We’re at a healthy 47 entries to date for the swim next Sunday, June 16 at 10.00. The forecast for the day looks to be in our favour so far, with winds swinging around to come from the North. We will issue a further update on Friday next, June 14.
If you wish to enter click here.
2012 Myrtleville – Church Bay Swim participants (pic Howard Crowdy)
Lots of the regulars were away for various events but it was great to see a group of new and returning swimmers making the most of the fantastic weather. A couple did their first swim to the Rock and back, three went to Fennell’s Bay and the others did some laps around the beach to get used to new wetsuits or the water being just a bit colder than in Malta 🙂 ..
New swimmers & cruise liner
Saturday, June 8
It’s sunny, which is good – but means the beach is absolutely mobbed every afternoon. As a result, getting down there even to park isn’t very easy. Except for Monday evenings, we’re going to change the afternoon sessions to mornings for anyone interested.
Planned swim times for Myrtleville Beach OR WE MAY SWIM FROM CHURCH BAY – OTHER THAN MONDAYS – SO CHECK IN ADVANCE. Email myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com if you’re interested any day. Or tweet @Berlyn1966. Times starting Friday, June 7. These times can vary, so definitely check in advance if you’re coming on your own.
Swim at your own risk. Don’t swim alone. Always swim in groups.
Siobhan Russell captured all the action on a very crowded beach on the Bank Holiday. The regular swimmers had to share the beach with huge crowd of sun worshippers.
“A” Team – Alan and Anthony – no, not sure what he’s doing….
Tom McCarthy was on hand to give excellent advice on where to swim safely, as ever.
Tom McCarthy points the way.
Huge range of large and small craft on the water this evening.
Cruisers and Clunkers – view from the beach.
Lots of Triathletes in the water regularly now. Also many swimmers working towards various Open Water swim races. A reminder that there is a great range to choose from so get entering from the list here. One to note is the Martin Duggan Memorial Swim in Fermoy on Friday evening, June 14 . That will be a beautiful swim.
Getting ready to go.
Race to the Rock..
See all of the pictures from the evening and weekend here – provided by Siobhan Russell.
There’s been lots of activity on the beach in the past week and entries for the Church Bay swim reflect this – going over forty today – as people get their first 1,500m and 2km swims done for the year. Siobhan, Keith, Rosaleen, Fiona and Bonnie did Myrtleville to Fountainstown on May 31. Entries for Church Bay expected from all…..
Siobhan Russell, Keith and Rosaleen McKeown, Fiona Gough and Bonnie the Dog: 2km specialists
On a slightly longer note, Carol Cashell did her final, final, last swim in Myrtleville before heading off for the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (45km) next Saturday. If you want to track all the MIMS swimmers (Carol, Liam Maher and Lisa Cummins from Cork), then go to this page next Saturday.
Carol Cashell off to New York for the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim – going to fly there herself…
Bernard Lynch & Lynne Lynch – no relation! – with the ferry on Saturday June 1, for Carol’s last Myrtleville swim before MIMS
Headed into the Sun – June 1st – James Slowey, Damian O’Neill, Bernard Lynch, Tim Smyth
I will post some more great pictures from Siobhan Russell later in the week – taken at the Bank Holiday Monday evening swim. Here’s one…
Myrtleville – Monday evening, June 3, 2013
Myrtleville is fast becoming one of the most popular swim locations for open water sea swimmers, triathletes and casual swimmers in Ireland. It’s easy to see why, with a fantastic array of swims for all levels which can be completed safely in a beautiful location. Safely, is the key word. On this point, here are a few important observations and some feedback from very experienced seamen like Cpt Tom McCarthy, who regularly swims in Myrtleville:
On a swim to the Dutchman Rocks and back, it is much safer to swim in a direct line from the beach to the rock (parallel to shore) or towards Fennell’s Bay and on to the rock (weather permitting), than swimming out to sea and then heading back in to the rock.
Two main reasons.
1. Out past the line of the Rock, pleasure craft and smaller commercial vessels regularly use this space and you probably will not be visible to them. They will not expect to encounter swimmers that far out and may not be watching. There is no good reason for swimmers to be 300mts to 500mts offshore in Myrtleville.
2. The likelihood of not being able to deal with the unexpected – i.e. currents which can be strong, cramp, cold – is much more likely at these distances offshore.
Last week the skipper of a small local trawler had a near miss with two swimmers approx 350 mts offshore in Myrtleville. He did not see them until very late and was lucky to do so. He got an unpleasant fright, but it could have been a very serious accident.
Tom McCarthy observes: “I would say that getting hit by a boat is the greatest danger that an open water swimmer can face. We have heard many stories in recent days of near misses. One of the primary rules of the sea is to maintain a proper lookout by both sight and sound. Alas, all too often a proper lookout is not maintained. Added to this is the poor “target” that a swimmer gives to others, with only part of the head and arms showing. This then can also be hidden by even a small wave. High visibility swim cap and especially towing an inflatable buoy give a far better chance of being sighted. Worn properly, these will not interfere with your swimming in any way. It is also a duty of the swimmer to be aware of the other activity going on around and wearing ear plugs will diminish your ability to hear an oncoming boat. Keep a good lookout yourself.”
Swimmers & Boats at Myrtleville – stay closer to shore for safety.
With suitable weather conditions, Myrtleville provides great swimming options, ranging from a paddle to 8km swims. Just remember that you are sharing the open water with a variety of boats and they may not be watching for you – especially if you are too far offshore and outside the line between the Dutchman and Bunny Connellan.
Know your limits – stay safe, swim safe.
Bernard Lynch
Cpt. Tom McCarthy
Damian O’Neill
I thought that a few more of Siobhan Russells’ pictures deserved a posting rather than just a link to them in Picasa, so here we go.
Myrtleville under a double rainbow
The Crosshaven girls continue to put in the OW swims – although their lack of entries for the Myrtleville to Church Bay swim is duly noted…
Fiona Gough, Rosaleen McKeown, Caroline Fagen, Michelle Glossop-Smyth, Ruth McSweeney, Siobhan Russell
Myrtleville to Roches Point with rain coming….
Daithi Reilly is getting to be a regular, coming over from Cobh Tri club to prepare for the Church Bay swim..
Daithi Reilly getting ready to go.
Not sure what the camera person was doing to get these smiles…
Rainbows make you smile: Tim & Michelle Smyth, Sam Russell & Tamara ni hIci
View all the pictures from Siobhan Russell here or visit her Facebook page. See you all in Myrtleville soon – swim safely, swim in groups and watch for other water users.
Thanks again to Siobhan Russell for all pictures from Sunday and Monday swims this week.
Carol “The Soothsayer” Cashell had predicted a rise in temperatures in this week and with a range of 11.6°c to 12.3°c, she was proven correct. Definitely should be hired by Met Eireann. Of course, we got a proper Irish mix of “sunshine and showers”, hence the range..
Myrtleville – Rainbow Warrior
Kayleigh Collins was down with mum, Carmel, to ditch the wetsuit and get ready for her Garnish 1km swim and then on to the Lee Swim.
Kayleigh & Carmel Collins
There may have been the odd white lie to encourage her….
Come on Kayleigh – it’s not cold!
I think this picture is amazing..
Myrtleville cloudburst
Carol was modelling her MIMS 2013 suit for her New York swim on June 8:
Eleanor Courtney, Bernard Lynch, Ronan McCarthy & Carol Cashell
Well over thirty swimmers in stages over the evening. Great to see so many people back in the sea and the temperatures on the rise, even in the rain.
Myrtleville Monday May 27
Planned swim times for Myrtleville Beach. These are the times most likely that a group will assemble. However as with everything, it’s not guaranteed. Email myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com if you’re interested any day. Or tweet @Berlyn1966. Times starting Monday, May 27.
Swim at your own risk. Don’t swim alone. Always swim in groups. These times can vary earlier or later, so definitely check in advance if you’re coming on your own.
| 2013 | Race | Distance | Location | Fee (€) | Web | |
| Sat | 8-Jun | Garnish Island | 1, 3 & 5km | Glengariff | 23 | http://goo.gl/RM9jG |
| Sun | 9-Jun | Sandycove “M” Club Swim | 1.7km | Sandycove Island | 0 | http://goo.gl/vqEpD |
| Fri | 14-Jun | Martin Duggan Memorial | 2km | Fermoy | 15 – 25 | http://goo.gl/JptaV |
| Sun | 16-Jun | Myrtleville to Church Bay | 2km | Myrtleville | 15 | http://goo.gl/bnADs |
| Fri | 21-Jun | Paraic Casey – Celebratory | Sandycove Island | 0 | ||
| Sat | 6-Jul | Vibes & Scribes’ Lee Swim | 2km | Cork City | 25 – 35 | http://goo.gl/Ye7AK |
Myrtleville Swimmers 