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."
Go to: www.2006finamasters.org/ then click on FINA Tours on the left side of the page. Tour 14 is the Alcatraz swim. It list:
* Bus transportation to San Francisco
* Bay cruise to Alcatraz aboard the Signature flagship yacht San Francisco Spirit
* Bottled water, juice, coffee, and Power Bars on board
* Participant will be dropped off at Alcatraz Island to swim back to shore
* Receive "I Swam 2006 FINA Alcatraz swim" t-shirt
To get more information on any tour or to purchase call 415-777-2288 or, if you are within the US, toll free at 888-868-7788. Please reference the tour package you are interested in and someone will get back to you with more information.
There are 107 swimmers signed up so far.
Go to: www.2006finamasters.org/ then click on FINA Tours on the left side of the page. Tour 14 is the Alcatraz swim. It list:
* Bus transportation to San Francisco
* Bay cruise to Alcatraz aboard the Signature flagship yacht San Francisco Spirit
* Bottled water, juice, coffee, and Power Bars on board
* Participant will be dropped off at Alcatraz Island to swim back to shore
* Receive "I Swam 2006 FINA Alcatraz swim" t-shirt
To get more information on any tour or to purchase call 415-777-2288 or, if you are within the US, toll free at 888-868-7788. Please reference the tour package you are interested in and someone will get back to you with more information.
There are 107 swimmers signed up so far.
