I recently read a funny article by a USMS swimmer who did a couple of open water swims in the UK.
I'm orginally from Berkeley, CA, but have been living in Italy for 21+ years. This year I participated in 3KM in Riccione, 3KM and 5KM in Baratti, did a crossing of the Strait of Messina, and will participate in a 1 mile and a 2KM this weekend near Lerici (Cinque Terre area).
I've gotten so used to the Italian system (the races are usually organized by the National Swimming Federation "FIN", or "UISP" which would be more like the YMCA) that I fear I have no perspective left on the differences from the USA.
I'm looking forward to reading any of your stories. If you're coming to Italy for a race, let me know!
Parents
Former Member
@Maryyyyyy
Great story, great enthusiasm !!!
With great interest I have read about the Strait of Messina-Swim. It was very encouraging to read how two disabled people have had their dream fulfilled, a dream that most swimmers, handicapped or not, may never experience.
Living in Vienna I am a 6 hour car ride away from the Adriatic Sea. The closest point worth swimming is the island of Grado, near Trieste. Florence is somewhere in the middle between Sicily and Trieste. What I am aiming at:
The crossing of the Gulf of Triest, precisely, from Grado to the northernmost tip of the Istrian peninsular (called: Savudrija on Croatian territory). It is exactly 20.8 K across, as the crow flies (13 land miles). Piran, a Slovenian harbour a little north is located at the same distance from Grado, however I think it would be more fun to skip a country and go straight from Italy to Croatia. All it takes (at least for me as an Austrian) is a passport (considered to be valid until 5 years after expiration) to enter Croatia by sea, air or land. I think it shouldn't be more difficult for US-Citizens.
I started to bargain with a motor boat rental place in Grado and they said it would be OK to use one of their boats as support but they would preferably like to have a medical doctor go with me.
Understandably, every swimmer needs his own boat although it would be easy to keep up with me. I am doing between 2.5 and 3K/hour. We could still use the same support crew and you can always swim in circles around me, if You get bored :).
Seriously, it would be great if somebody else would discover the Golf of Triest as a great swim, which I definitely think it is: Nice water temp during the summer, no big boat traffic, relatively flat and calm with only little currents caused by tidal shifts. Sometimes jelly fish "spice up" the adventure, but nothing to worry about :D. I have swum the waters of Grado regularly, sometimes leaving the shore 3-4 Kilometers behind. It was always a pleasure.
cheers
Gerald
@Maryyyyyy
Great story, great enthusiasm !!!
With great interest I have read about the Strait of Messina-Swim. It was very encouraging to read how two disabled people have had their dream fulfilled, a dream that most swimmers, handicapped or not, may never experience.
Living in Vienna I am a 6 hour car ride away from the Adriatic Sea. The closest point worth swimming is the island of Grado, near Trieste. Florence is somewhere in the middle between Sicily and Trieste. What I am aiming at:
The crossing of the Gulf of Triest, precisely, from Grado to the northernmost tip of the Istrian peninsular (called: Savudrija on Croatian territory). It is exactly 20.8 K across, as the crow flies (13 land miles). Piran, a Slovenian harbour a little north is located at the same distance from Grado, however I think it would be more fun to skip a country and go straight from Italy to Croatia. All it takes (at least for me as an Austrian) is a passport (considered to be valid until 5 years after expiration) to enter Croatia by sea, air or land. I think it shouldn't be more difficult for US-Citizens.
I started to bargain with a motor boat rental place in Grado and they said it would be OK to use one of their boats as support but they would preferably like to have a medical doctor go with me.
Understandably, every swimmer needs his own boat although it would be easy to keep up with me. I am doing between 2.5 and 3K/hour. We could still use the same support crew and you can always swim in circles around me, if You get bored :).
Seriously, it would be great if somebody else would discover the Golf of Triest as a great swim, which I definitely think it is: Nice water temp during the summer, no big boat traffic, relatively flat and calm with only little currents caused by tidal shifts. Sometimes jelly fish "spice up" the adventure, but nothing to worry about :D. I have swum the waters of Grado regularly, sometimes leaving the shore 3-4 Kilometers behind. It was always a pleasure.
cheers
Gerald
