The wind had moved to Southerly by the planned swim time at 4.30 yesterday – no swim!
Myrtleville, Monday February 3rd, 2014 – should have brought a board.
Myrtleville, Monday February 3rd, 2014 – not going to make it to the Dutchman!
Hopefully we’ll get in on Thursday at 4.30. Saturday looks very suspect at the moment.
Despite the Armageddon forecast for Saturday morning, it was quite swimmable. We had seven swimmers and at 8.4c, nobody felt the need to get out early.
We were surprised when Finbarr Hedderman arrived, as there had been a lot of big talk on Twitter during the week about swimming at 7.30 in Sandycove. Poor old Finbarr turned up down West to find himself alone in the dark – with the Twitterati staying in bed. Ah well, at least he was able to come across to Myrtleville for some company 🙂
Gary Frost’s map for the swim shows there was a bit of messing around and stop-starting going on, but it was really enjoyable. Finbarr and Jim Shaloo headed over outside the breaking waves at the Dutchman, with the rest of us turning at Fennell’s Bay.
Mad Maps – what was Gary doing?
Siobhan Russell swam on Thursday and Sunday – here’s proof:
Toes-eye view – the Dutchman and Roches Point are thataway.
Not the greatest forecast for the week, but we can’t complain for February. Going to try for 4.30 Monday and Thursday, with 8.15 on Saturday morning looking the most dodgy one given the current weather predictions. There’s bound to be a calm bit, though!
Great to have seven swimmers at dawn in January. A big change from last year.
8.6c on the watches for the sea temp and it was very mild on land, so not bad at all for a Winter swim. We got to the Dutchman quickly, with a bit of a haul coming back into a rising Westerly wind.
Siobhan was following up her Friday swim and brought the camera, of course.
Myrtleville dawn – 25 January, 2014
A less common shot of Siobhan in front of the camera. Apparently the prescription goggles are great for cutting onions too. Good to see that Bernard is shooting up these days – or is he on his tiptoes again?
Siobhan with her specially purchased cheap swimming Uggs. And two passing swimmers.
Gary & Niamh have an ongoing race apparently, but they took a morning off from it on Saturday.
Niamh O’Connor & Gary Frost – no racing today.
No matter what day or time you turn up in Myrtleville this Winter, Denis Condon is either in the water, just out or ready to go in with you. He’s hardly missed a day.
Denis Condon – swimming in Myrtleville more than anyone this Winter.
Swimming at 4.30pm today, Monday and next Thursday, Jan 30th. First swim of February next Saturday morning at 08.15. Denis will probably also be swimming on Tuesday, Wednesday and twice on Friday – but you’d have to check with him 🙂
A beautiful calm sea and 8.5c temp this Thursday afternoon and a nice group of five swimmers.
Gary Frost is getting even more fancy – first movies, now GPS maps. He mapped about 1.4km yesterday – even though I thought we were a bit closer to the Dutchman when we stopped: I could see the seaweed on it!
Gary Frost’s 23 January swim map.
Siobhan was going to swim, but opted to take a few pictures instead – getting tired out from the pool and planning on a swim on Friday morning anyway.
One man and his beach.
It was low tide and handy for work so Finbarr Hedderman arrived, complete with Sandycove 1000+ hat.
Aidan Mangan and Finbarr Hedderman.
Of course, with Siobhan on-site, someone had to be told “POSE!”
When Siobhan says Pose, you pose – Gary Frost & James Slowey.
Swim tomorrow morning, Saturday, at 08.15 as usual.
Lots of swimming all weekend with various groups using the beach – you’d never know it was January!
It was 8.8c in the water on Saturday morning – a surprise to see the temperature had gone back up again. The word on Friday afternoon was that it was like a Summer’s day – Denis may be getting a bit too used to the water at this stage: he’ll be telling us it’s toasty soon 🙂
There’s a group swimming at 4.30 today, Monday and 4.30 next Thursday, Jan. 23rd, if anyone wants to join us. Usual Saturday swim at 08.15.
Beware of posing for Siobhan.
Siobhan Russell was looking for some scenic calendar shots on the beach, but found some fellas getting in the way.
Beautiful shot of Myrtleville late on a January afternoon – just ignore the two guys on the bottom right.
Siobhan’s a true professional, so she just bided her time.
That’s better, they’ve gone.
Gary Frost has diligently stuck at his plan for the Winter, taking off his wetsuit at the end of each swim, to do a few minutes in togs and build up his acclimatisation. He’ll do an hour in April, no bother.
Gary Frost passes his suit to his wardrobe assistant as he continues his acclimatisation plan.
Usual swim tomorrow, Saturday, at 08.15. Water about 8.5c on Thursday – might be a little lower early tomorrow.
While we’d all like to be in the sea for the year, Irish temperatures and daylight hours mean the pool is a necessary evil.
Some people have taken it a bit too far, though, and gone for training sessions in Douglas Pool on Wednesdays, with Ms. Cashell in command – no slacking there.
Clodagh, Joleen, Siobhan & Gary – disciples of Sensei Cashell – ‘The Mean One’.
There’s a group in the sea today, Thursday, at 4.30pm and the usual swim at 08.15 on Saturday morning. All welcome, as ever.
It was a beautiful morning in Myrtleville: temps were 7.8c in the water and -2c on land with lovely sunshine. The beach was icy, admittedly and that wasn’t the most pleasant for the feet!
Still, a great turnout of eight swimmers, even if some promised special guests couldn’t make it after a late night.
Also absent, on Gala duty in Tralee, a couple of Myrtlevillians couldn’t keep out of the sea.
Fast Eddie Irwin, the surfer Dude & Bernard Lynch at Banna Beach today.
Big waves in Kerry and I’m giving Eddie the benefit of the doubt by saying he was looking to catch some tubes in his board shorts. I couldn’t be saying he was swimming in his jox.
8.6°c on Wednesday and 8.7°c in the water on Thursday, plus it was calm enough to swim to the Dutchman. Still a good mix of swimmers sticking with Winter sea swimming and enjoying it. We also hear tell of sneaky extra training sessions in the pool in Douglas. Some people are getting fierce serious 🙂
Usual 08.15 swim tomorrow, Saturday. Forecast looks ok.
As ever, a couple of fantastic pictures from Siobhan Russell during the week.
High tide at Fennell’s Bay.
The Dutchman throws up some waves
See you in the sea!
Siobhan Russell got these great pictures just after her swim in Church Bay this morning…..
This was after the main waves had died down. Jimmy Long in Myrtleville said the sea was taking chunks out of the cliffs there at high tide at 8.00 this morning – huge waves.
Myrtleville Swimmers 