I'm starting this thread as a way for people to check if there is going to be an open water swim at second beach in Middletown RI, any given day. We do these swims from June 15 to November 15, usually on Tues and Thurs. We also sometimes do an early morning swim on the weekend, from 1st beach to 2nd beach, around Easton's Point, about 1.9 miles. Starting in June I'll be posting the plans and the reports. I usually send out emails, but this won't require an email list, and anyone who is interested will be able to check. Who knows, maybe others who swim at 2nd beach and have access will chime in and organize their own swim dates using the forum!
Aloha
Mike.
Plan on 430 and 530 PM swims Tuesday Wednesday Thursday this week. Enjoy the 4th fireworks somewhere Friday night, or just
hang out....
We are planning to do regular 1st to 2nd beach swims on Sunday mornings for rest of the season. If you want to join in to those, and haven't done it before, email me so I can give you the scoop.
Last week we had two swims on Tuesday in beautiful calm weather, between Thunderstorms. Wednesday Lori and Andy swam in some big waves at 530PM. Friday was cool, cloudy, with some good sized swells, and Brian, Nate and I did a nice double L swim towards Sachuest Point.
Five 2nd beachers at the Narrow River swim Saturday morning: wetsuit swimmers: Jonathan Dell (5th), Lori Pugh (20th), Onne van der Wal (49th).
Brian Gardner and I did it without wetsuits.
There were about 100 swimmers. The top two spots went to the Spinnazola kids (Luca and Chiarra). The first masters finisher was Dave Cote.
In case you haven't heard, RI's own Elizabeth Beisel from Saunderstown is going to Beijing, breaking the American record in the 400 IM and coming in second to Katie Hoff at the trials last night. My son Albert used to share a lane with Liz at the Rams swim club! What a boost to RI swimming...
See you at the beach.
Some great swims this past week. Quite memorable was
Thursday especially with large waves and lots of
participation. Brian and I enjoyed a double L to the East at
430PM and 6 more swimmers did a long (one hour swim) back
and forth starting at 530PM. Waves were at least 5 feet in
long swells.
By contrast this morning the sea was calm for 11 swimmers
going 1st to second beach. Chris, Bill G, Mike G, Barrett,
Lori, Nate, Paul T, Paul D, Brian G, Jon D, and Onne....
great swim. Temps nice and comfortable.
The jellyfish are out, but not in huge numbers.
This week go 430 and 530PM Tuesday through Friday.
Several of us are helping out Fred Bartlett for the 70.3
mile triathlon on Sunday morning July 13, so I don't know if
a 1st to second beach will materialize, but we'll see.
Good swims at second beach over the last two weeks.
Weather has been terrific and participation consistent. (3 to 7 swimmers for most swims.)
The format seems to be working. More come to the 530 swims than the 430 swims. I've done both, and the 430 is definitely the warmer of the two. I noticed the ocean cooling off as I swam at 530PM. We're also already starting to lose some light at the later swim. Temps have been at 75+ in the waters with all the heating and southerly winds over the last few weeks. Wave action a-plenty too, but every swim's a little different. We haven't seen many jellyfish near the surface, so few stings. Water is so warm no one really needs a wetsuit.
Main lifeguard chair at Second beach, Tues through Friday, 430 PM and 530 PM.
swim fast seek peace, especially all the "save bay" swimmers!
weekly report through July 25
Tuesday great swims 430 and 530
Wednesday Thursday Stormy weather no swims
Friday great swims 430 "double u"
One of our buoys tried to hide from us but I found it
Geasey Gardner Garr three old men playing in the waves today.
water still warm, very few jellies.
Go great you bay swimmers....
Tuesday through Friday 430 and 530 at the main lifeguard chair.
1st to second beach swims on Sunday morning if there's enough interest.
Ciao swim fast seek peace
Three SOSers did the NAVSTA tri today. Dan F, Kathy K, Mike G (swim only). Kathy won her age group; introduced me to some more interested ocean swimmers. My team won. Dan went hard but the team each doing one event managed to edge him out. Jim P was there to cheer us on. Great event, lots of fun, open to the public. As usual the swim was too short. I don't think there was any first to second action this weekend.
This past week we had very warm ocean few jellies, good chop. Swims I heard about were excellent: Tues430+530, Thursday530, Fri430+530.
Keep coming out and supporting the swims. Looks like another great week for weather and water temps. As usual 430PM and 530PM at the main lifeguard chair Tuesday through Friday. First to second beach Sunday morning if there is interest.
ALOHA:wave:
Tuesday this week we had a great 530PM swim.
Friday Nate and I did a 430PM swim, and saw loom thunderstorms from the North and West. The dark clouds encroached the beach while we were swimming, but the storms didn't threaten. The crowded beach cleared in ten minutes, and was empty as we came ashore... the light was amazing.
Eight swimmers on first to second beach swim early this morning. Very mild swells, crystal clear visibility, water temp perfect, and the ocean surface was glassy calm. The veterans have never had a more pleasant experience, and the two newbies got a treat.
It's worth the drive. Ask Bill G, Barrett C, Jim P, Nate M, Paul D, Dana R (newbie), Kathy K (newbie), and Mike G. The world traveler Onne was supposed to show, but something must have happened............ Missed you bud.
Same routine next week. 430 or 530 at main lifeguard chair Tuesday through Friday
Tuesday was a washout with unsettled rain squalls, but the
rest of last week was okay for swimming. Not too many
folks are coordinating with the list and the participation
is somewhat down. We did have couple of nice swims on
Friday. Squid eggs were still around in the waters.
Saturday evening a group swam at the Quidnessett spot in
the full moon at night. That was quite an experience. (thanks Lori!)
Then we watch Michael, Darra, et al. live from Beijing.
Sunday morning eight swimmers had a great view of the
shoreline, low winds, and somewhat cloudy waters for a
swim around Easton's Point. (1st to second, that is.)
Onne had his GPS in a bag Sunday morning and measured our
first to second swim at 1.67 miles.
usual swims this week? We'll see. You might want to join us and train for the first September 13 USMS and USS swim to benefit young athletes who need money to compete at a higher level.
www.active.com/.../Event_Details.htm
weekly:
Great week for weather.
430 PM at Sachuest Tuesday report:
With the strong NW wind, the water temperature dropped to an
estimated 70 deg. Nate, Ohne, and Paul T enjoyed the
refreshing water temperatures while swimming the 2L without
anyone wearing a wet suit. Squid eggs were in abundance,
but this is one of those rare days that you could see the bottom
the whole length of the swim from the start to the main buoy.
Friday 530PM Ditto Mike G, Dana R, Bill G, Paul D and
daughter!, Jay G., but a little warmer.
Sunday morning......... Outstanding Outstanding. Chris
joined as a paddleboarder. No wind. Pleasant temps, clear
air, beautiful views. light sparkles off the moon jellies
and squid eggs below us. A small sea bass swam directly
below me as I buddied up with Bill G. Jenn, Thor, Mary,
Barrett, Lori, Jay, Bill, Paul: Thank you so much for your
support of these swims. This keeps getting better all the time.
Next week more of the same. Email if you are showing up.
Either 430 or 530PM (or both) weekdays Tuesday through
Friday at the main lifeguard chair second beach. First to
second beach Sunday mornings. Four of us carpooled today
from the west side. No excuses west passage swimmers! email
(mikegarr@usms.org) and carpool. No tokens necessary.
swim fast seek peace
Ciao
The biggest thing is enjoyment.
Nate, Brian, Tina, Onne and I experienced it manyfold with a double L swim at the beach yesterday at 430PM
Both buoys still there, but eastern buoy is half sunk.
All the critters have left, and the storm washed the red seaweed well up the beach, so hardly anything to bump into. Water temps still up around 70. The men were all comfortable without the wetsuits.
Low winds meant no kiteboarders, and it was one of those see clear to Block Island afternoons.
There will be a first to second beach swim on Saturday. Meet at surfer's end of second beach at 715AM
A few of us did the second beach open water challenge (one miler) last Saturday and got to share the waters with our local olympian, Liz Beisel. This will become an annual event, and was alot of fun. Well run for the first time out. Way to go, Matt Emmert and company!
Aloha
Onne and I had a great swim last Wednesday at noontime at the beach. I was able to be comfortable with the neoprene cap and just jammers; Onne donned the wetsuit.
Fred had his last gasp at the Salty Brine State beach in Narragansett yesterday. The weather cleared enough for about a dozen of us to do a mile or so in the sheltered waters of the Harbor of Refuge. Afterwards we shared
pot luck on the beach with friends and families. It was really a fitting end to the West Bay ocean swim season.
We will continue into November at second beach, but only sporadically, with last minute emails, when the weather looks favorable, and with an earlier start (like noon or 3PM).