Sun. May 18 is Get Back in the Cold Ocean for a Brisk Open Water Swim Day

May 8, 2014 / Tom Baker / Leave a comment

The ocean temp is nearing 50 degrees, which means it is time to get back in the water, or time to congratulate those of you who never got out (Helen, Ted, and others).

While I’m sure there will be swimmers out at Nantasket starting this Sunday at 8am (all are welcome), the regular swims are returning Sunday, May 18, at 8:00 from the same place in Nantasket Beach. If you need directions or have questions, feel free to email me. It’s been an exceedingly long and cold winter so it’ll feel good to get out of the pool and back to the expansive Mass. Bay.

More details will be forthcoming on the memorial day swim…

Enjoy the weekend.

2013 Barnacle Splash

August 20, 2013 / Tom Baker / Leave a comment

As expected, cold yet clear and calm waters for the Barnacle Splash. A tremendous thanks goes out to the kayakers, shuttle drivers, and Hull’s famous restaurant Toast, which served up hot and tasty post-swim breakfast. For your enjoyment, here are some of the photos of the pre- and post-swim entertainment. If you have photos you’d like to share, send them along and I’ll add to the post. And if you missed the swim this past weekend, there are still plenty of remaining swims between now and Thanksgiving each Sunday (and most Saturdays for that matter).

Vic’s infamous random shot

The whole group

Trust me this time, I know what I’m talking about

Stretch them muscles

The shark’s mouth was this large

Why are we doing this again?

I swear to Crusty, I did not inhale

Swim route at dawn – what lurks below?

That was fun, what is next?

The swim was tiring, I’m just going to walk the rest of the way.

If I have to go back into those cold waters one more time…

My my houlder hurts after that swim.tiff

I deserve a shoulder massage after this swim

Let’s do that again!

That was noth’n.

I will not blink first

Larry, Moe and Curly of swimming?

My job here is done

I’m not feeling so well

Grandpa stealing a moment with grandson

What every self-respecting annual swim needs, bright red shoes with checkered flag laces. But do you know who this famous person is?

Annual Barnacle Splash Sun. Aug 18

August 13, 2013 / Tom Baker / Leave a comment

This Sunday will mark the 3rd Annual Barnacle Splash Swim starting at 7:00 AM. This year we’ll be swimming from the usual starting spot at the entrance to Nantasket heading south east along the rocky coast, out and around Doctor Island, and into Black Rock Beach in Cohasset. This is 1.5 miles. If you’re winded, in need of food, or suffering from caffeine withdraw, we’ll have a car bringing people back. If however you want to continue, you can turn around and swim back, which makes the route a nice 3 miles. The tide is perfect for the swim and conditions as of now appear to be ideal.

This will be a supported swim with kayakers or paddlers along the route guiding the way and keeping an eye out for the south shore’s own indigenous venomous jumping lobsters that are starting to cause havoc on the traps. One was spotter swimming with goggles and a speedo taunting beach-goers just last weekend. Go figure?

Importantly, breakfast will be ordered. If you plan to swim, send an email to swim@crustybarnacles.com and let us know if your bfast preference is eggs, pancakes or french toast. Our friends at Toast (the restaurant) have offered to deliver. Also, Barnacle Splash Swim Caps, made up for just this occasion, have arrived. They’ll be available on Sun. for a nominal fee.

For those interested in swimming during the week, people are swimming from the usual start location at around 5:30 as the sun is rising later. Also, there have been requests for afternoon swims. If you are interested, email me at the CB address as I’m happy to put you in touch with others looking to swim. It’s always more fun in a group.

Enjoy the photos from our swim last weekend and see everyone this weekend. By the way, we’ll still be swimming Sat., with groups starting as early as 6:30 am.

4th of July Weekend Swims…

July 4, 2013 / Tom Baker / 1 Comment

As a reminder, we’re planning to swim yet again this Sun. at the usual time, 8am, and place, beginning of Nantasket in Hull.

There have been requests to explore the Southern Coast of Hull. For those interested, we’re planning a swim to Gunrock Breach, which is 1/2 mile from where we enter the water. It’ll be low tide so we’ll have to swim a bit further than normal to get beyond the rocks. For anyone with a bit more ambition who hasn’t already worn themselves out from the long holiday weekend, the alternate swim on Sunday will be to the Beach beneath Green Hill (the cove just before Black Rock), which is 1 mile from where we enter the water or 2 miles roundtrip.

If we get enough people confirming the swim on Sun and if you let us know which beach you plan to swim to, we can make arrangements for food or coffee at one or both beaches to give you the extra boost needed for the return swim. Anyone with a paddle board or kayak that is interested in an early morning paddle, we always appreciate the company and the escort, not to mention an extra lookout for sleek pointy fins. Based on this morning’s swim, the water is crisp and clear, not too hot and almost not too cold.

Also, there will be swimmers heading out Sat. morning from the same location leaving anywhere from 7-8am to accommodate everyone’s early weekend schedule and obligations.

Lastly and based on popular demand, a complimentary crusty barnacle exclusive open water swim clinic will be held tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30 am at Sandy Beach in Cohasset for anybody that has the day off or who may not have the day off but is deciding to take the day off anyhow.

Take care and enjoy your 4th of July celebrations.

PS – if you ordered a CB hoodie, they’ve arrived. Contact Steve G about getting yours in time for the break of the heat spell. They came out really nice. If you would like one and didn’t order one, it’s not too late, just let us know.

July 21-22 Open Water Swims @ Nantasket Beach

July 18, 2012 / 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

July 9, 2012 / Tom Baker / Leave a comment

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?

Impromptu Sat. Swim @ Nantasket 7:30 AM

June 22, 2012 / 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…

Crusty Barnacles

Open Water Swimming on the Boston South Shore

Massachusetts Bay