Feeling the need for a little sun, with things being overcast at home, The Hat took itself off to the beach in Turkey.  Lifestyles of the rich and famous, I suppose.

The Hat goes to Turkey.

The water has warmed up a lot and with the Summer swims and Triathlons in full swing, there’s a constant flow of people on the beach.  Entries are coming in steadily for the RNLI Myrtleville – Church Bay swim on June 28.  Enter now, if you haven’t done so! Swim Safe, whenever you swim.

The water was really warm on Monday – up towards 15c, but with lots of waves in the SE wind.  A good crowd still got in for a splash and fun.

The Wall of Weed.

Past the seaweed barrier and into the waves.

The showers introduced by Denis have really become popular.

The queue for the showers in Myrtleville is nothing if not orderly.

Swim Safe! Swim often 🙂

Channel & MIMS swimmer, Bonnie Schwartz, visited Cork at the weekend from New York.  She had conducted extensive research on where best to swim and – no surprise to us – chose Myrtleville as the number one swimming spot.  Sure, where else? Unfortunately, it was far from its beautiful best, but it was good fun surfing the waves – once we got past the ten foot weed barrier washed up on the beach.

Brian Twomey, Gary Frost, Damian O’Neill, Bernard Lynch & Bonnie Schwartz before braving the seaweed barrier at the water’s edge.

Bonnie reckoned the sea temp was similar to her usual location of Brighton Beach, NY.  Of course, the other reason she came to Myrtleville was to see the Home of The Hat.  She’s now a proud owner of her very own.

Congratulations – you’re a Hat winner!

Bonnie & her new hat – worth coming all this way to get it!

A return visit is promised for next year – hopefully we can take her to Church Bay or Fountainstown with calmer weather.  In the meantime, we can all follow this good advice (thanks, Rosaleen)…

Tuesday evening, June 3rd, in the rain and an unpleasant chop, eight swimmers did a great swim from Myrtleville to Fountainstown.  Presumably with this excellent qualifier, those who haven’t done so will now be submitting their entries for the Church Bay swim on June 28!  Well done to all.

Amy Barry-Murphy, Fiona Gough, Andrew Gough, Sean Foley, Barbara-Anne Richardson, Siobhan Russell & Ger Venner – with Michelle Glossop Smyth behind the camera.

While we’re on the congratulations topic – year-round swimmer, James Slowey, ditched his wetsuit and finished 22nd in the Cork City Marathon last Monday in a fantastic time of 2hrs 52mins.  He says the secret to his success is doing all his running training in the water.  Here he is completing a water run in preparation for the marathon.

James Slowey – secret water-running training.

If he can just straighten up a bit, he’ll break 2.30 next time out.  Well done, James 🙂

Beautiful swimming now, with sea temps up over 14.5c and sunshine when we get out.  Shivers are being banished.  We had a good turnout for a bank holiday Monday, with over twenty swimmers – including some new arrivals, who got to see the all-new Myrtleville shower experience.  Hopefully they’ll come back anyway.

Some of the Monday June 2nd group. They all look quite normal. It’s amazing what salt water exposure does post-swim.

Mr. Black, Mr. Black, Mr. Black and Mr. Black – but no Mr. Pink?

Reservoir Dogs – they’re missing Mr. Pink though.

So far, so normal.  Then the showers started.

What is Denis after starting now? Carmen shows how showering should be done.

Ah, here’s Mr. Pink now.  In fairness, Pat’s a true professional – always attired in a uniform befitting the activity.  Having a shower – wear a shower cap..

Pat “Mr. Pink” Lowry.  And we thought Gary Frost was going to win the pose of the year award?

Swim times for May seem to have worked well, so we’ll keep them going at 18.00 Monday, 06.15 Tuesday and Friday and 08.15 Saturday.  There’s often small groups around on Wednesday and Thursday too at 06.15.  Swim Safe, whenever you do swim.

June 3rd, 7.30pm: Eilis Burns will be bringing a group of new open water swimmers to Myrtleville on Tuesday, June 3rd at 7.30pm.

Any of the regular Myrtleville swimmers who can be around that evening to give any help would be appreciated. We just need swimmers used to the sea to join the group for the swim and watch out for anyone who needs some support.

Please come down if you can. Remember what your own first swim was like and help out 🙂