I participate in a lot of open water swims here on the east coast but have never swam in the ocean on the west side of the country. I sent in a bunch of questions to the FINA World Champ Master website and never got a response (there is an excerpt from the email below). I'm hoping anyone who has had experience swimming in the San Francisco Bay could give me their advice. If anyone running this event could also give me any feedback that would be great.
"Open Water Issues....... I am concerned about the shark population in San Francisco bay. I am an open water swimmer and would like to "attempt" alcatraz and the 3k swim. What measures if any will there be taken concerning sharks? I'm very comfortable with the ocean on the east coast but have never swam on the "west side". I'm I being silly? Once I heard there were seals in the bay I got nervous because that's what sharks eat.... or so I'm told. Some people also told me that people go to "watch" the sharks in San Francisco bay. Please, please tell me I'm being silly."
Obviously everyone has their own comfort level on these things but they are both very doable swims. For Alcatraz, there are probably at least 1,000 swimmers who do that swim every year between the different swims from Alcatraz. I've never heard of anyone having any problem except with the challenging conditions. Which are doable for most reasonably competent swimmers unless you are unlucky in the schedule of the swim(i.e., the currents are stronger than expected or heavy wind chop of something like that).
The 3k swim should be different. While its a longer swim, my understanding is that Alameda is more sheltered and usually a little warmer. I would suggest entering both, and taking them one day at a time. If you have a good experience in the 3K swim, give Alcatraz a shot. If you find it more challenging than you enjoy, go hike the redwoods instead.
There are several swimmers in SF, Gary Emich and Pedro Ordones who have both done the Alcatraz swim several hundred times and obviously they haven't run into any dangerous marine life.
Obviously everyone has their own comfort level on these things but they are both very doable swims. For Alcatraz, there are probably at least 1,000 swimmers who do that swim every year between the different swims from Alcatraz. I've never heard of anyone having any problem except with the challenging conditions. Which are doable for most reasonably competent swimmers unless you are unlucky in the schedule of the swim(i.e., the currents are stronger than expected or heavy wind chop of something like that).
The 3k swim should be different. While its a longer swim, my understanding is that Alameda is more sheltered and usually a little warmer. I would suggest entering both, and taking them one day at a time. If you have a good experience in the 3K swim, give Alcatraz a shot. If you find it more challenging than you enjoy, go hike the redwoods instead.
There are several swimmers in SF, Gary Emich and Pedro Ordones who have both done the Alcatraz swim several hundred times and obviously they haven't run into any dangerous marine life.
