July 21-22 Open Water Swims @ Nantasket Beach

/ Tom Baker / Leave a comment

Welcome to all the new swimmers who joined the swims this weekend. Congratulations to all those who participated in the Swim Across America one mile charity swim at Nantasket on Sat and for all the awareness for and contributions to such a great cause supporting cancer research and prevention.

Also, kudos to Chris D for bracing the frigid waters on Sat. in York Maine for the Nubble Light Challenge, a 2.4 mile swim to support the Maine Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. We have confirmed from two very reliable sources he completed it sans wetsuit.

Swimming times/locales are the same for this weekend and as mentioned previously, are merely guidelines as we know how busy everyone’s schedules are. To remind everyone, Sat, we meet and try to quickly get into the water around 7:30 ad Sun meet around 7:45 and get in the water around 8:00 am. Sunday’s have been known to have fresh fruit, pastries, bagels, animal crackers and coffee available following the swim. We will try a swim either Sat. or Sun to Gunrock Beach to change things up a bit depending on conditions.

The water temps right now are reportedly 72 degrees, which is unusually warm this time of year and if they hold, make it easier to head out swimming without a wetsuit. However, we strongly encourage you swim in whatever makes you most comfortable and we are in no way sole adherents to the bare skin doctrine adopted by other admirable but masochistic open water swim groups.

To maintain our fearless leader/swim recruiter Vic’s tradition, here’s the “random” photo from last weekend taken by none other than a friendly officer that checks in on us from time to time to ensure we’re safe.

 

 

 

 

 

Quote of the day:

“Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?” Anonymous (or I’m too lazy to research who said this – anyone know?).

Upcoming Swims/Save the Date: Aug 12, 2012

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Upcoming Swims:

Weekend swims for July 14th and 15th remain the same – meet around 7:30 AM on Sat. morning and around 7:45/8:00 am Sun. Both days we start from the Southeast end of Nantasket Beach (take your first right into the beach parking lot where you’ll see Beach Fire restaurant). I promise fins casting long 10 foot shadows will remain south of Cape Cod.

Another option for this Sat (July 14) is the Swim Across America one mile swim in Hull starting from the Mary Jeanette Murray bathhouse. It starts at 9:00 am with a post-swim celebration at the Red Parrot. To register or to support a swimmer click here. The Crusty Barnacles has it’s own team this year and it’s looking for more members.

Save the Date

August 12, 2012 is the 2nd Annual Barnacle (Mass) Bay Bash at 7:00 am. This is an approximately three mile fun swim where we plan to have kayaks and paddle boards escorting us from our usual meeting place in Nantasket to Black Rock Beach in Cohasset. We had to change venues from last year’s swim from Black Rock to Sandy Beach and back due to limited parking at BR Beach and very vigilant lifeguards at Sandy (we would pose a liability to the town if we swim in during life-guarding hours).

This is purely a fun swim only and is NOT a race. There are two coves along the way swimmers can stop and either rest at or turnaround from. The early 7:00 am start and day were selected for the 8:00 am high tide on Aug 12, allowing everyone to swim with safe clearance over breakwater rocks on the way there and back that will significantly shorten the swim distance.

Limited edition 2nd Annual Mass Bay Bash shirts will be made available for a nominal price, so RSVP as soon as possible. More details to follow…

Swim Caps

The first run of bright orange, can’t miss you swimming from a mile away, Crusty Barnacle Swim Caps has been depleted and we have had requests for more caps. We’ll be placing a new order shortly, but to help get the most accurate number of caps, email us at swim@crustybarnacles.com if you think you would like another, don’t have one and would be interested in keeping your noggin warm, or you know someone else who just likes to wear bright orange with blue accent caps out and about.

Quote of the Day

“When life gets you down, do you wanna know what you’ve gotta do? Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming”, as spoken by the modern day philosopher extraordinaire/blue fish named Dory from Finding Nemo. I admit I stole this one or perhaps received inspiration for it from the book “Swim” by Lynn Sherr, which I had promised to review but have not yet finished on account of travels with an infant which is a comedy of errors the precludes one from staying focused on any one task greater than 15 seconds. Stay tuned or just go out and get the book (it’s available on those Nooks, Kindle and Ipads if it’s easier, as The Old Colony Library Network was an extended wait-list). But seriously, does swimming not make your day all the better compared to those days you don’t swim?

Lots of Happenings: New Summer Hours…

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Unseasonably warm waters made it a perfect weekend for swimming for the Crusty Barnacles on both Sat and Sun.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Cohasset Tri and/or Mile Swim Off. See the photos below (if you have more that you want posted, send them along or if possible upload to the comments section).  Sufficed to say we had a good turnout and even a first place finish in the swim for Andy Strehle.

Too early to predict next weekend, but we are now enacting our new summer hours – this means meeting around 7:30 AM at Nantasket on Sat. morning and around 7:45/8:00 am Sun. Of course, these are merely guidelines and we encourage everyone to show when it’s convenient as there are sure to be swimmers coming or going. Just arrive before 8am, as that’s when the parking lots begin charging. But no worries if you arrive before 8am and leave your car. They will not charge for parking once you’re inside the gate.

Summer Reading: NPR had an interesting interview today with an author of a new book titled Swim: Why We Love the Water. I can’t speak intelligently about the book, but the interview is worth reading or listening to. here’s the link – http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2012/06/25/swim-lynn-sherr. I’ll post a review if someone else doesn’t beat me to it. For anyone who does swim, I suspect it’ll be something we can all relate to in some way.

Enjoy the week…

Quote for the day: “I’d far rather be happy than right any day.” Douglas Adams

And now some of the photos (reminder: send more if ya got ’em)

Disclaimer: The image with a likeness to Senator Brown may or may not be him and if it were him, which we’re not saying it is, doesn’t swim with us, but he would have an open invitation. That said, this website takes no political position nor does it affiliate itself with any political party, other than as a generalization based on no scientific fact we would venture to say the political leanings of the collective organization are fanatically moderate.

Impromptu Sat. Swim @ Nantasket 7:30 AM

/ Tom Baker / Leave a comment

Given the water conditions and the wonderful weather, we’re having an impromptu Sat swim (June 23 just in case). For those interested, and assuming no t-storms are present, swimmers will be meeting at 7:30 am at the usual place in Nantasket. We’ll either go along the coast or if interested, we can head south to Gunrock Beach. Round trip, this swim is about one mile depending on the tide.

Also, those who are not participating in the Cohasset Triathlon or one mile swim, folks are still meeting at the same time and place on Sun (7:45 AM from the start of Nantasket). Sorry about any confusion on that. We may however not have the usual supply of coffee and bagels, but you never know.

Enjoy the weekend…

Weekend Swim Reminder; Swim Across America Team Forming for July 14

/ Tom Baker / Leave a comment

Reminder that folks will be swimming both in Hull Sun meeting at 7:45 am (or thereabouts) from the start of Nantasket, and in either the Cohasset Tri or One Mile Swim. If you would like to participate in the one-mile swim, space if available and you can register by clicking here.

The Crusty Barnacles have also formed a Swim Across America Team for the event in Hull, MA on Sat. July 14. It starts at 9:00 am with a post-swim celebration at the Red Parrot. To register for the team, click here.

The water temps have definitely risen, now up to 64 degrees, where it’s comfortable going without wetsuit (at least on the surface). But as we all know, this can change quickly. Otherwise, forecast is for flat seas, which is no fun for surfing, but excellent for swimming so get out and swim.

Jun. 24 Swim @ Nantasket or Cohasset – Take Your Pick

/ Tom Baker / Leave a comment

Great showing of swimmers yesterday, especially given the wind and waves. And thanks especially to whomever brought the coconut sprinkled caramel layered brownie treats – we owe you for treating us to such a delicacy after getting pushed around by the ocean for an hour.

For this coming weekend, we anticipate a low turnout at Nantasket on Sunday given how many of you are signed up for either the Cohasset triathlon or its one-mile swim-only event or the traffic issues in and around the area that these events may pose.  Plans are still on to meet at the same time, 7:45/8:00 am, and at the same place.

However, for those interested, there is still room to join several of us who have signed up for the swim-only event, which I definitely recommend. It should start at around 9am from Sandy Beach (shuttles in and out of the area will be provided). The early forecast is showing the waters will be calm with little to no swell and only a slight breeze so it should make for ideal swimming conditions. Information and registration details can be found at the following link – http://www.cohassettri.com/swimoff.php.

If there’s a large enough turnout for the swim, I’m guessing it could mean more organized open water swim events in the future, which would be a very good thing.

Water Temps Warming…Upcoming Swims…

/ Tom Baker / Leave a comment

Welcome to all the new swimmers that have been showing up (see photo below from yesterday). The conditions keep getting even better down at Nantasket. No jellies or stingrays to report and yesterday’s water was clear and calm. We expect more of the same this weekend.

This Sat., June 16 starting at 10am (gathering at 9am) there will me a one-mile swim in Dorchester Bay to celebrate Jim Doty, a legendary open water swimmer and founder of the New England Marathon Swimming Association. It’ll start from the L St. Bath House (M St. entrance of the Curley Community Ctr). No cost, but donations to the Mission Haiti (www.sawgrasschurch.org) are accepted. Contact Greg O’Conner for more info at gregoc@rcn.com.

This Sun., June 17, we’ll be meeting at Nantasket at the same time, 7:45 and in the water by 8:00 am. Coffee will hopefully return this week.

And in two weeks on Sun., June 24, space is still available for the one mile swim only leg/race of the Cohasset Triathlon (http://www.cohassettri.com/). Elizabeth Warren is rumored to have signed up for the swim so as not to be outdone by Scott Brown who is a rumored participant in the triathlon. Could the post-event activities include a campaign debate to settle once and for all which candidate would best represent the growing voting bloc of striped bass and lobster or will they pander to the politically influential but shrinking numbers of sea lions off the shores of Chatham? Only way to know is to get out for the swim.

Lastly, we don’t want to limit organized swims to Sunday or at the 8am time slot. Folks are heading out at various times throughout the week and from different locations. Feel free to email us at swim@crustybarnacles.com and we’ll add you to the email distribution list where you can connect with other swimmers.

Enjoy the week…

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day Weekend Swim(s)

/ Tom Baker / Leave a comment

This Sunday we’ll be meeting between 7:30 and 8:00 am for the usual swim starting from just beyond Beach Fire in Nantasket. Rumor has it the Plymouth nuclear plant is running at full power as the water temperatures have jumped to the high 50s from last week’s high 40s. Depending on the crowd that shows up and the level of interest, the tide and water temps will give us the option to swim the normal course along the coast or instead head south east around the point and toward Gun Rock Beach in Hull or further toward Black Rock Beach. We may have some kayakers that could help escort us.

Also, I’m hearing more rumors of folks meeting at various times Sat. morning to swim, bike or run from Sandy Beach in Cohasset as part of training for the triathlon season. Feel free to forward this email along to anyone who is not on this list and who should be on the list.

Unfortunately, we cannot promise anyone the opportunity to swim with 1400 whale sharks. But if you like, the week-long festival in Isla Mujeras is still taking place and you still have time to make it down there to experience the opportunity of antagonizing a 40 ft sea creature (admittedly this defies reason). You can learn all about this aquatic running of the bulls here – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/22/swimming-with-whale-sharks_n_1533786.html.

Otherwise, enjoy the holiday weekend.

Quote for the Week inspired by an ever so brief episode with my wife this week…

“He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher… or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.”
Douglas Adams

Cohasset Open Water One-Mile Swim Event Jun 24

/ Tom Baker / 1 Comment

Great news for open water swimmers – there’s now a 1st Annual one-mile open water race taking place in conjunction with the Cohasset Triathlon on June 24 in the protected cove at Sandy Beach.  I couldn’t think of a better place to host such an event, so if you are free that weekend, definitely sign up and participate in the first year of this event.

There are two categories, wetsuit and no wetsuit. It’ll begin right after the last triathlon heat leaves. More info on the swim can be found n the Cohasset Tri website or you can register directly at this link.

7:00 AM Swim for Sunday, April 29

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We’ll meet at the same location at the beginning of Nantasket Beach in Hull, but moving the time up a little earlier given the earlier sunrise. The conditions are expected to be calm and clear as the surf will clear out Thursday.The water temps will be a little on the chilly side so bring your gloves, booties and an extra cap just in case.

Any triathletes looking to get some early-season open water swims are encouraged to join and receive tips and points from our own celebrity swimmer Vic L.