Last minute Alcatraz advice?

are you running a cross the straits swim? That would be really fun. I visited Sicily when I was in college and would love to go back for a swim sometime.

But Mary, if you were here inthe States you probably wouldn't get as much coverage of Worlds as you will get in Italy.

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com But Mary, if you were here inthe States you probably wouldn't get as much coverage of Worlds as you will get in Italy. In fact, I've been glued to the tv for days... and now I have to pack! I leave tomorrow to go to the Strait of Messina where I've got 60 souls in the water on Friday!! Wish us luck!! Ciao, Mary

Originally posted by beireland are you running a cross the straits swim? That would be really fun. I visited Sicily when I was in college and would love to go back for a swim sometime. sure am! big job! there will be 60 of us. looks like we'll do it next year too, since so many people want to do it. also, if you've got a group and want to organize a private crossing, we can do that too! we've got THE BEST boat pilot who makes the swim really fun... not easy, but fun. check out our website! www.iswimitaly.it ciao! m

I'm thinking of joining one of these clubs. I've started swimming in the cove again and really like it. Although it's a real luxury to have two such clubs there I can only join one. Both are located in the SF Aquatic Park (right next to each other) and dues/fees are about the same. What's the difference between the clubs? Which one do I join? Does it matter? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. --Rick

If I lived up there, I'd base the decision on which to join based on which club has the more fun events for members. I'd really like to do something like the Bay to Breakers swim, but you have to be a member of the South End Rowing Club to do that one (and qualify...). I am swimming Alcatraz in 20 hours! :D

Originally posted by anutherrick I'm thinking of joining one of these clubs. I've started swimming in the cove again and really like it. Although it's a real luxury to have two such clubs there I can only join one. Both are located in the SF Aquatic Park (right next to each other) and dues/fees are about the same. What's the difference between the clubs? Which one do I join? Does it matter? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. --Rick Both clubs are open to the public on alternating weekdays, I think the fee for club day use is $6.50, or it was last time I dropped in. There are always members hanging around both clubs, and they're always willing to tell you what's great about their club and not so great about the other one. I have swimmers that are members of both clubs, and everybody's happy. The clubs usually combine on several events every year and they usually have an Alcatraz Swim open to Pacific Masters members. The relationship between clubs is genial, they even have a connecting hallway. After swims it's not unusual to find memebers in each others sauna too. There's an amazing living history of Bay Swimming at those clubs, pick one! See Ya Brian

Another piece of advice, don't swim too far to the left of the entrance to Aquatic Park. Swimming along the breakwater sucks. I made that mistake this morning and ended up adding almost a quarter mile to my swim, and it was against a slight flood tide. But otherwise a good swim, though I have no idea what my time was. Hopefully the results will be posted soon.

Originally posted by Brian Stack Both clubs are open to the public on alternating weekdays, I think the fee for club day use is $6.50, or it was last time I dropped in. There are always members hanging around both clubs, and they're always willing to tell you what's great about their club and not so great about the other one. I have swimmers that are members of both clubs, and everybody's happy. The clubs usually combine on several events every year and they usually have an Alcatraz Swim open to Pacific Masters members. The relationship between clubs is genial, they even have a connecting hallway. After swims it's not unusual to find memebers in each others sauna too. There's an amazing living history of Bay Swimming at those clubs, pick one! See Ya Brian I agree with Brian (remember, I was born, raised and blah blah blah in Berkeley)... both clubs are really nice, and plum full of nice people. You might want to try a day entry and swim at each one, just to check it out. Something about open-water swimming makes us into really nice people.... or is it that really nice people choose open-water swimming as a sport?? :D wet hugs from the Med!! Mary

Perhaps only nice people can endure the suffering involved in distance swimming?