Results - Winter...

What a way to finish with Wintertime 1SOMS – a break in Winter weather (i.e. a bit of sun) ; a refreshing 12’C and flat racing conditions. I do maintain that if you are not in a wetsuit (or even if you are) and you are feeling cold – swim faster ;-) !!

Reminder: After the debate in February of wetsuit vs non-wetsuit (and confirmation from FINA that rule OWS5.5 does determine recognition of a swim ) I realized that a tad more result analysis was being asked for. Accordingly, there is now a race within a race (and for you and me still overall results information) by which I mean that “Wetsuits” and “Channel Rules” can now distinguish their relative intra-group position. Below the overall position table is the Top 10 times for Wetsuits and Channel Rules. On the google doc spreadsheet that links to the website I have also indicated whether the achieved race time was in the top half of the field – you would do well to consider racing with the Hounds if you are in the Top half.

First back to the beach was the newbee wetsuited Hare–Scott Tait (#0975) followed in by wetsuited Hare Lodi Cronje (#0816)..

Race honours

·         Wetsuits~ goes to Craig Getz who has made a welcome return after leg surgery. Newcomer Scott Tait is expected to start with the Hounds next month and with this I expect even better racing

·         Channel Rules ~ goes to Callum Bell who after last month’s start with the Hares realized it is faster to race with his peer group.

Interesting tidbits  Roger Finch is en route to the Channel – expected start date is 18 August. Liz Webb will also be spending some time over there and will do the buddy swimming with Roger… www.rogers2011echannel.co.za . 1SOMS recently featured on Open Water Source so keep an eye on this global resource.

UPCOMING Watch this space – 1SOMS is going into Summer …!

A huge thank you to the following:

Registration desk: Nicole Burger (Previously raced), Alex Burger (Newbees)

Starter: Warren Fialkov

Lifesaving team leader: Craig Getz

Finish Team: Karen Schoombie (Timing), Alex Burger (Positions), Nicole Burger (Finish tags)

Photographs: Deon Fialkov

 Next 1^st Sunday of the Month Swim 4 September 2011 (Registration 08h15~08h50, Briefing 09h00 and Start 09h15) bring down a friend to share the experience (and maybe even hold a towel) ! NOTE THAT IT IS AN HOUR EARLIER THAN WINTER…

*     Position overall             **   Position out of Wetsuits               *** Position out of Channel Rules

1SOMS- 2011-06 June

Winter pics...

Polarbears 56 (including me!)

Sea Temp 13'C Air Temp 18'C Swell NNW 0.5~1m Wind None Visibility 0.3m (poor)

A relaxed reverse speed group swim to the turn off 1st beach... identification of the landmarks to aim for... photographs mid-ocean. Hopefully new friends made! ;-)

Certainly everyone who was there wanted to be there... time to reset your targets...Goal setting for the next swim which will lead to summer.

A big thank you to AquaSphere who were down to show off their range of goggles...they were also kind enough to bring down some Hammer bars for refueling. They are expected to be a regular feature at 1SOMS .

I don't thank the land-based team often enough for volunteering their time and putting up with my plans to grow 1SOMS into a Cape Town "must-do".  I am looking for 2 or 3 others to grow this team to improve the experience and safety of the swim (Please email me).

THANK YOU to

Kevin (Starter aka Dad), Deon (Photgrapher aka younger brother), Alex (In charge of registration Newbees aka girlfriend), Nicole (in charge of registration Raced-before and finish tags aka Alex's sister).

Polarbears, Polar hares, Polar hounds & there partners/offspring,siblings and parents who make each 1st Sunday of Month Swim so special by showing camaraderie and being a true open water swimming community.

Come rain or shine Polarbears do it 1st Sunday of the Month off Clifton... ;-)

Next 1SOMS 3 July 2011 - Registration 09h15 Briefing 10h00 Start Hares 10h15 Start Hounds 10h20

1SOMS 2010-08 AUGUST

Finally! the last late swim of 2010. In keeping with the season – “different” water and air conditions were experienced. This time we arrived to find a low lying mist in Clifton bay. The hope being that the sun would burn off the mist came to naught and it was decided to rather cancel the timing/racing part of the swim.

Visibility on the surface was estimated at 20m with sufficient wave action to allow the swimmers to maintain a constant route outside the wave line. Very little surface/current action made for a very pleasant swim with the lifesavers sufficiently spread along the route to allow swimmers to “landmark” off them as opposed to the normal block of flats (and red roof bungalow). Most of the swimmers came afterwards to swap “swim stories” over a cup of hot chocolate.

Spring is on the way and I hope to raise the level of the 1^st Sunday of the Month Swim by securing some sponsors.

A very special thanks to the admin team who assisted to keep everything running smoothly and a huge thank you to the swimmers who come down to enjoy a little bit of Cape Town’s outdoor open water swimming..

Next 1^st Sunday of the Month Swim 5 September 2010 (Registration 08h15~08h50, Start 09h15) (Note its an hour earlier (i.e. normal) to allow those partying to come directly to the beach.)

1SOMS 2010-07 JULY

The 1^st hangover of the month and the 2^nd late 1SOMS of  2010 …if only Ghana and Argentina had got through to the next round what a different World Cup it would have been…

Excellent weather forecasted and one could scarcely believe that this is mid-Winter … the only tell-tale sign would be the warm water that graced us…oh and the sun rising over Lions Head at a few minutes to 9 o’clock.

A couple of newcomers should that news of the cold open water swimming is doing the rounds…the Racing Hare that was back to the beach 1^st and took overall honours by a mere 2 seconds. Well done Brad Gale. I am quite certain that if 2^nd placed Robert Mason and third placed Nadine Ballot had raced together their times would have been faster.

First wetsuit home was Lezandrey Joubert followed in by Raymond Connell. (Whoops! Raymond was not in a wetsuit - I incorrectly said he was.)

Between now and the next 1SOMS is the World Cup Final and the first “ICE SWIM AFRICA” in Fraserburg on 17 July. Good luck to all who are joining the excursion – you are in good company. Prepare well and swim well.

A very special thanks to the admin team who assisted to keep everything running smoothly. Spare a thought for Natalie Abel who has been a regular admin who managed to put her leg in a cast after falling down some stairs at the Velodrome – I wish her a speedy recovery.

Next 1^st Sunday of the Month August 1 2010 (Registration 09h15~09h50, Start 10h15) (Note it’s the last late one of the year that is an hour later to allow an hour more partying and to allow the sun to rise above Lions Head)

1SOMS 2010-06 JUNE

The 1^st late swim of 2010 and the last one before the Winter Solstice. In keeping with this seasons escapades a different set of water and weather conditions confronted the Polar Bears… a week before the race the forecast was an incoming swell of 4.2m this dropped of to an estimate 2.3m by the Wednesday before and was pretty much 2m by the start of the swim. The NW brings in the warm water but makes beach-going not too pleasant. As one of the admin team remarked it was warmer in the water.

A deep turning buoy ensured that all swimmers stayed well outside Cherry reef and away from the swell that was incoming on 1^st beach. Directly into the windswept swell is never pleasant but making the turn with the swell behind typically makes up for the discomfort.As the times show the swim was fast with the Hounds chasing hard- unable to overcome the 5 minute delay the Hares were first to make landfall – Monika I am tempted to place you with the Hounds in future as you have being racing well all season ;-). Newcomer Henko Roukema  showed he is no slouch in the water with a very respectable time while Nadine Ballot continues with her good swimming form and shows that she has recovered from her Freedom Day swim.

The last couple of years has seen growth in the number of participants. I am always impressed by the “regulars” who show not only great spirit but also great tenacity. When reviewing the swims over the past couple of months interesting results show.. but more of those later…(keep on watching ;-))A couple of longer swims are on the calendar so keep an eye out for them.

A very special thanks to the admin team who assisted to keep everything running smoothly.

Next 1^st Sunday of the Month Swim July 4 2010 (Registration 09h15~09h50, Start 10h15) (Note its an hour later to allow an hour more partying and to allow the sun to rise above Lions Head)