Two years gone today and missed at the beach every morning. He’d have loved the fine weather we’ve had this September – “Where would you get it?”, he’d have asked.
Great picture of him sharing a laugh with Bernard Lynch. Tom as you would remember him – in Myrtleville and in his element.
Conclusive proof in The Times today of something I’ve been saying for ages. People need to stop coming to Myrtleville to swim. It’s cold and it’s bad for you. No doubt about it. Proven in a headline (don’t read the article, just trust me – and the headline).
Do yourself a favour. Go to the pool. No need to be parking in the limited spaces at the top of the slip. No need at all. Bad for you. Cold, too.
There have been two call-outs – yesterday and today – for the Coast Guard to rescue swimmers in Myrtleville. We have been contacted and asked to make it very clear that while the emergency services are always available to help, each person must make every effort not to create unnecessary emergencies. The rescuers are also being placed at risk by bad individual decision making.
Every swimmer must swim only within their own abilities. If that is five or ten metres off the beach – that’s still sea swimming. You do not need to go out even to Buoy One or out of your depth. You should not get into the water or swim any distance simply because someone else is already in there or because you are with others who are going in.
Each individual swimmer has to take personal responsibility for their own safety and be aware that your actions can cause yourself and others to be put in danger. If you are in any way unsure of your ability to safely complete a swim – do not attempt the swim. Be honest with yourself. Make decisions that are safe for you and do not feel pressurised just because others are doing any particular swim distance.
SWIM SAFELY – WHICH CAN MEAN “JUST DON’T SWIM”.
The sea was rough last week and we’re heading into Winter, when rough water and waves will be much more common. Swimming in the waves is often touted as great crack – no question.
Getting in and getting out of the waves is not quite so much fun and is potentially dangerous.
We’re very lucky in Myrtleville to have a sandy, safe exit most of the time. There are rocks, and occasionally thick loose seaweed however, and even on sand a wave can hit and flip you very easily. That’s painful – and dangerous. Think before you get in and think very hard about how you’ll get out. It’s too late to do that when you’re in the waves and find the undertow is pulling you out.
Donal Buckley on loneswimmer.com has done a very detailed series on this and I’m going to point everyone there. However, I’m going to copy a couple of his lines below – just as a summary.
From loneswimmer.com:
Swim safe – which can mean “don’t swim today”. If it looks a bit dodgy to get in, it’ll be a lot worse to get out 🙂
Myrtleville Swimmers 