At last some warm weather, 27ºC at the pool last Saturday. We've been spoilt down at Bondi the last few winters. It's a shock to have that much cold, miserable, weather, huge seas and water temp as low as 14ºC. It was novel having the waves breaking over the pool the first few days but then it became boring. For 7 weeks boring.
"Is the pool closed?"
"Yes."
6ft of whitewater breaks over the side, wiping out both pools.
"But I've come all the way from Balmain!"
"What? You've come all the way from Balmain to die, couldn't you have just slashed your wrists at home?"
Nuts.
If you're wondering where the sand from the beach has gone, swim the Bay. The underwater topography has changed remarkably. In May/early June, about 30 metres off the Bergs, you could stand on sand, chest deep, at low tide. It's now around 20ft deep on a rock bottom. The south end bank extends much further out, as do all the banks up the beach and the gutters are deeper and narrower. It will be a busy summer for Lifeguards and Lifesavers this year. The south end and backpackers express are working a treat at low tide, you've been warned.
Swam Tamarama - Bronte last weekend and it's much the same. The wave zone is much broader. The reef in front of "the Twins" is totally exposed with a deep chanel along the edge. Bronte Reef is all reef i.e., no sand. The Blackfish love it.
Water clarity was the best I've seen in a long time. Been swimming with goggles that have clear, wider screen, lenses (by v. popular brand). Surprised that the full sun doesn't bother me and for what you see under water it's worth the change.
Anybody still wanting an Orca wetsuit, they are 40% off at Pursuit Sports to all.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Flipper and Friends
Last friday we had another interesting marine visitor to the waters just off the Bondi Icebergs. A small (less than 1 metre) shark, that looked to be feeding along the surface, probably salmon but there has been such an abundance of fish around the bay, it could have been many things. In the calm conditions we had quite a good look at it as it was around for 10 minutes or so.
The Whales are going past in groups now, with a group of four close in on Monday.
Sunday was a huge day at the 'Bergs. Fantastic weather once again saw a big turnout of swimmers. Those who came early, or on time, were treated to an amazing display of dolphins attacking a huge school of salmon mid-bay. These visits are happening on a quite regular basis and after describing the scene to so many people, it was tremendous that so many members were able to see it for themselves.
Sunday afternoon saw the "Lilac Swim" for cancer research with an excellent turn out. Shannon O'Brien and his team putting in a great effort and a credit to them that the event runs so smoothly. The Icebergs team winning the day once again but the real winners were of course, this worthy cause and all the participants.
All users of the pool should note that squads are still on. I did 2 this week and it was marvelous to see so many turn up, especially in new wetsuits bought with a discount on their Iceberg membership. Great camaraderie in these squads and I think all agree they would much rather be swimming at the 'Bergs. Get into it. (For times see bondifit.com.au).
Finally being a Tamarama SLSC member I'd like all ‘Bergs to take the opportunity this Sunday to congratulate Bruce "Flipper" Connelly for his extraordinary achievement of managing to turn the Tamarama IRB upside down on no less than 3 occasions in the last 12 months. You're an inspiration Flipper! (Rumours that Bruce is sponsored by Yamaha Marine are scurrilous, however, I am told that Tamarama is looking to replace the IRB's with submersibles for next season.)
The Whales are going past in groups now, with a group of four close in on Monday.
Sunday was a huge day at the 'Bergs. Fantastic weather once again saw a big turnout of swimmers. Those who came early, or on time, were treated to an amazing display of dolphins attacking a huge school of salmon mid-bay. These visits are happening on a quite regular basis and after describing the scene to so many people, it was tremendous that so many members were able to see it for themselves.
Sunday afternoon saw the "Lilac Swim" for cancer research with an excellent turn out. Shannon O'Brien and his team putting in a great effort and a credit to them that the event runs so smoothly. The Icebergs team winning the day once again but the real winners were of course, this worthy cause and all the participants.
All users of the pool should note that squads are still on. I did 2 this week and it was marvelous to see so many turn up, especially in new wetsuits bought with a discount on their Iceberg membership. Great camaraderie in these squads and I think all agree they would much rather be swimming at the 'Bergs. Get into it. (For times see bondifit.com.au).
Finally being a Tamarama SLSC member I'd like all ‘Bergs to take the opportunity this Sunday to congratulate Bruce "Flipper" Connelly for his extraordinary achievement of managing to turn the Tamarama IRB upside down on no less than 3 occasions in the last 12 months. You're an inspiration Flipper! (Rumours that Bruce is sponsored by Yamaha Marine are scurrilous, however, I am told that Tamarama is looking to replace the IRB's with submersibles for next season.)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Get a Wetsuit & Keep Swimming
What a terrific month May has been at Bondi. The weather has been sparkling, underwater visibility in the bay is extraordinary, as is the amount of sea life. Swam the bay today and went over two schools of salmon, one at each end of the beach. The first whales have been spotted heading north and the Icebergs has Coopers on Tap. Also, ask Greg when is he putting Lamb Cutlets on the specials again, yum-o. Does life get any better?
The pool has been looking tropical and the temperature has begun to drop (as predicted it would) in these last couple of weeks. Why? It’s always the overnight temps combined with cool offshore westerlies that do it. The pool, being a small body of water, once we bring in the fresh water from the ocean, loses heat rapidly in these conditions.
However, you no longer have that “I can’t swim in the cold” excuse dear member. A deal’s been done. Members of the Bondi Icebergs can now show their card at "Pursuit Sports" in Gould St (just around the corner from Curlewis St) and get a whooping 25% discount off the retail price of an Orca Wetsuit. This puts the base model at $261- an absolute bargain. I have an earlier model of this suit and it’s going into its third winter season of major useage. Be warned however, while the shop has plenty of stock now, but these prices are limited to what's in store, i.e., once sold, the prices will go up on new stock.
So there is no excuse now not to swim, my ocean group continues through winter and as a result, this year’s boardies will fit next spring. Best of all, you don’t have to swim in heated, filthy %$#@*&^ chlorinated pools. (Recent study proved conclusively that workers at indoor pools suffer higher levels of respiratory tract infections...what a surprise).
No, you can’t wear it in the Sunday races, why? Because it’s the Icebergs you idiot!
So get a wetsuit and get into it. Do squad, get a coach in your life and get that stroke corrected for next summer (bondifit.com.au). Swimming in winter is way COOL and in a wetsuit, you’ll be HOT!
The pool has been looking tropical and the temperature has begun to drop (as predicted it would) in these last couple of weeks. Why? It’s always the overnight temps combined with cool offshore westerlies that do it. The pool, being a small body of water, once we bring in the fresh water from the ocean, loses heat rapidly in these conditions.
However, you no longer have that “I can’t swim in the cold” excuse dear member. A deal’s been done. Members of the Bondi Icebergs can now show their card at "Pursuit Sports" in Gould St (just around the corner from Curlewis St) and get a whooping 25% discount off the retail price of an Orca Wetsuit. This puts the base model at $261- an absolute bargain. I have an earlier model of this suit and it’s going into its third winter season of major useage. Be warned however, while the shop has plenty of stock now, but these prices are limited to what's in store, i.e., once sold, the prices will go up on new stock.
So there is no excuse now not to swim, my ocean group continues through winter and as a result, this year’s boardies will fit next spring. Best of all, you don’t have to swim in heated, filthy %$#@*&^ chlorinated pools. (Recent study proved conclusively that workers at indoor pools suffer higher levels of respiratory tract infections...what a surprise).
No, you can’t wear it in the Sunday races, why? Because it’s the Icebergs you idiot!
So get a wetsuit and get into it. Do squad, get a coach in your life and get that stroke corrected for next summer (bondifit.com.au). Swimming in winter is way COOL and in a wetsuit, you’ll be HOT!
Monday, May 14, 2007
What you're missing.
What a day at the Bondi Icebergs today. Max temp hit 24ºC and the pool is a bath like 20.4ºC. The weekend swell had dissipated, smaller waves with glassy surface conditions made ocean swimming a pleasure. It's the best time of year and stranger still, nobody's here! You get the lane to yourself. Get out of bed you fools! You don't know what you're missing, it's not cold, just dark and there is no better place to watch the sunrise. I know some of you are sneaking off to those disgusting, indoor, chlorinated, overused, heated bacterial breeding grounds that pass themselves off as "good for you" pools. Wrong.
By 9:30 am today it was more summer than summer at Bondi and that's when the dolphins turned up. As many of you who swim the bay would know, the salmon are back (actually they are really a sea perch) in schools as large as we saw last year. One school was about 100 to 200m off the ocean end of the pool and the pod, of about 25 dolphins, went for them.
The rescue board was out of the office quick smart and close encounters of the Marine Mammal kind were had by two of the staff over the next 45 minutes (on their break of course). Our rescue board is 12 ft long and many of the dolphins were longer than that. Up close, this is a big animal. There were also babies with mothers. Sliding off the board with mask and snorkel, to have 7 dolphins, in close proximity, in 20 feet of water, is a memorable experience. All the time the water a cacophony of their clicks and whistles.
We’ve seen bigger pods over the past twelve months but they haven’t come as close as these. In general there has been a resurgence of marine life around the Bay, nearly always something to see and worth a snorkel in calm conditions.
This was a special day, bring on the whales!
By 9:30 am today it was more summer than summer at Bondi and that's when the dolphins turned up. As many of you who swim the bay would know, the salmon are back (actually they are really a sea perch) in schools as large as we saw last year. One school was about 100 to 200m off the ocean end of the pool and the pod, of about 25 dolphins, went for them.
The rescue board was out of the office quick smart and close encounters of the Marine Mammal kind were had by two of the staff over the next 45 minutes (on their break of course). Our rescue board is 12 ft long and many of the dolphins were longer than that. Up close, this is a big animal. There were also babies with mothers. Sliding off the board with mask and snorkel, to have 7 dolphins, in close proximity, in 20 feet of water, is a memorable experience. All the time the water a cacophony of their clicks and whistles.
We’ve seen bigger pods over the past twelve months but they haven’t come as close as these. In general there has been a resurgence of marine life around the Bay, nearly always something to see and worth a snorkel in calm conditions.
This was a special day, bring on the whales!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)