Autumn swims at last ...

Welcome, welcome to a new swim ... South Curly to Freshwater finally got done, after failing last season due to big seas, and after a prelude this season that included big seas. A course that has to be done, but which some said couldn't be done. This could be another new classic. Perhaps that is what this season, now approaching closure, could be about: the discovery of new classics.

Meanwhile, over on the south side, Coogee-Bondi had its second outing under new management, and Avoca finally got done on the Central Coast ...

Tell us what you thought ... And please leave your name on your blob ... we like to know who's talking to us, and we can't award the James Squire Blob Award if we don't know whom you are ...

Press the Comments link below to leave your comment and to read what others are saying ...

Hawaii -- Plea for pals ...

My name is Les O'Keefe, i am a member of aussi masters and i have competed in a few ocean swims.

I was wondering whether you are aware of any people who plan on attending the Hawaii rough water swim in September. I would be interested in going and would rather go with a group or stay with other Aussies.

Could you please pass this email onto anyone you know who may be attending this meet.

Thanks, if anyone wants to call me i can be contacted on 0418712555 or email.

Les P'Keefe

Now, THAT was an ocean swim ...

Just back in town after four hour drive from Mollymook ... and THAT was an ocean swim! Rising seas, chop, wind in your face, no two strokes the same ... rain squalls rolling through, obscuring beach, headlands, landmarks ... and dumped at the end on a shallow bank! It was a terrific swim, so much fun, and full credit, as the footy players would say, to the boys at Mollymook for going ahead in very difficult conditions ...

DY called off ...

Shellharbour, Saturday ... what a wonderful little swim, short, sharp, fast, with a breeze and swell behind us rolling over rocky and weedy bottom back into the beach ...

We love these regional swims ... They make us feel as if they're really pleased to have us there ...

But what did you think?

Paddlers, escort boats for Coogee-Bondi, South Head ...

A number of swimmers have contacted oceanswims.com looking for help in finding escort paddlers for Coogee-Bondi on April 26, and escort boats for the South Head Roughwater on May 17. We will post their messages here, and if you can help, please respond.

If you post a request, please remember to include your email and/or phone contacts.

South Head organiser John Fallon has a number of options to help with escort boats for that swim. Watch the South Head listing on the NSW calendar for more info ...

TamaCloey, Pacific Palms ... we discover a new classic ...

Wow! what a ripper of swim from Tama to Clovelly. We thought beforehand that this swim could be a ripper, but it was more than that. TamaCloey may build to be one of the best swims on the ocean swimming calendar! Enigmatic course, spooky day, onshore breeze, following swell but backwash off the rocks ... cliffs most of the way ... once you're out, you're committed ... and what a glorious bottom from the point into Cloey ... this bottom was maybe more rocky and reefy that Wedding Cake Island ... what did you think of the starting wave arrangement? ... What did you think of the swim overall? ... Cloey has to have the best clubhouse on the coast, sitting right on the sea ...

And Pacific Palms ... what a lovely day out, yet again. A hidden gem of the north coast, one that we'd never have found but for ocean swimming ... that's what we love about this caper: there are so many places we go, so many experiences for which the swim is merely the catalyst ... What do we like about ocean swimming? Travel and meeting people!

Tell us what you think ... Click the comments button below ...

What do you do when the swims are washed out?

The two main swims around Sydney over the weekend -- North Steyne and Avoca -- were called off due to the seas, but Nowra went ahead with an amended course. We're told there was lots of weed but it was a nice swim with 37 punters.

North Steyne are mulling an alternative date; Avoca have rescheduled to April 26, making that Sunday a very busy day, with South Curl Curl-Freshwater and Coogee-Bondi also scheduled for that day.

Hervey Bay happened in Queensland, above the rain and storm line, with a record 170 starters. They had a lovely day, by all accounts.

But what did you get up to on a washed out Sunday, which turned out to be a very nice day in Sydney? We had a social engagement at North Curl Curl, so os.c and Glistening Dave went for a frolick in the North Curly rockpool. We did laps whilst Dave took pitchers of the seas crashing onto the rocks and into the pool. Watch for some pics very soon. Then we celebrated Tacoma Jim's birthday, and his mum's birthday -- Jim's mum, G-L-O-R-I-A ... GLOOOOORIA! -- has been visiting from, well, Tacoma, and heads back there later this week. Her birthday is Monday, April 6.

Tell us your story? Did you swim somewhere? What was it like? ...