There has been some debate lately about safety for swimmers.  Specifically, there seems to be a question for some people about who is responsible for the safety of swimmers on ad hoc swims.  Not official, organised swims like our RNLI swim, but day to day swims organised online, in person or however.

Very simply, the sea is not our natural environment.  Every time we go into it, we – as functioning, responsible, adult individuals – need to think about what we’re doing, where we’re going and how and when we’re getting out.  Every time – no matter how long or short your swim is going to be.  It is each person’s OWN responsibility to make sure they are safe and comfortable at all times in the sea.  Nobody else’s.

If you’re new to the sea, talk to more experienced swimmers who know about the wind, tides and risks in the area where you’re swimming.  Arrange to swim with other swimmers and watch out for each other, but don’t ever go further or longer than you yourself are comfortable with.  If the sea looks a bit too rough for you – even if other people are in the water – DON’T GO IN.  The sea will still be there for another day.

Make your own decisions on your own safety.  Don’t just rely on others.

Check the weather forecast – yourself.  Don’t just rely on others.  

Learn about the tides – yourself.  Don’t just rely on others.  

Acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety.  You and only you.

For all swimmers it’s a good idea to take the time to read these links, written by some very experienced local swimmers on winds, tides, distances etc:

https://myrtlevilleswimmers.com/routes-and-safety/

Sea swimming is a fantastic way to spend time.  Just do it in the full knowledge that every swim has some element of risk and we all individually need to take care to minimise that risk for ourselves as individuals.  Swim Safe.

There has been so much sheer, unmitigated rubbish posted on this site that it’s hard to imagine that so much of it has been “achieved” in only five years.  However, facts never lie (unless they’re fake, alternative or absolutely made up, like most of them on this site) and the first ever post on this site was on 21 May, 2012.  It was a gripping list of swim times and an invitation to join our ultra-mod and cool Google Group.  Sooooo, á la mode, it was.

What it didn’t have was pictures.  The Russell era was still some months from commencing and the few shots we put up that Summer were pretty laughable.  So, let’s have a laugh…

Night swimming on Myrtleville Beach.   

WTF –  you might ask?  Seriously, things were bad on the beach back then for life’s young love.  True story: there was a young couple on the beach discussing poetry (or something like that) and a fine figure of a man emerged – barely clothed – from the darkness.  Tom McCarthy was training for his part in a Channel relay and had decided that his first session to practice night swimming with Bernard Lynch should be captured for posterity. The young poetry lovers were split up while one was forced to take the above pic.  You can only imagine what they thought as the two lads headed off into the sea.  Maybe they didn’t bother thinking about it and just got back to making poetry.  I’d say so.

Another shot of Mr. Lynch at his finest, this time with a different sidekick.  This was after a great swim from Crosshaven to Fountainstown and then over to the Dutchman and back.  Alan Craughwell took the picture. Alan joined us for part of the swim and I remember looking up and seeing him ahead of me.  A bit later, I passed him (I was in a wetsuit, so I used to be able to pass people back then).  Shortly after that I looked up and he was well in front again.  I caught up again.  It was the third time he appeared in front of me that I realised the fecker was grabbing hold of the support kayak, getting a tow past me and then swimming on, saying nothing.  Some crack.

The last pic is of one of the strangest visiting swimmers we’ve ever had.  Lucky joined us for one night in August 2012 with his owner and they got to meet Mr. Slowey, who had begun training at the beach that Summer.  Lucky James.  Lucky Duck didn’t come back, unfortunately.  Swim standards were too low by duck ratings, I think.

The site was set up in 2012 to share swim times and help to get a group together so that safe swimming was possible and to avoid people having to swimming alone, if they didn’t want to.  I think we’ve managed that 🙂

It’s great to see so many new swimmers arriving in Myrtleville.  Welcome to you all.  

A very common question as newcomers stand on the beach for the first time is “what’s my line?”.   The response often given – even by people who have been swimming for a while – is to head towards Roches Point as a directional aid for getting to the Dutchman rocks. It’s easy to say and uses the most prominent feature on the landscape for navigation, but that’s not good advice.  Heading for Roches Point puts you outside the Dutchman and into marine traffic area – boats, in other words – who won’t be looking for swimmers.

The safe line is to sight on the last house on the coast on your left – the yellow one with the high triangular gable end, right on the Dutchman.  However, lots of people prefer a mark a bit further out to sight on.  For those swimmers, the furthest line out should be on the cottages inside Roches Point – following the green line in the pic below.  The lighthouse is a great help – but by keeping it on your right, not directly ahead.  Whatever you do, don’t sight on another prominent feature, the tower on the right of the picture below. Yes, it’s high up so you can see it, but it’s also way, way off where you want to be heading.  If you’re seeing that in front of you, start heading left – fast.

On the way back, aim for the beach or inside Bunny’s.  Well inside.  Don’t aim for Bunny’s as – again – you’re out where the boats are.  

For all the new swimmers, take the time to read the resources on this page:

https://myrtlevilleswimmers.com/routes-and-safety/

It’s worth taking the time.  It’s your safety – and you’re worth it 🙂

Ah for feck sake.  Have ye seen this?  First he had them feeding him.  Then he exiled the ones not feeding him.  Now he has the chosen few brushing his hair???  What the hell is he putting in the water at those 9.00 swims?

Denis – you’d be in awe of him at this stage.