Roughwater swim in Santa Cruz

Anyone planning on doing this one, or have done it before? www.clubassistant.com/.../meet_information.cfm I'm used to rough water -- it's the freezing cold water that I am worried about. I hate wetsuits. I've swam in SF Bay (Alcatraz) -- would that be comparable?
Parents
  • I have swum around the wharf Santa Cruz several times. The expected water temperature is 60 degrees, which is warm for Santa Cruz. But I always wore a long john wet suit, no sleeves. A short john wet suit would probably work fine too. I would not do it without a sleeveless wet suit. You can smear on some petroleum jelly on your shoulders to keep the straps from digging in. The swim out is against the very small ripply waves and therefore a tad bit bouncy. Once you get around the wharf and are headed back to the beach the water becomes much smoother. The beach where you end (Cowell Beach) has one of the highest bacteria counts in California. I have never gotten sick from it, but my two kids in Junior Guards have gotten sick from it. People surf near it. But nonetheless, it has a high bacteria count. You could end up sick in bed for a day. Eww, thanks for the warning about the bacteria. I can live with 60 degrees, I can live with bouncy waves, but I'd prefer not to get sick (especially as I am supposed to leave for a trip soon afterward).
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  • I have swum around the wharf Santa Cruz several times. The expected water temperature is 60 degrees, which is warm for Santa Cruz. But I always wore a long john wet suit, no sleeves. A short john wet suit would probably work fine too. I would not do it without a sleeveless wet suit. You can smear on some petroleum jelly on your shoulders to keep the straps from digging in. The swim out is against the very small ripply waves and therefore a tad bit bouncy. Once you get around the wharf and are headed back to the beach the water becomes much smoother. The beach where you end (Cowell Beach) has one of the highest bacteria counts in California. I have never gotten sick from it, but my two kids in Junior Guards have gotten sick from it. People surf near it. But nonetheless, it has a high bacteria count. You could end up sick in bed for a day. Eww, thanks for the warning about the bacteria. I can live with 60 degrees, I can live with bouncy waves, but I'd prefer not to get sick (especially as I am supposed to leave for a trip soon afterward).
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