I am gearing up for the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim on Sunday and can't decide whether to wear a wetsuit. I went for a practice swim at Sandy Point last weekend and practically melted in my wetsuit. I ditched it after about 500 meters and felt so much better. I also felt like my stroke was more natural and efficient. When I checked my watch, I was actually swimming faster without the suit. And looking at my race results over the past few years, I haven't gone noticeably faster when I've worn the suit (but how do you compare between different races).
I've done a little research, and the water temp close to shore last weekend was 78. In the middle of the bay it was 75. Today, the middle of the bay is 72.7 (at noon). It could go up a little more between now and Sunday morning, but who knows.
Somehow, almost everyone in this race wears a wetsuit. People have told me that the buoyancy is really important in the shipping channels, where the water can get rough. And everyone tells me I will be faster with it. That advice makes me feel like swimming without the suit is irresponsible.
I could really use some perspective, especially from veteran GCBS swimmers. At those water temperatures, is there a reason to wear the suit? Are there other people who feel like they swim more naturally and maybe even faster without it?
Thanks!
Former Member
You will be more buoyant in a wetsuit. And you will be faster assuming you do not overheat & you have a flexible well fitting wetsuit. However at those temperatures I wouldn't wear one. Assuming you are fit, and your body fat is higher than 3%, you should be able to generate enough heat to stay warm, particularly if you are looking at mid 70s
I've only done the swim without a wetsuit--and always swim without one. Having said that, it really depends on what your goal is. You will swim faster with it--and over 4.4 miles, the difference is enough that you really can't justify not wearing one if you are concerned about your time and overall place. You are swimming nearly 77 100's(I'm not good at math, but 4.4 miles is about 7700 yards--I think), so the advantage is 1:17 for every second per 100 difference that the wetsuit makes. I think its about 6 seconds a 100 so that would be about 8 minutes--which is a lot. My assumptions may be off but the conclusion is pretty inescapable that you will place better with it.
On the other hand, if the water is warm enough to swim and enjoy it, its a good opportunity to take advantage of the water and swim without the suit. Your call. Enjoy the race--
congrats! well done!
(another swimmer saved from the evils of rubber!)Congrats! That race is a 'bucket list' race for me and hopefully someday I'll make it out east to do it.
As someone who likes the evils of rubber 'cause I'm a cold wimp, I will say that the water temps you reported in advance seemed NOT to require a wetsuit. I just did a swim where the water temp was 72 in a sleeveless wetsuit and it was too much. I'm slowly acclimating and have now set my wetsuit threshhold at below 70. Someday I hope to be tough like chaos.
You made the right choice.
I went without the wetsuit and had a great race! Definitely the right decision. Thanks for the advice!
congrats! well done!
(another swimmer saved from the evils of rubber!)
As someone who likes the evils of rubber 'cause I'm a cold wimp, I will say that the water temps you reported in advance seemed NOT to require a wetsuit. I just did a swim where the water temp was 72 in a sleeveless wetsuit and it was too much. I'm slowly acclimating and have now set my wetsuit threshhold at below 70. Someday I hope to be tough like chaos.
You made the right choice.
lol!
i've done the bay swim 4 times and the water has always been in the mid 70's, air temps 80-95.
for some reason, the event directors have chosen to encourage their use by not creating a separate bareback division. its a great swim, but with those temps, the field should be 90% nekkid (not the other way around)
