Life is short. Swim at Sunrise.
Sunrise at Nantakset Beach, June 12, 2018
What never gets old?
South Shore and Open Water Swimming
Embrace Your Inner Ocean Swimmer
We have another perfect forecast for ocean swimming this weekend. The Boston buoy has the water above 60 and the forecast for tomorrow is for calm waters. Here’s a photo of what you can expect around 8:00 am tomorrow morning and Sunday morning. Arrive before hand to beat the parking attendants. Early birds are encouraged for a 6:30 am start like last weekend. 
Swim Caps and Sunday June 26
For those not participating in a triathlon on Sun (which is also a lot of fun) and will insted be swimming, Crusty Barnacle swim caps from last summer will be available first come first serve. I just looked and saw the water temp is above 65 for the first time this year, so it’ll be perfect. I’ll be an observer but will be happy to take the group photo and send everyone off.
The last few months we’ve received questions in the general email box which I apologize I am only now opening up for the first time in more than six months. To answer some of your questions, there is not registration and swimmers of all abilities are welcome unless your name is Vic in which case, that’s just unique circumstance that we’ll have to handle accordingly. As a reminder, the meeting place is the first beach entrance in Hull off of Nantasket Ave (Route 228) – take a right after the bait shop and you will see a crumbling and condemned restaurant called Beach Fire.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Weekend Swims for Aug 23 & 24
Hopefully everyone has been enjoying the clear albeit persistently brisk waters.
On Sat., Aug 23, for anyone who is interested, we’ll be meeting at 7:00 am at Black Rock Beach, which is at the end of Forrest Ave where it intersects Jerusalem. Let me know if you are interested. There are a two options. One is to swim from Black Rock to the beach below St. Joseph’s retreat and back (1.75 miles round trip) or Black Rock to Sandy Beach and back (3 miles round trip).
For sunday, it’s the usual swim, only due to popular demand, we’re going to move the swim up by 30 minutes leaving at 7:30 am instead of the usual 8:00.
Enjoy the week.
Weekday Swims
Weekday swims are back. The water is well above 60 as of today and perfect conditions are in the forecast for next several days. No set times, but a small # of swimmers have been showing up between 5:00 and 6:00 am every day of the week. Here’s the screenshot of the readings from the Boston buoy! Look at water temp 2/3 of the way down…
Memorial Day Swims and Beyond
Memorial day weekend swims are upon us. Sunday we’ll be meeting at the same time and place and Monday we’ll meet at 7:30, to avoid the crows and to make sure we have enough time to get off to our other Memorial Day festivities. Monday is supposed to be a beautiful, warm and clear day. I know it’s hard to believe but the waters really are warming up and getting quite comfortable.
Importantly, save the date for the James Doty One Mile Memorial Swim on Sat. June 14 from the L Street Bath House.
As many of you know, Jim is an iconic swim figure for the Boston area who was instrumental in restarting the Boston Light Swim and in forming the New England Marathon Swimming Association (NEMSA).
Preregister online for only $10! The first 30 registrants are guaranteed an event shirt. Signup here: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=28089. For more information: http://bostonlightswim.org/james-doty-memorial-mile-swim/
Swim Season Official Under Way
Great turnout on a day when the ocean was maybe 50 degrees. I apologize for predicting it to be 55 degrees. Needless to say it stung more than a bit upon entry to the water. Once we were in however, there was a smooth oncoming swell that enticed just a few of us to body surf and frolic about in the waves. And best of all the clouds parted for a beautiful morning as we returned to shore. It was really a pleasure seeing everyone back at it again and the pictures below say it all.
Same time (Sunday 8:00 am) and place (first entrance to Nantasket Beach) next week. More details to follow on the Memorial Day Swim, but given the likely parking issues that morning, the expected beach crowds and the many other commitments and BBQs we may have, we plan to meet at 7:30 am (which means well be in the water just before 8am). Enjoy the week.
Opening Day Crew
Ted’s pre-swim ritual: Applying glide on his good luck towel
Can we back out?
I can do this I can do this
I almost have that pesky zipper in my hand
Sun. May 18 is Get Back in the Cold Ocean for a Brisk Open Water Swim Day
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
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…
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
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. 
Crusty Barnacles 