clicking away, ignoring the peril he was in (of being mown down by a thundering herd of green caps). Then still at it as I rounded the last buoy - pretty sure I saw him lurking there.
     
    And I loved the device which displayed your name on a screen as you came out of the water. When it was announced before the swim I thought it a bit of a non-event - I already know my name, after all. But to hear HG Nelson saying "and here's Edwin Kirk, crossing the finish line" ... priceless!
     
    By the way HG copped a bit of flack in the Cole feedback, and I just wanted to say good on him. He's volunteering his time to help out a good cause, in this case the Rainbow Club, at the Cole the surf club (yes, I know Fairfax isn't a good cause - but they weren't the only beneficiaries, and HG was at the Cole before Fairfax were). Good on Mike Whitney for the same reason. These guys aren't furthering their careers by doing this sort of thing - they're just helping out.
     
    Cheers,
    Edwin Kirk

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  19. Well said Edwin, I too saw Paul shivering away at the start in the water waiting for all to go, not surprised half his shots are a bit blurry, (he needs one of them fancy cameras with shivering stablisations in them)!

    Then again, half submerged at the second last booey, and you know, not one of the announcers thanked him for his contribution to the promotion of the Little Bay Swim at the end of the day, not one word of thanks...nothing at all...not an iota of acknowledgment, as if he was invisible to the event.

    A great pity for someone who contributes so much, to so many swims.

    David Helsham

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  20. Great photos on your website for Malabar swim - apart from the one of me! Ha! Ha!

    I had my fingers in my ears to protect them from the starters pistol! Twelve years racing my Ferrari and on one occasion someone decided to blow up their engine next to me in my Pit garage and half blow out my ear drum! So my ears are sensitive to loud noise.

    Let me say that, with all the camaraderie, ocean swimming is far more fun than racing my Ferrari and a lot cheaper too! I was so proud to see all my fellow ocean swimmers brave the elements at Malabar - what a keen lot. My privilege on the day was to get up at 4am to organise the beach set-up, along with Peter Fox, for such a worthy organisation as the Rainbow Club Australia. Having been in charge of the beach set-up for the North Bondi Classic and Roughwater it good to take on board some constructive enhancements recommended by Murray Rose for this swim. And I'll take these back to North Bondi next year.

    The secret to success with these ocean swims, as with anything, is to be passionate about what we do and our main aim is to ensure all swimmers have a great time while ensuring their safety. At Malabar, we probably had more water safety and first aid per swimmer than any other ocean swim ever! Helicoptor, Offshore boat, IRBs, lead surf skis and surf lifesavers from North Bondi to Cronulla, Council Jet Ski, Lifeguards.

    You've got the stats, what do you reckon?

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  21. The other good thing about Mr Ocean Swims is that he enters and pays for all the swims he covers. He does not ask for a media pass.

    If Oceanswims and Glisten Dave put their bald heads together... will they be "bumming around" or will it just look that way?

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  22. Hey Paul,

    Great photos on your website for Malabar swim - apart from the one of me! Ha! Ha!

    I had my fingers in my ears to protect them from the starters pistol! Twelve years racing my Ferrari and on one occasion someone decided to blow up their engine next to me in my Pit garage and half blow out my ear drum! So my ears are sensitive to loud noise.

    Let me say that, with all the camaraderie, ocean swimming is far more fun than racing my Ferrari and a lot cheaper too! I was so proud to see all my fellow ocean swimmers brave the elements at Malabar - what a keen lot. My privilege on the day was to get up at 4am to organise the beach set-up, along with Peter Fox, for such a worthy organisation as the Rainbow Club Australia. Having been in charge of the beach set-up for the North Bondi Classic and Roughwater it good to take on board some constructive enhancements recommended by Murray Rose for this swim. And I'll take these back to North Bondi next year.

    The secret to success with these ocean swims, as with anything, is to be passionate about what we do and our main aim is to ensure all swimmers have a great time while ensuring their safety. At Malabar, we probably had more water safety and first aid per swimmer than any other ocean swim ever! Helicoptor, Offshore boat, IRBs, lead surf skis and surf lifesavers from North Bondi to Cronulla, Council Jet Ski, Lifeguards.

    You've got the stats, what do you reckon?

    Cheers,
    Alun

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  23. Right on Dave! No one has contributed more to the rise and rise of the ocean swim culcha than Paul Ellercamp. And no single person did more to put the Malabar to Little Bay Stockland Challenge on the radar. He is our number one go-to-man with all the tough questions and it is timely to publicly acknowledge the enormous support he has given me personally.

    On you Paul! Your passion and dedication to the sport is an inspiration.

    Dave, you’re also building quite a reputation on the circuit. Thanks for the terrific mood pix.

    Murray Rose

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  24. The Rainbow Club loves all you guys. The swimmers, the helpers and the little shark embryos.

    Thanks to you all for making it such a great day. The club feel was fantastic. Also thanks for generating as ignificant financial contribution to the wonderful rainbow Club kids

    Rob Lloyd
    Rainbow Club Australia

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