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Sue files her report on their swim around the Mollymook monitoring buoy
Pete accidentally hit by a car yesterday & admitted to Wollongong Hospital with a broken leg and abrasions. (File pic)
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AUSTRALIA DAY SWIM 2017 (This report courtesy of Sue W.)
Australia Day 2017 saw the newly named “Magnificent Seven” swim out to the shark monitoring buoy, accompanied by Kate on her SUP. This ground-breaking (or more aptly water-breaking) group comprised of Issi, Sue, Mike D., Bob, Neil, Phil from the Blue Mountains and our very own Magellan, Gary Hunt.
It was a beautiful swim on a clear, calm-water day, and the tinkling of the chains of the buoy on our approach was eerily nice. The view looking back to Mollymook was spectacular, especially with all the tents and stalls set up for the Australia Day celebrations and markets.
Katie also excitedly realised she could see the front veranda of her home from this vantage point…next time a camera is in order!
The group returned via their usual course, heading straight back towards the tree / creek, then along the beach to the Golf Club. Over coffee, the distance swum was heatedly discussed. As the time keeper (Neil) had forgotten to start his trusty device until we were at the buoy, we had only two sides of the triangle to work with. Being clever swimmers, as well as brave and fearless, we tried to recall long ago forgotten mathematical formulas and terms such as “hypotenuses” to calculate the third side of the triangle. Trusty phones with calculators were consulted, with the final estimate being between 1300 and 1500 metres…Apart from Magellan who swam extra of course! Or, more precisely, off course!!
Meanwhile, whilst all this mathematical excitement was mounting, a breakaway group of equally fearless swimmers were completing their own version of the shark monitoring buoy swim. Peter SOTY (Swimmer of the Year) out swam all, reaching the new house before heading out to the buoy, then back via the point. This provided well-earned bragging points for the newly voted SOTY, upholding his tenuous start to the year with several weeks out of the water.
Finally, three other swimmers, who initially declined the challenge of the shark monitoring buoy swim, redeemed themselves by swimming to the buoy via the reef. Well done Jan, Wendy and Steve from Abbottsleigh! All in all, a terrific swim, and one many of us are keen to do again.
Albeit poor Pete our SOTY being hospitalised yesterday is expected to be out of the water for a couple of months. All swimmers wish Pete a speedy recovery.