Sea swimmers

Soldato
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14 Nov 2004
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Hayle, Cornwall
This year I got over being a chubster and got in the water. I joined a group called the Battery Belles and Buoys based in Penzance Cornwall. We swim every day (shifts permitting) at 11am and I have fallen in love with it. The pics should tell you why....its bloody amazing. one of the ladies in the group has a decent cameras (Karen Arthur (the crisp photos)) and others capture the moment. non wetsuit swimming takes some balls at this time of year but today it was lovely...10.2c at the rocks. These pics have been taken over the last 6 weeks...loads to explore and loads to look for. We also swim out of Carbis Bay which is where the seal pics are from. Ive been really enjoying some Wim Hof techniques with breathing and meditating...then exploring.

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Any other sea swimmers out there?


rotters
 
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Soldato
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So very very jealous!!! :D

When I was a nipper I used to swim with a group that split their time between Hayling Island and Southsea, sea swimming was so much more satisfying. I so miss living on the coast and hate being a landlocked midland lubber :(
 
Soldato
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Both my sisters and the girlfriend of one of them did the Whitley Bay North Sea swim on New Year's Day, bloody mental if you ask me!

Cracking photos though, how cool that the seals appear so completely unconcerned about people being in the sea with them.
 
Soldato
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Im swimming around St Micheal's Mount in august...atm I can swim about 800m no problems but the mount is 1.6 miles...need to improve my swim stroke..currently looking at total immersion techniques.
 
Associate
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A few of my friends did the Padstow to Rock swim last year, I'm tempted to try it this year....not quite as for as yours though.
 
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Soldato
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Brrrrr making me feel cold thinking about it, how long can you stay in the water in those temps?
it was 8.1c yesterday and we where in for 30 mins. the core body temp drop after was fun...takes some mental toughness to overcome. Ive got a new hat coming which is orange as I was being told off for getting a grey one..I looked like a seal apparently when I headed back in from a swim. New hat is thermal not a latex one but neoprene hopefully less Ice cream head aches. Also my new snorkel by Cressi has just arrived...going to get some exploring done. Im awaiting a new prescription diving mask to be delivered too as I keep losing my monthly contact lenses that will be loads of fun exploring and not worrying about my lenses.

rotters
 
Soldato
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21,778
impressive - Have you done any additional cold water conditioning, to swimming every day, as the water got colder and colder ?
how far away from the land do you trust yourself to swim and be able react if you feel really cold loosing sensation ?

(my limited experiences in outdoor lido nearer 15C, was shaking uncontrollably afterwards and head ache/ numb face)
 
Soldato
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Hayle, Cornwall
impressive - Have you done any additional cold water conditioning, to swimming every day, as the water got colder and colder ?
how far away from the land do you trust yourself to swim and be able react if you feel really cold loosing sensation ?

(my limited experiences in outdoor lido nearer 15C, was shaking uncontrollably afterwards and head ache/ numb face)

I dont want to be seen as a quack but Ive been practicing some of the Wim Hof Methods. Some cold showers, some of the breathing techniques. I enjoy it.
 
Caporegime
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cool stuff. From about 12-15 I did a fair bit of snorkling around the UK, including right up near John o groats etc., used to enjoy the challenge of swimming in the cold. With time you would get used to it. Then I started traveling the world and got used to 26*C water and I turned into a pansy.
 
Soldato
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just ordered a new diving mask £55 for prescription goggles is pretty excellent. here's hoping they work. A lot of the guys I swim with use them and they've not had any failures yet. the storms recently have made the water murky and extra salty...not nice but good to get out for a swim.
 
Caporegime
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Having a bit of extra “bulk” definitely helps with this. Rather you than me. I end up a shivering mess after 20 minutes in the end in summer. :p
 
Soldato
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been looking into a freestyle called total immersion swimming by Terry Laughlin who held numerous swimming distance records. I need to work on my distance swimming being a heavy lad as some of you noticed Im not as streamline as some swimmers and I have heavy arms and shoulders. Terry wasnt a slim jim either but was a rocket in the water over a distance.

 
Soldato
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still too far from the sea unfortunately, so have to dream of that .... has you cold tolerance maximised , so never need a wet suit ?

you're getting that wonderful new geo-thermal Lido in Penzance too, saw an article on it .. so you will be spoiled.
 
Soldato
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Hayle, Cornwall
having been in the geothermal spas in Iceland Im really looking forward to the lido being upgraded. Im in between night shifts and just been for a swim, yeah no need for a wet suit in any weather now. pumping on hayle beach this evening.
 
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