In September 2013, Sylvain Estadieu will attempt to become the first man and third individual to swim butterfly across the English Channel. We asked him if he'd write a piece for the Outdoor Swimming Society, about his inspiration, motivation and training...
It all began at the age of three. My Mom had decided I’d be an aquatic creature and I seemed to like the idea very much. Splashing around in the shallow end, playing pirates on the foam mattresses, playing submarine under them. Then came the time to try and collect swim badges. The First Triton for being able to hold one’s breath for 5 seconds, the First Duck for reaching the bottom of the deep end, the Silver Otter for clearing one length of both breaststroke and front crawl and finally the most coveted Dolphins (Bronze, Silver and Gold) that required the young apprentice to manage a 400-meter individual medley within increasingly tough intervals. I dived in full of confidence, reached the wall once, twice, thrice, four times, managing every now and then to actually clear the surface with both arms simultaneously and succeeding to somehow squeeze in the occasional breath. The backstroke, breaststroke and crawl part went a bit more smoothly, I think, and as I reached the wall for the very last time, I looked up at my coach, trying to figure out if he’d stamp my “Achievement Passport” and make me the first of my class to get the Bronze Dolphin. All exhausted that I was I could still sense a disturbance in the Force … I got out and followed him to his desk where he grabbed my folded A5 piece of cardstock, handed it back to me and said, I quote, but not really:
“No-can-do’s-ville, baby doll”.
Turned out there wasn’t enough flying in my butterfly after all.
This is only one of many “beginnings”. It’s obviously not the moment I booked my tide with Mike Oram to attempt a crossing of La Manche in butterfly. This isn’t either the moment when I started to consider long-distance butterfly as something I’d like to be doing, it’s merely one of my first encounters with the coleoptere.
The idea came to me through many moments. Swimming the Channel, which I eventually did (in f/c) during the same weekend as Lisa Cummins and Owen O’Keefe, was inspired by Ned Denison (excuse the name dropping!) during my time in Cork City, one of these few places in the world where there’s (way) more than one Channel swimmer per million individuals. Swimming butterfly in open-water came to me not long after my EC swim, as I was trying to find something new, in order perhaps to trump the post-Channel gloom. I decided I would return to Cork and try and swim four laps of Sandycove Island as a medley, one mile of each stroke basically. I was lucky enough to get three wonderful support swimmers on that occasion, one of which, Gabor Molnar, would end up quitting smoking, taking on swimming full time and swimming between England and France less than a year later! Now that’s determination!¨
Looking at the island from the slipway after this medley experiment, my back all but broken in two, I tried to imagine what it would be like to actually swim butterfly from Dover to Cape Gris-Nez. If it hurt that much after just a mile of it, surely I would not last 34 kilometers. And yet Vicki Keith and Julie Bradshaw had done it, and more swimmers around the world seemed to take on similar challenges. Surely I could train a bit more … just to see … plus, would it really be a challenge if I knew I could do it? I followed the same process as when I decided to leave France for Ireland:
Me: Do I want to do it?
Me: Not really …
Me: Sure?
Me: Nyeah …
Me: Meaning?
Me: It might be difficult …
Me: And?
Me: Yeah, you’re right, let’s do it.
So here I am now, in … Gothenburg, Sweden (via New-Zealand, long story), waiting for the layer of ice on top of the lakes to melt so I can test my stroke, refined in the pool over a long long winter, in open-water. It’s not Phelpsian in speed or stroke-rate. It is geometry-variable though. Breathing to the front, on either side or even looking down. Short strokes in order to change direction or accelerate, long pulls and long glides once in cruise speed, even longer and deeper glides when tired. The only variation I haven’t managed (yet) is doing a tailspin in the middle of a stroke whilst over the surface.
Almost eight months into “real training”, including a handful of 20k-sessions and a big bunch of 4-to-10k straight-through butterfly swims, it’s going to be great to finally taste the open-water in Delsjön and the Archipelago. Delsjön is a lake near central Gothenburg, home to mostly kayakers and triathletes, and most importantly only one golf course away from my apartment. The Gothenburg Southern Archipelago is quite similar to the one in Stockholm with its hundreds of little islands covered in red wooden houses. It could be a great place for a long day of training, swimming from one island to another and getting rewarded by a classic swedish”fika” (typically a cup of coffee and a bun) at each stop.
July will be exciting as I will be heading back to Ireland to take part in the Cork Distance Week, nine days of river, lake and sea swimming. This will be a great test before heading to Dover, especially the last day, the Total Body and Brain Confusion Swim, which is meant to illustrate the aphorism “Expect the unexpected” … let’s just say the camp’s volunteers have imagination … and a sense of humour
August will see me go back to the lake Vidöstern for Sweden’s longest open-water race (21,5k). I have unfinished business there as I only managed 13k last year. On top of that, my Viking Princess along with the other swimmers’ better halves got so spoiled (a lof of fika, see above) by the amazing organizing committee while we were swimming that she practically begged me to go back!
And finally September … this is when we shall see if I’ve grown strong enough wings!
You can keep up to date with Sylvain's progress on Facebook.
Changing robes provide a warmer and more discrete alternative to trying to get changed in public under a towel.With the help of the Seabrook Seals who have been swimming through the winter while they train for their upcoming Channel relays, the OSS tested five different changing robes.
DIY from £9 per metre (depending on your height and fabric width 2m is enough for most people)
There are two ways to make a changing robe yourself, stitching together two towels or making a robe out of towelling material. Two towels stitched together with gaps for the arms and head to go through is quick to make, but the resulting narrowness restricts getting dressed. We tried out a voluminous floor length model made by Amanda, the Dorset OSS representative. Its length made walking around a hazard, but for getting dressed the extra draught exclusion was much appreciated. One swimmer who came to the beach with just a towel for getting changed during freezing February weather had an epiphany when he tried this changing robe out and realised it is definitely warmer getting changed under cover.
Verdict: the cheapest option, and you can customise length and design
Robie Robe Extra Long £38.99
Robies have dominated the market for a long time.They are cut only a little wider than body width, so they almost look like an item of clothing. This also means that there is not much space in there to put clothes on the top half of your body. People who already had them said that theirs had split down the side from the armholes as they got changed underneath them, but this deterred no one from using them. They are liked because they come in a range of colours, dry you well after swimming and dry out easily at home, and the hood is perfect for combining warming up and drying off. There is one drawback to Robies for women; the large armholes are prone to giving good views of sideboob. While showing sideboob is considered a fashionable and classy alternative to showing cleavage in some circles, it may not be what a person using a changing robe wants to do.
Verdict: popular, possibly better for men than for women, worth getting the extra long size for extra coverage
Original Dryrobe £74.99
Most lusted after. Every time I took the Dryrobe down to the beach it was the first one to picked by changing robe testers. It is a zip up changing robe with a wind proof outer layer and a warm inner layer of synthetic wool. Comments that people made included:
“I love it. But I need a towel as well. Its like a big warm hug”
“I feel like I’ve got a big blanket on. It would be brilliant after getting out of the water and for sitting on the boat”.
Testers needed a towel to dry off, and it was too tight to change the top half of clothes underneath it. It was a bulky, but lightweight so carrying it down to the beach was not difficult.
Verdict: even though it needed to be used in conjunction with a towel it was the warmest robe and uniquely useful for swimmers to keep warm in their kit pre and post swim
http://www.wandering-star.co.uk
Togabeach Towel large £38
A hoodless, knee length changing robe that is more for summer swimmers as it leaves the head and legs exposed. However out of all the changing robes tested Togabeach (along with the DIY robe) had enough space to get dressed in while remaining completely underneath it without flashing. Some people commented that the opening for your head to go through is a tight fit, but one person said this was preferable to a wider neckline, which would slip over their shoulders or be revealing if they lent forwards to reach for their clothes.
Verdict: best for modesty, perfect for summer swimmers who also enjoy lying on the beach
Chawel Hybrid £29.95
The Chawel is made of lightweight fleece and nylon, and is intended to be used as a changing robe that can also be used as a sleeping bag and pillow. One drawback is the colour range: violent orange, pink or green. No one really wanted to try this one out. When someone gamely tried it on the lack of armholes made it difficult to pick up clothes and perilous; cold water swims reduce co-ordination so not being able to put your hand out for support made balancing difficult. Further drawbacks included poor drying ability and on a sunny day the orange part of the Chawel was rather transparent – a bit like Marilyn Monroe posing under diaphanous scarves, probably the last thing someone choosing to use a changing robe is aiming for.
Verdict: doubles up as a spare sleeping layer, is portable and lightweight, but comes in screaming colours, has poor drying ability, no armholes, and is a little transparent so will not save your blushes.
Different types of changing robe will suit different swimmers as illustrated by the redistribution of changing robes after this test had finished. Amanda’s giant DIY changing robe went to one of the testers (it was the first robe she feels has enough space to get changed under), while Amanda has defected to the pink Togabeach towel. The incredibly warm Dryrobe became part of the Seabrook seals kit and will go on the boat with their Channel relay team to get them warmed up when they get out of the water. I have kept the Robie Robe to use in Dorset, but it was too bulky and heavy to come come abroad with me. And the Chawel? I feel guilty admitting that when my dog was soaking wet I wrapped him up in it and he warmed up brilliantly. However before heading off to Turkey for field research I eyed up the Chawel remembering that last spring it was unseasonably cold and an extra layer on my bed could have been handy.
Conclusions:
Overall with changing robes the longer you can get them the better for staying warm. Cotton towelling material is better at getting you dry but synthetic fibres feel warmer. Wider robes are much easier to get changed under. Wider arm and head holes make it easier to get changed but also give people standing next to you more of a view.
Words: Susanne Masters
With special thanks to: The Seabrook Seals - who are raising funds for a few causes with their Channel Swim...
If you are heading for the South West this summer, and would like to explore the region’s idyllic swimming holes and secret covers, then you might be interested in the new Wild Guide from the authors of Wild Swimming. Covering Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. It features over 200 wild swimming locations, and there are other watery delights too including sea caves to swim into, rock pools to wallow in, waterfall chutes to river tube down, places to snorkel with basking shark and dolphins, forbidden blue lagoons and quarry pools, canoe journeys to explore by, sunset cliff tops and ocean hillforts and remote beaches to wild camp upon and relive your adventures around a driftwood fire.
‘I’m naturally biased to the south west,’ says Daniel Start who lives on the river Avon in Somerset. ‘It has some of the best swimming and cleanest waters and it’s fantastic fun finding new places without having to go abroad. And if the weather’s bad there’s plenty to do in the woods or underground!’
A large chunk of the book is dedicated to inland adventures too, for your not so aquatic friends, and these are packaged up into ideas for weekend itineraries, including suggestions for ancient forests, lost ruins, grottoes and caverns, sacred stone circles, wild meadows, campfire campsites and artisanal food producers.
Daniel will be sharing some of his favourite south west wild swims and adventures on the Wild Swim Map next month, but in the meantime you can buy get pre-order discounts of the Wild Guide book online using the ‘OSSApril’ code (33% off, delivered before publication). OSS members are also invited to the launch party at Stanfords Bookshop in Bristol on Wednesday 8th May at 7pm.
For the best part of his life Al Alvarez – poet, critic, novelist, rock-climber and poker player – has swum in the ponds of Hampstead Heath almost daily. In his new book, Pondlife, Alvarez - an athlete in his youth, now in his eighties - chronicles what it is to grow old with humour and fierce honesty, from his relentlessly nagging ankle which makes daily life a struggle, to the devastating effects of a stroke and the salvation he finds in the three S's – Swimming, Sex and Sleep.
In advance of the reading, we are sharing, with permission of the publishers, an extract from the book.
Following extract taken from Pondlife
Tuesday 16 April. 52°F
Brilliant, cloudless day, all the trees in bloom – cherry, apple, etc (though not mayflower: that high-up burst of white I saw the other day is something else entirely). I dumped the car at the foot of West Hill for the Kosovans to wash, then crept uphill through the traffic jam to the pond. I felt awful; my ankle ached, my legs ached, my head ached.
I was playing poker at the Vic last night and lost, then decided to read myself asleep instead of taking a pill; naturally, I slept hardly at all. Losing is always a downer, but this down was exacerbated by sitting next to Ron, a wild Afro-Caribbean gambler. Usually, he’s just what you want at the table because he throws his money around like confetti; this time he got lucky against me in a couple of expensive hands and thereafter treated me as a foolish old man – in fact, kept calling me ‘old man’. I got my revenge on him eventually – let him keep betting into me when I had a straight flush – but I ended up losing and knew I deserved to; it was a hard game and I was playing too loosely.
So old man is how I felt – battered, beaten, depressed – as I limped my way uphill. Then I turned off onto Millfield Lane, left the traffic fuming behind me, and suddenly it was a shining spring day: everything in bloom, the birds going crazy, the water sparkling. I swam almost to the far edge, then dried myself slowly and soaked up the sun. This is as perfect as it gets – the water still chilly, the sun hot. The lifeguards have set up canvas chairs in front of their hut; they lounge there, contentedly taking the sun. Theirs has to be one of the pleasantest jobs in London.
Wednesday 17 April. 52°F
Another exquisite day: chilly water, hot sun. I swam out to the far barrier, then came back lazily, admiring the sky. The noisy clouds of seagulls are long gone and pigeons have taken over; they fly in pairs, urgently, as if on important business. A Virgin jet climbs majestically from Heathrow; its wings and fuselage are shining, its big tailplane is vivid red. Because my ears are under water it seems to move as silently as the birds.
Saturday 20 April. 52°F
Finally, a perfect spring day: the air warm and soft and delectable, everything in bloom. The water temperature hasn’t changed – yet – but that makes the swim even better. Curiously, there wasn’t a single bird on the water. One of the swans was moving around on the shore off to the left, a couple of ducks arrived after I finished, but I had the pond wholly to myself while I swam. This is as good as it gets (perhaps made even better by having won back last night most of the money I lost on Monday!).
Pondlife by Al Alvarez is published by Bloomsbury. Al Alvarez will be speaking about the book with his editor Alexandra Pringle at the Hatchards Bloomsbury Book Club on Thursday 28th March.
If you are swimming outdoors and the people watching are in coats, it is a sign you are in chilly territory. The key reason for knowing the temperature of water you have swum in is to demonstrate your prowess. Even non-swimmers are impressed by a 5°C swim.
There are plenty of indicators of temperature. For example count the expletives used by friends who curse on cold-water entry, or the pitch and duration of shrieks emitted by screamers. There are the grades of cold involving bodily parts. Politely I will stick to commenting only on the level of cold required to make your teeth feel chilly (about 6°C for me). If you want to be more precise and use a thermometer keep in mind that most will require at least 5 minutes immersion to give an accurate reading.
Chilly waters... but how chilly?
I talked to the Boscombe beach lifeguards to find out how they get the sea temperature they put on display every day. Ben said, “There was a guy who took the temperature in the water off the end of the pier every day but he died. I mostly use surfer websites like www.magicseaweed.com “ So a belated thank you and appreciation is due to the man who used to do the Boscombe sea temperatures.
Dive and surf watches are the hassle free way to get an accurate water temperature; wearing a watch doesn’t disrupt your swimming. If you don’t have a dive or surf watch already it is going to be an expensive purchase, unless you adopt a friend who is already equipped with one.
Cheaper options that you can swim with are pool thermometers and bath thermometers, both of which are designed to work while immersed in water. A digital thermometer designed for taking a person’s temperature won’t work and is most likely to be destroyed by attempts to use it in the sea, lakes or rivers. Pool equipment websites have numerous options. You can pay nearly £30 or you can get one that does the job for £5. Likewise bath thermometers – usually designed for children’s baths so they are shaped like animals and in primary colours – can be bought online from pharmacy or childcare stores and also in high street shops. It is better to have an assistant to tow the thermometer attached by a string to their swimsuit because trailing thermometers are inconvenient, and if the sea is rough can become hazardous. I know a successful Channel swimmer who was nearly choked by a thermometer that got wrapped around her neck while on a training swim.
There is enough mercury in the sea already to cause health problems for fish so if you are tempted to try out a regular thermometer use an alcohol one, not a mercury one, in case your thermometer gets broken. It is more difficult to attach these thermometers securely to string for dangling in the water – unless you get hold of an outdoor thermometer, used by gardeners and budding meteorologists, which is set in a frame for attachment to a wall. The frame also works well as a place to tie string to tow it with. Again it is good to have a minion to do the temperature measuring for you because wall fittings are angular and will scratch you while swimming, as well as presenting the previously mentioned risk of throttling.
P.S. With the plethora of waterproof watches that measure temperature available I will be testing them in a separate review later on.
Words: Susanne Masters
Torbay – made up of the three seaside towns of Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham in Devon - used to be known as “Queen of the Watering Places”. Its crystal-clear waters are among the safest and shallowest in the UK, and yet in recent decades this seems to have been forgotten. Beyond the Beach: the secret wild swims of Torbay, is a new guide to what was once one of the UK’s best known and loved swimming locations.
Local swimmers and OSS members Matt Newbury and Sophie Pierce know this beautiful corner of Devon intimately, and have put together a guide containing 15 detailed aquatic explorations, taking in caves, coves, cliffs and corals. The book is illustrated with striking images by award-winning underwater photographer Dan Bolt. Each chapter contains practical information including grid references, postcodes, and the length of each swim, as well as the history, popular culture, geology and marine biology of each unique section of the coast.
Matt and Sophie also look at Torbay’s proud history of sea swimming, as well as explaining everything a sea-swimmer needs to know, from tides through to temperatures. The book reveals a wild and beautiful side to this very special piece of coastline, away from the main beaches. From the terracotta cliffs, to spectacular limestone islands and arches, the new guide aims to show that Torbay is a fascinating aquatic playground waiting to be explored.
Sophie's round up of her top Torbay swims for the OSS follows. Each spot is linked to the OSS Wild Swim map - so if you'd like more information, pictures and other swimmers tips, just click the links:
Anstey’s Cove, Torquay: Park at Anstey’s Cove car park behind the Palace Hotel. The walk down to the beach is spectacular, through romantic ivy-covered overgrown woods , with glimpses of romantic rocky pinnacles ahead of you. The sea is usually flat calm. Swim from Anstey’s Cove across to Long Quarry Point, where the distinctive ‘witches’ hats’ of the double pinnacles point dramatically into the sky. Just behind the pinnacles is a secret cave with an inner pool, deep enough to swim in. On the way back you can swim to Redgate Beach with its stunning pink shingle.
Oddicombe Beach, Torquay: Park on Babbacombe Downs and take the cliff railway down to the beach. Swim northwards, past the dramatic rock fall where there is a huge red scar in the cliff. At the northern end of the beach is a small red sea stack to swim around, and beyond it you can see some steps carved into the cliff – this is the old Gentlemen’s Bathing Place. Swim on northwards and you will find a large, intrieguing cave on two levels, almost like an ‘upstairs ‘ and ‘downstairs’.
Roundham Head, Paignton: Park in the car park by the Harbour. There is a hidden beach behind the harbour called Fairy Cove where you start the swim. Swim out over the reef and make your way around the headland; you will constantly marvel at the stark shapes and geometry of the red sandstone. There are caves and holes, some of which look like rooms. The swim finishes at Goodrington.
Broadsands to Elberry, Paignton: Park at Broadsands car park. Swim out over the sandy beach and turn right, swimming along the shore towards Elberry Cove. There is an astonishing change from the red sand of Broadsands; the coastline turns into grey limestone, in fantastical shapes. You can see the outlines of fossilised corals millions of years old. Elberry Cove is different again, like a Greek beach with stunning white shingle.
Fishcombe to Churston, Brixham : Park in Fishcombe Road and walk down to the small shingle beach at Fishcombe. There are old concrete steps into the water, showing this has been a popular swimming place for many years. Swim out to nearby Churston Cove, past a tiny sea arch that you can swim under if you’re not too claustrophobic! Look out for the seal who’s well known in this area – we’ve swum with him a few times. The sea here is crystal clear and you may well see fish.
St Mary’s Bay to Durl Rock, Brixham: park at Sharkham Point. Start your swim from the northern end of the beach and swim along the coastline. Almost immediately you will see a dramatic cave. The water is a particularly striking shade of jade here, in contrast to the red cliff above. Durl Rock, which protrudes from the cliff like a tiny peninsular, is an unusual feature, which looks rather like a swimmer floating on his back. You can get out here and do some diving before heading back.
You can buy the book at www.secretwildswims.wordpress.com
Words: Sophie Pierce
Whether you have your heart set on the Dart 10K, a channel crossing or a more serene full moon swim, winter can be the perfect time to make peace with your local indoor pool and improve your technique and fitness for more exciting outdoor swimming expeditions in 2013.
Last year, with this in mind, master coach Dan Bullock and OSS founder Kate Rew put together a comprehensive guide to improving your front crawl stroke and your fitness. Now that winter is once again upon us, I thought it might be useful to post again!
The guide can be found here - Winter Training: An Insider's Guide to a Smoother, Easier, Happier Swim - we hope you enjoy and find it useful this winter!
Got the swimming bug – and wondering whether you’ll swim the Channel? Karen Throsby is a lecturer at Warwick University, and is researching people’s experiences of marathon swimming, including her own. Here she describes why, far from being awful, there is untold pleasure in marathon swimming.
I’m an unlikely Channel swimmer. I live in the West Midlands, about as far from the sea as you can be in the UK; my body isn’t one that would be easily categorized as ‘athletic’ by conventional standards; I have a sedentary job as a university lecturer; and I get ferociously seasick as soon as I even think about getting on a boat. And yet, since 2008, I have swum around Jersey, from Jersey to France, the English Channel and the Catalina Channel, and have just dispatched my paperwork for another English Channel swim next summer. To be honest, no-one is more surprised than me at this unexpected turn of events, and if you had told me 5 years ago that I would have a savings account called “Channel Swims”, I would have laughed at you. And yet, I can’t get enough of it.
Karen Throsby, Alcatraz Swim - Photo Credit, Karen Drinkwater
A couple of months ago, I was at an academic conference talking about some of the research I’ve been doing with Channel swimmers. In my presentation, I mentioned how pleasurable marathon swimming can be. After my talk, a renowned sports sociologist came up to me and declared indignantly: “I just don’t see where there can be any pleasure in it. It must be awful”. And this is what I used to think too…before I got hooked.
I think that most people can appreciate the pleasures of completing a long swim – the triumphant feeling of a difficult task completed. But the idea that marathon swimming can be pleasurable in itself is harder for many to imagine. And yet, in my research interviews with swimmers, I have heard time and time again of the compulsive pleasures of simply being in the water for long periods of time.
People talk about it as freedom, or as being like flying; one UK swimmer described it as “stretching, reaching, gliding bliss”. And I know that I’m not the only swimmer for whom time just disappears in the hypnotic, embodied rhythms of swimming, with whole hours collapsing into what feels like moments.
People talk about it as freedom, or as being like flying; one UK swimmer described it as “stretching, reaching, gliding bliss”.
Without question, marathon swimming involves some dark moments: at various times, I have been frightened, sick, in pain, cold, exhausted and could think of little else but getting out.
Karen, Happy At Sea - Photo Credit: Nick Adams
But alongside these moments are the incredible, extraordinary pleasures of the long swim: the luxury of doing nothing but swimming all day; the beautiful, constantly shifting aquatic environment; the light through the water; the flash of a fish; the honk of a boat’s horn; the hypnotic tap, tap, tap of the hand entry; the embodied sense of power, grace and co-ordination that completely escapes me on land; the water-level perspective on the shore or horizon; the full-body tiredness at the end of the day that makes every surface look soft and yielding enough to take a nap on. This is what I want people to know when they tell me that “it must be awful”; this is why I swim.
The Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS) is a groundbreaking not for profit organisation that has been a key player in the establishment and explosion of the wild swimming movement since 2006. Using the media (radio, TV and print) and social media the OSS has changed public perception of swimming in rivers, lakes and seas, and founded a thriving subculture of wild swimmers.
We are now looking for a few talented and inspiring media interns to work with us in 2012/2013 to take the movement on to the next level, and help inspire and inform swimmers worldwide through our various platforms, such as our official web site, Wild Swim map and our Facebook group.
We are looking for talented people who want to further develop their passion for writing and the media. Depending on the project we are looking for a 6 to 12 month commitment for each project.
The areas covered by these projects are:
- The creation and daily/weekly maintenance of a media newsfeed of swimming related stories on the OSS website and OSS Facebook site.
- Monthly contribution of highly readable news stories and interviews to the OSS website and newsletter. Our readership has a broad and varied interest in all things related to water, so this may include investigative news stories (for example on inland access and ecology), interviews (for example, with swimmers), book and culture reviews, and fitness and training information pertinent to swimmers.
- Developing the wildswim map in terms of content, profile and worldwide use. There are various roles within this project: writing up existing content and putting it online, working with selected pioneering swimmers to put their information online and develop their profile, and a more proactive and marketing role: using social and other media to increase worldwide use.
This is a great opportunity for students and graduates to gain some hands on experience and to use their developing skills in writing, news reporting, marketing, and use social media, to fill their CV with good solid achievements that will contribute to their wider future job searching. Will we happily work with colleges and tutors if this counts towards coursework.
Please send a covering letter with information about the project(s) you are interested in, relevant experience and some relevant examples of your work to Jamie Cross, Volunteer Manager at jamie.cross.oss@gmail.com .
Should you have ideas for us outside of these projects, please let us know, we’d love to hear from you!
Saturday 22nd September saw over 650 brave swimmers taking to the River Dart in Devon for the 3rd annual OSS Dart 10K.
Although the weather was fair, the waters were cold and choppy measuring just 14 degrees at Totnes. A few couldn't quite take the cold and left the water early, but the vast majority continued on and arrived jubilant for the celebration at Dittisham. The fastest swimmer made it in just over two hours and the 'least fastest' in just under five.
The red wave swimmers set off from the steps...
One unexpected highlight of the day was the appearance of local Dart resident Sammy the seal who swam alongside and lent his support.
The lovely green in Dittisham saw a big top tent, various delicious food stalls, a hot chocolate in this year's Dart 10K mug for every swimmer and the wonderful sounds of the sea shanty singing group, the Old Gaffers.
However the biggest mention must go to the incredible OSS volunteers who registered swimmers, stewarded the various areas and manned the feeding stations - all with the biggest smiles. Thank you!!
The blue wave swimmers, ready for the off...
Money is still coming in, but so far Dart 10K swimmers have raised nearly £20,000 for various charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Bliss, Bowel Cancer UK, Great Ormond Street and the Stroke Association. A huge congratulations and thank you to all who've raised money - we're in complete admiration.
And of course the following day the heavens opened - we were very lucky indeed..!
So many swimmer have been in touch with their fantastic thoughts on the day, but here is one of our favourites from swimmer Rosie Newport who we think sums it up pretty well:
I just wanted to say thank you for such an amazing swim, it was mad it was cold it was muddy, it was disorientating, it was orientating, it was friendmakingly unusual, it was crazy coincidence it was amazing, the paddle boarders were wonderful, the wading through mud banks with frozen feet was unexpectedly warming, the speed of the green hats inspiring, the yellow hats taking photos giggle making, the welcome sight of stoke Gabriel church and the glow of the pink pub, but best of all the wonderful wonderful hug from my beautiful five year old daughter as I stumbled up the muddy river side. I will be back next year. Thank you. The sense of achievement and the glow of pride are warming. The raising of £1000 for great ormond street humbling.... donations from our friends, generous.
A rest then back to the water.
Happy swimming days
May the waters be warm and the ripples small...
Photo taken from Wild Swim Map - taken by EV & TV
Words below - Kate Rew
This month, we're placing a special focus on swims marked on our Wild Swim Map in and around the Peak District. If you've swum in the area, we'd love you to add the location to our map, to help build up our collective knowledge of the district's wonderful swimming spots.
Black Mere Pool, home to one of the only inland mermaids in Britain, sits in a windblown bowl on a ridge between Leek to and Buxton, not far off the A53.
Its waters are dark and peat-stained. Cattle refuse to drink there, the stories go, and birds will not fly over it. They say it’s level never changes, even in drought, and it’s surface never freezes.
We stop in Esso to ask directions. "It’s bottomless, you know" says a guy on the forecourt, the red and white banner of the petrol station bright in the day’s grey. "They think it’s a u- bend: it goes down at Black Mere, and comes up elsewhere. A fire engine pumped it once during a moorland fire, and the water level did not lower."
Out to the west, this part of the Peak District has a greater emptiness than the others, and folk tales rear out of the howling waste like landforms in fog: migrating, mutating, never quite knowable. Black Mere, still and black with peat hags and sumps around it’s edges, fishes up more tales than most.
In medieval times a young local man, Joshua Linnett, had a young girl branded as a witch and drowned her in this pool. As she floundered she cursed her accuser and said he’d suffer the same fate. Three days later he was found floating face down, his face torn by talons.
In another story the mermaid was brought here by a sailor from nearby Thorncliff, who fell in love and brought her back from the sea.
Whatever the origin of this creature, she is said to live here, half-fish, half-human, rising at midnight to lure single men to her and then drown them in it’s appalling depths.
We arrive in a big wind to meet her, shouldering the car door open. The wind snatches papers from the back seat, swirling them away, then swipes at our legs with the bitterness of the damned. We change and hope across the peat hags, semi-naked. Colin steps on into an unstable bit of bog and is quickly swallowed, his downward progress leg halted only by the impact of his groin on firmer ground. He pulls his leg out, like a cold filthy ham.
We get in, exchanging one concentration of partly decomposed plant with another. It stops short of being actually wretched. The water is chilling and I swim across it’s depths with gasping alarm. On the journey back, Colin duckdives, in search of the mermaid and her underwater lair - his flesh quickly unseeable and disappearing.
He emerges with the news that the unknowable depths are six feet – either that or he hit a ledge.
We retire for lunch at the Mermaid Inn down the road - Colin sad that he didn’t get hijacked by a watery siren, and determined to return alone, in the apogee of darkness, when supernatural forces are at their most powerful, and magic creatures haunt the night.
Swims already on the map – do visit, and add photos and comments:
• Black Mere Pool. Staffordshire - Black Mere Pool, home to one of the only inland mermaids in Britain, sits in a windblown bowl on a ridge between Leek and Buxton. Its waters are dark and peat-stained. Cattle refuse to drink there, the stories go, and birds will not fly over it. They say it’s level never changes, even in drought, and it’s surface never freezes.
• Three Shires Head - A series of water falls and plunge pools (known as Panniers Pool, a reference to the pack-horses that once used the bridges) where the counties of Derbyshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire all meet at the 'Y' shaped junction of two converging rivers in the beautiful peak district.
• Slippery Stones Plunge Pool. A lovely plunge pool, busy on bank holidays and weekends.
In their heyday, Britain's lidos attracted thousands upon thousands of visitors every week. Dreamt up in the 1930s as a "poor man's Riviera" - the rich were going to the South of France for the summer, but on a good day at the Lido, you could almost believe that you were on the Croisette at Cannes rather than Tooting Bec; that it was caviar in your hand rather than a bloater paste sandwich.
The pools were nearly killed off by the advent of the package holiday in the 1960s and 70s, which meant that ordinary people could finally go to the real Med for themselves; suddenly, the lido looked very homespun - even naff. But many have survived and have a devoted following... This excellent BBC Radio 4 programe, currently available on the BBC Iplayer, explores the history and legacy of these fantastic outdoor swimming spots, with input from comedian Arthur Smith, design guru Stephen Bayley and even former spin doctor Alasdair Campbell.
Thanks to Chris Ayriss for the following article.
The 2012 summer has been typically British; short blasts of hot sunshine, damp around the edges and a determination on the part of the nation’s swimmers to make the very best of it. When the sun shone, swimmers were out in force across the country, thousands of them, even if most were unaware that they were ‘wild swimming’ or even of the existence of the Outdoor Swimming Society. Ever since the lido era changed the focus of swimming from the early morning to the sunny day, it takes a spell of good weather for our numbers to be revealed. Yet when it comes to our freedom to swim and the general public’s perception of swimming in the wild, there is still a long way to go. There have been hopeful signs. Progress by swimmers at Sparth and promises of a bathing beach at Rutland Water are two good examples, but, alas, two swallows don’t make a summer, and our freedom to swim lies very much in the balance. Recognition that some may wish to plunge into the Thames sparked a ban by the Port of London Authority and a backlash from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
For my part, I feel irresistibly drawn to water, and slighted when prevented from swimming in it. I feel a sense of belonging; of attachment to the aquatic environment; a sense of deep satisfaction and fulfillment as I sink in and swim, and of course swimming is such fun, it puts a smile on the face of the swimmers as well as the faces of those looking on. I remember watching a Michael Palin travelogue; his train broke down in the middle of nowhere and as it was going to be quite a wait for a rescue business men, mothers, bankers and children stripped down to their underpants and went swimming in a nearby lake. Of course, the British wouldn’t dream of leaving the train, but perhaps we would become a little less stuffy if we took off our ‘official hats’ from time to time and connected with people and with the fun of actually being alive.
I revisited Blenheim Palace at the beginning of August and savored a stolen moment of sheer bliss. The majestic setting steeped in history and the beauty of the scenic panorama inevitably drew me in. Like a bright lustrous wine that can be savored on the palate for but a moment, my swim in the main lake was, alas, a singular pleasure. Much as I would have loved to swim beneath Vanbrugh's Grand Bridge and on into the Queen Pool, two 'concerned' members of the Blenheim staff requested that I not go back in for fear that I might encounter fishing hooks and line. Anxiety that should I be injured, they would be liable brought an end to my discreet adventure, even if it did not sit well with the Churchill spirit. With their reasoning I did not agree, but their instantaneous appearance from nowhere, along with their pleasant good manners made it hard to be confrontational. A little earlier I had enjoyed seeing an owl swoop over the heads of wide eyed children, a mock jousting tournament and sword fight ending with a pretty girl being dragged behind a horse in a sack. Swimming in the lake seemed much less dangerous, but then you can’t be too careful can you? Well perhaps you can. If we don’t encourage sport and activity how will we inspire a generation? Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee have shown us how it’s done; now it’s up to the Nation to keep the flame alive.
Across the country news reports have expressed concern about youngsters cooling off in the brief spells of sunshine. A hard hitting video produced by United Utilities has been targeting teenagers warning that it is never safe to swim in open water. In Plymouth there has been much concern about tombstoning. Participants as young as eleven are reported to be risking their lives by plunging from great heights into the sea, yet by way of contrast, the nation has been gripped by the display of somersaults and agility as Team GB divers competed for medals at the Olympics. Divers spun with heads just missing the diving board, entertaining a worldwide audience to standing ovation. One teenagers’ desire to compete was fuelled at a young age having joined the divers on Plymouth Hoe. Not that long ago youngsters were able to jump from the seaside diving boards with a depth gauge reminding them of sea levels and safety. The British were proud to see Tom Daley receive his well deserved medal, applauding his achievement at the Aquatics Centre. Teenagers love the thrill of jumping and diving, those of us less brave are content to stand and watch and cheer them on. Perhaps it’s not the active teenagers of Plymouth who should be condemned, but rather the authoritarians that wrecked the facilities, which for me were the highlight of Plymouth Hoe, leaving the would be ‘Tom Daley’s’ little choice, other than to jump from the cliff top.
Youngsters are our future, and this is especially true when it comes to wild swimming. The National Trust has listed wild swimming as one of fifty things children should do before they are 11 3/4. Even ROSPA now recommend wild swimming. Yet wisdom dictates that newcomers receive a little education if they are to do so safely.
A paper in the Lancet, timed to coincide with the Olympics, compares the rates of physical activity worldwide country by country. Great Britain was highlighted as one of the least active, with those 15 years and over far less lively than those in France, Australia and despite the stereotyping, even America. According to the Lancet, insufficient activity has nearly the same effect on life expectancy as smoking! I think we should get out and grab life while we can. Let’s get active and swim our way into the future.
Perhaps the weather is to blame for our British reserve, for our stiffness and self rectitude. In hot countries the beaches, pools, and rivers fill as the mercury rises. People stop worrying and just get on with the happy business of cooling down and relaxing. Does the swimmer have the right to swim? I say we do. Let’s be inspired by the 2012 Olympics, let’s get out, get active and set an example by swimming free in 2012.
It's not often that we feature a work of fiction as our OSS Book of The Month, but if you're heading off on holiday this month, here's one for your beach bag - The J. M. Barrie Ladies' Swimming Society, the first novel from Barbara J. Zitwer.
The story follows overworked and undervalued New York architect Joey Rubin, who has travelled to Stanway House, the sprawling estate in the Cotswolds, where James M Barrie wrote his most famous tale, Peter Pan. As she works on the refurbishment of the house, and it's conversion to a hotel, she longs for a conversion of her own, from her sense of incompletion and disconnection to life.
As we all know, this is where outdoor swimming comes in! Everything starts to change when Joey encounters the formidable "J. M. Barrie Ladies' Swimming Society", who gather almost daily to plunge into the pond near the stately home, have between them survived widowhood, the Holocaust and the death of an adult daughter. In this knowledge, breaking the layer of ice on the pond in the colder months is the least of their hardships.
All in all, a fast, fun summer read, perfect for picking up in between trips down the beach for a dip in the sea somewhere!
With some glorious summer weather just around the corner (surely...) the OSS team decided to share some of their very favourite wild swimming spots, by recording them on our amazing Wild Swim map. Just click on the link to be taken to the swim's full profile on the map - we hope you enjoy exploring them...
Kate Rew (OSS Founder)
Sea cave near St Davids, Pembrokeshire - an exciting and remote coastal swim
Hidden river channel near Machynlleth, Pembrokeshire, Wales: crystal clear and good for jumping:
Lynne Roper (Blog)
River Walkham from Grenofen to Doublewaters near Tavistock, Devon - Beautiful, moorland river tumbling through ancient woodland. Little pools and slides, culminating in a large pool below Doublewaters near where the river meets the Tavy.
Crazywell Pool near Dousland, Dartmoor - Spring-fed pool in an old shallow-cast mine working on the high open moor, around a mile from the road. Large and deep with easy access. Skylarks sing overhead.
Crazy Well Pool
Pauline Barker (Regional Rep for Devon and Cornwall)
Cawsand Beach - Cornwall - A gently sloping sand and shingle beach leading out into a designated swimming bay with marker buoys in the summer. The Cawsand Ferry runs a shuttle service to here from Plymouth Barbican during the summer months. A group of swimmers swim here at 9am on Saturdays and Wednesdays - see here for details.
Thurlestone Beach/South Milton Sands/Burgh Island/Aveton Gifford to Bantham River swim - A Cluster Of Swim Spots In South Devon - Swim through the offshore stone arch at high tide South Milton or explore the shipwreck just along the beach at low tide at Thurlestone. Swim round Burgh Island. Swim 3 miles downriver with the outgoing tide from Aveton Gifford to Bantham.
Laura Moss (OSS Volunteer)
Skye Faerie Pools - swim through an underwater rock arch in crystal clear water under the gloom of the Cuillin Ridge.
Montcuq Lake - swim out to a platform in the middle of a manmade lake in Montcuq, near Cahors, France - beautiful green water.
Jamie Cross (OSS Volunteer Manager)
Fairlight Glen - a small cove surrounded by cliffs and a great nature trail walk to get to it. Special as I discovered it when I was 15 and camping with my parents in Hastings.
Pladda Island - I have picked Pladda but it could have been anywhere on Arran. Especially Corrie harbour on the East coast. I hope to go back at some point over the summer and explore and publish some more swims on the map.
Tony Barstow
Saunton Sands - a great beach for that after work swim and BBQ with the kids.
Tinside Lido - a timeless lido experience. Classic
Rachel Smith (Northern Ireland Rep & General Volunteer)
Glaslyn - High and Adventurous swim loved swimming on a mountain a different way of looking at Snowdon.
Benderg Bay - a beautiful walk , clear water , possible for all abilities and often lovely seals.
Benderg Bay - Photo By Rachel Smith
Mike Alexander (OSS North Wales Rep)
Fron Goch to Aberdovey - a tidal "journey swim" in the Dovey Estuary, from Fron Goch Boatyard to Aberdovey Jetty.
Rhug to Carrog - a river "journey swim" in the River Dee from Rhug to Carrog.
This month, we're reading the very first paperback edition of Caught by the River's acclaimed collection of essays on British rivers. Featuring a brand new cover by James Lewis and a new introduction by Charles Rangeley-Wilson, the book includes Irvine Welsh on the Black River, Roger Deakin on fen-skating, and Jarvis Cocker on an inflatable dinghy in the River Porter...
We'd also like to point you in the general direction of this lovely event, hosted by Faber Social, with readings from Chris Yates, Robert Macfarlane, Kirsty Gunn and Alice Oswald.
A beauty spot on Dartmoor was turned into a 'pop-up lido' for a group of Devon's hardy wild swimmers - complete with an art installation consisting of a lifeguard's chair, a red flag and a large beach parasol.
The chair narrowcasted safety information and relaxing whale song on a temporary radio station, "Crazywell FM" to people lounging by the pool.
Between fifty and seventy people came to take part in the 'living artwork', setting up deckchairs and towels around the 'pool', swimming, picnicking and listening to 'Crazywell FM' on their portable radios. The radio narrowcasted helpful information on swimming techniques, flood prevention and even the spiralling trill of the Bearded Seal to people as they lounged round the Pool.
Artist Alex Murdin wanted to create this artwork at the remote and mysterious Crazywell Pool when he learnt the legend of its waters rising and falling with the tides, connected by a mysterious underground tunnel to the sea ten miles south at Plymouth.
Mr Murdin, who was previously responsible for a project to try get lidos fitted out as aquariums, says this event is the reverse, getting natural 'aquariums' fitted out as lidos. He says:
"It is a tribute to the hundreds of thousands of people in Devon returning to 'wild water*' as our swimming pools are threatened by austerity measures. It also aims to get more people interested in conserving our marine and river wildlife".
For more information on the project, contact Alex Murdin on 01364 654669 or through his website.
*2.35% of UK's population (approximately 5.95million nationally and 511,000 in Devon) participated in outdoor swimming according to the Watersports and Leisure Participation Survey, British Marine Federation, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Royal Yachting Association, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (2006)
Sophie Pierce
For the next week you can listen again to a wild swimming feature on BBC Radio Wales program Country Focus. In the section, the show's Community Reporter, Huw Jenkins, speaks to Dan Graham of Gone Swimming about the legality of accessing water, and the true meaning of wild swimming.
The feature is the first item on the radio show, which can be found here.
Keen sea swimmer and consultant anaesthetist, Dr Mark Harper, contacted the Outdoor Swimming Society regarding his recently published medical hypothsis that people who are due for surgery should take up sea swimming while they wait if they want to make a speedy recovery.
Dr Harper, from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals believes that ‘extreme preconditioning’ – basically getting the body used to recovering from short, sharp exposures to cold – could enhance the body’s recovery after an operation.
He has reviewed studies on the the body’s response to surgery – raised heart rate and blood pressure, a lowered immune system and a release of stress-related hormones – and found that it is similar to the way the body reacts to a swim in the sea. The bodies of people who swim two or three times a week and experience this response regularly, adapt so that their response is less marked and that their heart, immune and endocrine systems are better set to cope with stress – all of which is beneficial should they have to undergo surgery.
‘The best thing about the body’s adaptation,’ comments Dr Harper, ‘is that once it is established it lasts for months. So you could swim in the summer months between June and September, and your increased ability to recover will last for the rest of the year.’
Dr Harper is a sea swimmer himself, usually plunging in at 6.30 am off Brighton beach.
We're hoping to be able to make the full hypothesis paper available on the OSS site soon, so watch this space.
Our OSS Book Of The Month for June is Taking the Waters: A Swim Around Hampstead Heath, written by Caitlin Davies, with photography by Ruth Corney. Ruth joined us to tell us about her ongoing love for, and relationship with, the wonderful swimming spots on Hamstead Heath.
When I first went to Kenwood Ladies' Pond it was love at first sight. I was almost breathless with emotion to find such a gorgeous place. I am from Manchester, and although I was wowed by Victoria Baths (a beautiful swimming pool built in 1906), coming to Kenwood Ladies' Pond in north London was a whole new experience. A couple of years later I started to document life there; in the winter I would be well wrapped up, and while I was fighting to get my freezing fingers to work the camera, game swimmers would be effortlessly entering the pond's icy waters. I met so many amazing women full of vitality and enthusiasm for life. Some didn't want to be photographed, such as a lovely religious woman who came every day, but she was happy to chat nonetheless. Others were happy for me to take pictures of them, and they were wonderful natural models.
Several years later, in 2000, I had an exhibition called "Rus in Urbe" (Margaret Drabble coined this wonderful phrase) which documented life at Kenwood Ladies' Pond. The Corporation of London was interested in my work and commissioned me to photograph life at Parliament Hill Lido. I could not have been happier! I love swimming, I love water and l love photographing people's relationship to it.
Over the years my collection of photographs from the Ladies' Pond and the Lido grew, and I started to take photos at the Mixed Bathing Pond as well as Highgate Men's Pond. I also started to swim more through the winter months (and often took a small waterproof camera with me – but there were times when I just wanted to savour my moment of swimming without any encumbrance!)
Several people had suggested that I do a book, but I only wanted to embark on the project with someone who would do justice to the ponds and Lido. I asked Caitlin Davies, as she was a writer and journalist I held in high esteem and, importantly, was a swimmer too! Although I had a lot of photographs, the book needed structure, which Caitlin gave it in deciding to present a chronological history of all swimming locations on Hampstead Heath. She spent over a year on research and interviewed around 100 people. Many shared their personal memories and photographs, some from as early as 1908. People have swum at the ponds for over 200 years – from champion swimmers and world-famous divers to international film stars and hardy year-round bathers. The challenge was to create an accurate account that would be a credit to these unique swimming spots on the Heath.
We were grateful to get help and support from the Highgate Life-Buoys, the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association, the United Swimmers Association of Hampstead Heath, the Parliament Hill Lido Users Group, the Heath and Hampstead Society, and the City of London Corporation.
In addition to modern and archive photos, the book has a selection of paintings, memorabilia, old advertisements and images from various sources ranging from artists and local residents to the Victoria and Albert Archives – all of which I hope make for an interesting and enjoyable read.
See you in the water!
Ruth Corney, May 2012
Taking the Waters: A Swim Around Hampstead Heath is available from all good bookshops and Parliament Hill Lido (£12.99 or £10 from the Lido)
The OSS has been following the creation of the new bathing beach at Rutland Water for some time now, and we recently caught up with Robert Aspley, of the RASLA, to see how the current drought had been affecting it's progress.
Due to draught conditions, the opening has been put back to summer 2013. The low water level leaves a long muddy area down to the waters edge from the existing grassed area and proposed beach area which would be difficult to manage.
We need 2 to 3 months of the amount of rainfall we are experiencing now for water to be absorbed into the ground at depths where ground water is pumped from. The levels at Rutland Water will most likely be too low this summer because more water will be taken from the Rutland Water due to the lack of these underground water supplies.
However volunteer life guard training is being progressed in preparation for an opening in 2013, in anticipation that water levels will be back to normal. Hopefully this will be the case as 1976 was the last time water supplies were as low as this year. Some triathlon club swimming should go ahead this year in Rutland Water despite the low water levels as this can be more easily managed.
Anglian Water Services have stated they are still committed to opening the bathing beach, and some clearance work for the beach has already been done, but they want to wait till next year before spending any more funds on infrastructure works (signage, buoys, delivery of sand, etc) ready for an opening in 2013.
For more information, contact Robert.Aspey@derby.gov.uk
Longtime friend of the OSS and Marathon Swimming Technical Operations Manager for London 2012, Colin Hill joins us to tell all about the event and it's place at the upcoming Olympics.
What is Marathon Swimming?
FINA (world aquatics governing body) open water swimming competitions are 5km, 10km, and 25km. The 10km event is known as Marathon Swimming.
Beijing hosted the first 10km open water swimming event at the 2008 Olympic Games. 10km Olympic Marathon Swimming highlights from the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 included the women’s event, in which Cassie Patten and Keri-Anne Payne of the GBR Team were swimming stroke for stroke, side by side for most of the 10km race. They were overtaken in a frantic final 150 meters when Russian Ilchenko had a well timed sprint to take first place.
In the men’s event Maarten van der Weijden became Gold medalist beating an exhausted David Davies (who led most of the 10km) on the final 50 meters with multi world open water champion. Thomas Lurz finishing in third.
The event cemented the place of Marathon Swimming as a serious Olympic sport. Team GB had taken 50% of the medals in Marathon Swimming in no small part due to British Swimming taking the sport as seriously as the pool events.
Understanding Marathon Swimming
The stronger swimmers try and set the pace so they have clear water and don’t get involved in wasting energy in the pack bumping and barging with others whilst also challenging the sprinters.
The sprinters conserve energy in the pack trying to sprint past the others in the closing stages.
Unlike pool swimming, the swimmers have to cope with the water temperature (not wearing wetsuits), water conditions, navigation (trying to swim in a straight line), physical contact of other swimmers and the distance itself (normally taking the elites two hours or under).
There is a ‘feeding pontoon’ where coaches hold out a pole with the athlete’s drinks bottle in a cycle water bottle cage with the national flag hanging from a pole for the athletes to take if they want as they pass.
Judges follow and monitor the race closely. Any athletes making intentional contact will be given a yellow flag (warning) or a straight red flag (removed from swim) depending on the severity of the incident. Two yellow flags equal a red flag and the swimmer is disqualified.
The athletes wear transponders on each wrist. The time starts when the athletes dive into the water off the start pontoon. At each lap the athletes swim under a timing pontoon which records their lap time.
The Venue: Hyde Park
The London 2012 Swimming Marathon will be held in the Serpentine in London’s iconic Hyde Park. The Serpentine has close links with Open Water Swimming through the Serpentine Swimming Club which is more than 100 years old.
The course will consist of six laps. It is a technical course that follows the perimeter of the lake and is marked out by pink and yellow inflatable buoys. Athletes must keep the pink buoys on their right and yellow buoys on their left. This is compulsory and athletes will be disqualified if they get the course wrong.
In August 2011 a ‘London Prepares’ test event took place with many of the top elite athletes taking part on the Olympic Course.
Who Will Be Competing During The Olympic Games?
25 athletes compete in both the women’s and men’s races.
To date 10 female athletes have already qualified for the Olympic 10km Marathon Swimming event by coming in the top 10 in the 14th FINA World Championships 2011 held in Shanghai. Keri-Anne Payne secured her place as world champion for the second time at the event and became the first person to qualify for the GBR team.
10 male athletes have also qualified for the Olympic 10km Marathon Swimming men’s event by coming in the top 10 at the 14th FINA World Championships 2011, Shanghai.
The final opportunity to qualify for the Olympic 10km Marathon Swimming event is the FINA Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier 2012 to be held in Portugal on 9th – 10th June 2012.
Where To Watch The Race
There is a ticketed area for the Marathon Swimming event on the North Side of the Serpentine (opposite the Lido). This will have a grandstand and standing area, as well as video screens for spectators to watch the swimmers as they go around the course. Apart from the Serpentine Bridge on the West side of the lake, which is not open for viewing the race, the rest of the lake is free to spectators. There will be many good viewing points around the lake. If you are a real swimming fan, make sure you arrive early to pick a good spot.
Further there is a Live Site within Hyde Park where a large video screen will televise the Olympic sports and will create a fantastic atmosphere for sporting fans.
Interesting facts
• Average water temperature in the Serpentine for August is 19.1 degrees Celsius.
• Average air temperature in August is between 13.6 and 22.7 degrees Celsius.
• Factoid: Ky Hurst the Australian swimmer has appeared on the down under version of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’
• Germany has two athletes racing in the men’s race, as they had two athletes finishing in the top 10 at the 14th FINA World Championships 2011 in Shanghai. After that event only one place per country is available.
• Each Christmas day the Serpentine Swimming Club holds its annual race the ‘Peter Pan Cup’. The race started in 1864, and in 1904 author J.M. Barrie presented the first annual Peter Pan Cup to the event's winner.
Following on for Daniel's article yesterday, today we're sharing his favourite swim's from his new book Wild Swimming France... We're also offering a special 40% discount off the book's RRP for OSS readers, valid for a week (from 1st May.)
The great river Loire is too large and wild for swimming but many of France’s most beautiful châteaux cluster along its smaller, more gentle tributaries. The charming river Cher flows among vineyards and orchards and is the setting for the exquisite, châteaux of Chenonceaux. It is popular with tourists in seasons but you can easily escape the crowds by approaching for free along the woodland path and swimming from sandy bays in the idyllic river pool which lies upstream. The perfect line of white Renaissance arches spans the river and provides a stunning backdrop reflected in the pool, especially at sunset. At the Chisseaux D40 road bridge follow the footpath 10 mins downstream along the left bank of river downstream (lat long: 47.3247, 1.0731). To the east are several other delightful swimming locations, such as the sandy riverside beaches at St-Aignan and quiet riverbanks of Chatillon-sur-Cher.
Cascades du Hérisson – (Mouchard 30km)
Waterfalls dominate the Jura region, and the Cascades du Hérisson is a good place to start, not least because all the signs seem to point you in that direction. Start by climb up and above the dramatic main falls of L’Éventail and the Le Grand Saut. Neither of these has a plunge pool but if you continue further through woodlands on the marked trail you will come to the Le Gour Bleu, a perfect plunge piscine set in a wooded glade with beach and a waterfall. You can climb up and behind the curtain of rushing water and explore behind the falls too – a real treat. Follow the D678 from Lons-le-Saunier (Lat Long 46.6147, 5.8605). Lac du Val is on the road to the visitor centre for the falls and is also good for a longer swim.
Lac d’Annecy, in its gentle but dramatic mountain setting, is perhaps France’s most famous swimming lake. The water is a deep-turquoise hue and subterranean hot springs ensure the temperature is always pleasant. There is a fair amount of development along its shoreline, so to escape to its wilder parts, follow a 45-minute path through the woods to the headland of Roc de Chère where cliffs plunge into deep water. Here you can swim, snorkel and jump from the high ledges as the sun sets over the lake. 700m north of Talloires, just after the D42 turns sharp right on the hill, you’ll see a set of stone steps and footpath, direction ‘Roc de Chère, Liason Menthon’ (Lat Long: 45.8435, 6.1891). There are a number of more easily accessible beach areas too, and Angon (with life guards, café and facilities) has one of best locations, with views across to the Château d’Annecy.
On the lower reaches of the fast-flowing Ardèche stands the famous Pont d’Arc, an extraordinary natural rock arch, as high as a cathedral, formed over millions of years. Swimming beneath this massive vault at dawn, before the crowds descend, can be an almost mystical experience. On the upstream right bank you can climb up and into a cave tunnel and appear out of a hole high on the inside of the arch. Great for jumps. This site is incredibly busy so it’s best to arrive before 10am or after 5pm. If you stay the night try the more tranquil campsites downstream (Le Midi, La Rouvière or Les Gorges). Or rent a canoe for two a day expedition to explore the beautiful downstream sections of the gorge. D290 from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc (Lat Long 44.3821, 4.4169)
Pont du Diable, Hérault (Montpellier)
The Hérault is one of the most important rivers of the Massif Central and Languedoc region. At Pont du Diable a huge pool forms beneath the impressive old bridge at the base of a canyon. This is a very popular place to swim, with beaches and a large car park, but for some real adventure, and the chance for jumps and high dives, swim upstream into the incredible rock formations of the gorge. St-Guilhem-le-Désert, one of the best-preserved medieval villages in France, is nearby and cave enthusiasts might be tempted by the stalactities of the Grotte de Clamouse, reached by subterranean river. Leave A750 from Montpelier at Gignac 4km from Aniane on D27 (Lat Long: 43.7065, 3.5568)
The river Cèze is just south of the much busier Ardèche and just north of the famous Pont du Gard. At the Cascade du Sautadet you’ll find one of France’s most impressive series of waterfalls. There are deep pots of bubbling water to luxuriate in, chutes to slide down and limestone cliffs, eroded into strange shapes, from which brave French boys perform spectacular high-dives. Just downstream a long beach is perfect for sunbathing and a large deep pool stretches out, ideal for more sedate swimming or snorkelling in the clear waters. It’s difficult to get bored here with so much going on but if the parents would prefer a bit of culture they can wonder through the medieval lanes of the La Roque-sur- Cèze above, one of the official ‘Plus Beaux’ villages in France, with a delightful church. If you have longer, explore further along valley, right up to Montclus, to find more gorges and riverside beaches. 30km west of Orange, D980 from Bagnols, then D166. (Lat Long 44.1890, 4.5271).
Cascades de Purcaraccia, Corsica
Known as the Granite Isle, rugged Corsica is the ancient core of a volcanic mass that rises steeply out of the Mediterranean providing some of the most dramatic mountain landscapes in Europe. Perhaps the most spectacular peaks are the aiguilles or ‘needles’ of Bavella, which thrust their pointy spires into the clouds like something from Tolkien. Smooth white marble bowls filled with emerald-coloured water make the Purcarracia the most stunning series of waterfalls in the area, with huge slides and an infinity pool that allows you to swim up and peer over a precipice. The deep marble tubs resemble giant dew drops that have been scooped out of the mountain. Continue on D268 and about 2.5km beyond Col de Larone (the plateau and viewpoint on the route to Col de Bavella) find clear path on the right, 100m before the bridge over the Purcaraccia (Lat Long 41.8375, 9.2645). The nearby Polischellu and lower Vacca canyon are also worth checking out.
If you mention the Ardèche many will think of the huge Pont d’Arc - its famous natural arch - and the gorges below. But head upstream away from the crowds and the landscape changes dramatically. High hexagonal rock columns, like those which form the Giant’s Causeway, rise like towering organ pipes, formed from crystallised magma from volcanic eruptions. They now create deep pools and excellent jumping platforms with terrifying names. At Pont du Diable (Devil’s Bridge) near Thuyets a slender medieval bridge spans a narrow gorge above a large river pool with various ledges for jumps. The water below is jade green and beautifully clear. A via ferrata rope course above provides additional excitement. The Gouffre de l’Enfer (Hell’s Abyss) near Burzet is also a favourite, with a deep cauldron hidden in the woods. Pont du Diable is signed 1km E of Thueyts on N102 (Lat Long 44.6710, 4.2216).
Lakes and waterfalls abound in the remote Jura region north of Geneva. Set among rolling hills and alpine foothills it is easy to find a lake all to yourself. Perfect for a skinny dip then, though be discrete if you do and ensure there are no fishermen watching. Not far from the tiny village of Ilay - and only a few kilometres from the famous Cascades du Hérisson - are a series of idyllic tarns which receive very few visitors. Lac d’Ilay is the largest. The water is very warm, and there is a grassy area which leads down to a beach. The early mornings here are particularly atmospheric as great swathes of mist hang over the water. Night time, beneath a full galaxy of stars, is another wonderful moment to strip off and swim free. Turn off main D678 for D75 to Le Frasnois and find track to lake on right just before the hamlet (Lat Long 46.6319, 5.9001)
Lac de Serre-Ponçon is France’s largest man-made body of water, formed by the Durance and Ubaye alpine rivers. Its construction in 1961 submerged a viaduct and several villages - which regularly reappear at low water – and left an ancient hilltop chapel marooned as an offshore island. During the summer, as the waters recede, over 50 miles of wild beach form around the lake shores, making this one of the longest beaches in Europe. It’s a perfect area for wild camping, swimming and exploring. The south-west tail of the lake, near the Cimetière d’Ubaye (D954), 6km west of Le Lauzet-Ubaye, is one the least populated with grassland, silver shale beaches, warm water and cliffs and gorges for snorkelling and jumping (44.4644, 6.3580).
Wild Swimming France: discover the most beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls of France, by Daniel Start (May 2012) is available here for £14.95. We're also offering a special 40% discount off the book's RRP for OSS readers, valid for a week (from 1st May.)
It's time to start planning the summer holiday! We caught up with Daniel Start, the author of the OSS May Book of Month, Wild Swimming France, to hear a little more about the experience of mapping the most amazing wild swimming spots of France.
Check back tomorrow, when Daniel will be sharing his thoughts on some of the best Gallic dips, and we'll be offering a special OSS discount on the book...
France is a wild swimmer’s paradise. With some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes, as well as the cleanest waters in Europe, taking a dip is the highlight of any French holiday, and guaranteed to get even your non swimming friends and family into the wild swimming mood. Oh, and did I mention it’s hot there too? And the water could even be considered warm!
In rural France, people have always swum in rivers and there are over 1300 ‘official’ river beaches. Unlike the UK, most of France is just too far from the coast, and even if it wasn’t the options are limited. The Atlantic coast has a dangerous swell – great for surfing but not for swimming – and the Côte d’Azur is heavily developed along almost its whole length.
If you haven’t done much travelling in France or ventured off the beaten track, then you are in for a real treat. Its rivers are so numerous that French départments are named after them and three major sets of mountains ensure a plentiful supply of crystal-clear water to keep them flowing, even in the hot regions of the South. On their journey down from the mountains, the rivers often carve beautiful gorges, pools and waterfalls, which make perfect swimming holes and beaches. Countless tracks lead to exquisite stretches of riverside, and with four times as much land area per person compared to the UK, this is a place where everyone can find their little bit of wilderness.
Our new book - Wild Swimming France - focuses on the really spectacular parts of the country, with the majority of swims located in the southern half, where most people go on holiday. We begin our journey in the hills of the Jura and then head south, exploring waterfall country and the great lakes of the Alps. Moving into the wild hills around Nice we enter into the land of ‘clues’ – white limestone canyons with giant jade-green plunge pools and tumbling waterfalls, and while some require canyoning equipment many of the best can be reached on foot. From here, rugged Corsica is just a short hop on the boat, and with plunge pools and soaring mountain spires every bit as beautiful as its legendary beaches, this must count as one of the most beautiful wild-swimming locations in France, if not on earth.
Heading into Provence proper, the Verdon is the largest canyon in Europe and its lakes are perhaps the deepest shade of blue in the whole of France, while the waterfalls of Sillans-la-Cascade bring to mind the kind of tropical oases you might expect to find in Costa Rica rather than Europe. Towards Avignon, the land becomes more arid, but magical blue pools still remain, fed by underground springs, if you know where to look.
Both the gorges of the Ardèche, which boasts the Pont d’Arc, and the river Gard, with its Roman aqueduct, are justly famous for canoeing and swimming. Yet few venture into their upper reaches and tributaries, where volcanic activity has produced a landscape of extraordinary arches and basalt columns.
The Cévennes, where Robert Louis Stevenson travelled with his donkey and wolves still roam, is one of the wildest regions. Further south, the Languedoc and Corbières are hot, dry, wine-making regions that are well watered by the Hérault and Vis. These rivers gush out of great cave openings into enchanted fern-hung grottoes that conjure up scenes from legend and folklore. The Pyrenees are famous for their hot springs – of which only a few remain undeveloped – and for tranquil mountain tarns with rocky ledges for diving and islets to swim out to. Turning northwards, the valleys of the Aveyron, Lot and Dordogne, and their many beautiful tributaries, offer stunning cliff-side villages to swim beneath and plenty of delicious places for long lunches. Finally, the great Loire, with its fairytale castles and woodland lakes, is a surprisingly wild river – wide, empty, undeveloped and magnificent.
It has been an amazing experience researching the book and seeing so many beautiful places. I’ve been totally blown away by France. My only fear is that the warm temperatures might have made me a bit soft. However, I am now married with a baby daughter, living at the confluence of two rivers in rural Somerset, so I don’t think there’ll be too many wild camping trips to France this coming summer. Plenty of dips in the river Avon should bring back my hardiness!
Wild Swimming France by Daniel Start is published 1st May 2012 by Wild Things Publishing (RRP £14.95). OSS members are offered a 40% discount (£8.99 plus £2.50 first class P&P) until 7th May - we'll be sharing the link tomorrow, so be sure to check back...
We've all experienced that wonderful post-swim buzz - the glow that can last for hours after you've dried off. We spoke to the charity Mind to discover how swimming can be great not only for your own mental health, but also for that of others, via The Great Swim series...
“When so many people get together, jump in the water and experience that exhilaration all at once – it’s electric!” Maureen started open water swimming 18 months ago, but at the time she admits she was at an all time low in her life.
“I had lost faith in ever reaching a solution to my ‘black gene’. I had tried all the pills and talking therapies in an effort to take control of the hairy monster inside my head which periodically dragged me to a place I didn't want to be. The first time it was given a name they called it Depression.”
Like many of us who experience mental health problems, her confidence was at rock bottom.
However Maureen found courage: “I set out to ‘manage’ my whole self - including the part I liked the least. I chose to get physically fitter - just in the swimming pool to start with” – but from there she sought a bigger challenge and took on the open water. “I mustered up the strength to dip in a toe, having talked to lots of ‘Wild Swimmers’ and I took the plunge. Clad in neoprene from head to toe I ventured into the murky depths of my local estuary.”
Maureen enjoy that post-swim glow!
Maureen hasn’t looked back: “I just can’t describe how thrilling it can be, swimming in the beautiful lochs in the area. I discovered a whole new, private, secret world where I could be with new friends or alone with my thoughts. However, my thoughts became less overwhelming as I had to concentrate on my safety in the water. When I went home in the evening I slept well because I had been out in the fresh air.
“I would never have believed that reconnecting with nature would have such a profound effect on my mental health, but I can honestly say that I have found a new lease of life by making that first horribly frightening step of going outdoors.
“I wholeheartedly hope that my story inspires at least one other person to get into the water and take a little more control of their own mental health”
The Great Swim series will take place across the UK this spring and summer, starting with The Great London swim on 26 May, Register to join Mind, the mental health charity for your one mile swim, and experience the buzz that Maureen describes whilst raising much needed funds, because no-one should have to face a mental health problem alone.
Lynn Sherr, the author of our April Book of Month, Swim: Why We Love The Water, spoke to the OSS to share her thoughts on "the lore and lure" that water holds to all of us, through historical and personal reflections.
Why, my friends asked, are you writing a book about swimming? Why, they might better have wondered, do I swim? To say that it pleases me, that it calms me and energizes me all at once - clearly contradictory effects - is only part of the answer. The truth is, there is a mystical aspect to swimming and to the water that makes it possible, a realm of possibilities that you just don't find on land.
At one level, it's purely sensual: the silky feeling of liquid on skin; the chance to float free, as close to flying as I'll ever get; the opportunity to reach, if not for the stars, at least the starfish. Swimming stretches my body beyond its earthly limits. But it's also an inward journey, a time of quiet contemplation. I find myself at peace, able to flex my mind and imagine new possibilities without the startling interruptions of human voice or modern life. The silence is stunning.
Have I mentioned that I'm a Pisces?
Swimming is, in short, an obsession, benign but obstinate. But unlike most addictions, it's good for us. Water heals every ache, soothes every muscle, the best full-body massage available. It's also the world's cheapest antidepressant, the second-best way I know to fall asleep. And I'm not alone. Swimmer after swimmer tells me it restores their sanity - from the world, from their kids, from themselves. The lane lines keep us centered; the rhythm of our strokes brings order to our senses.
I like swimming pools because they are irresistible, shimmering boxes of blue in the most unlikely places. But pounding out laps can be a round trip to nowhere, over and over again. Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman, who is credited with inventing the one-piece bathing costume that liberated women in the early 1900s, put it this way: "Swimming under a roof to me is like big game hunting in a zoo. All legitimate fascination goes."
Which is one of reasons I signed up to swim the Hellespont last summer - a jaunty race across the iconic waterway that divides Europe from Asia in southern Turkey and still evokes the breathtaking history of everyone from Achilles at Troy to Alexander the Great to Lord Byron. I trained for the better part of a year; I pushed my body to its limits. And I did it! Added my name to the pantheon that starts with the mythical Leander and now makes me feel like a hero myself.
That's also what my book is about- my adventure by water across the continents; my exploration of the lore and the lure of swimming; my encounters with everyone from Julius Caesar to Michael Phelps and the most glamorous swimmer of them all, Hollywood's Esther Williams. The path from bloomers to bikinis parallels the relaxation of public prudery; the popular history of this ancient sport reflects a world that moved from fear and ignorance of the natural world to accepting its grand importance. And then there's the science and technology that have helped propel this sport into the Olympic magnet in London this summer. Learning the secrets has been exhilarating.
Breaking the surface of anything is both thrilling and frightening - a body of water all the more so, as the ripples set off by our fingertips merely hint at the mystery of what lies below. And then it's as if you were never there. Water mends itself, sealing over the slightest intrusion so someone else - or you - can try again. There's an image that intrigues me: a young man painted on a tomb in ancient Paestum, in Italy, soaring headfirst into a pool of water. Or wherever his final destination may be. You can't see his target, but his ease and elation are enviable. He trusts what he'll find, even though he can't be sure what it is. That's where I'm headed too, every time I go into the water, and on every page of my book. If you're a swimmer, you know the feeling. Swimming is magical. It can also save your life.
SWIM: Why We Love the Water (Public Affairs/Perseus, April 19)
Find Lynn Sherr on Twitter, and Facebook.
Jonathan Knott reports on the Bled Winter Swimming Cup 2012 in Slovenia
Talking about swimming in cold water and actually doing it are two different things. When I arrive in Bled in Slovenia, where the air temperature is minus eleven, and hear the news that the lake froze over last night, I know the water will be cold. But it's only the next day, seeing the 30m x 12.5m pool cut into the ice beneath the grey stone castle on the clifftop opposite, with orange buoys marking out four lanes, that I really understand what that means.
Having hosted the World Winter Swimming Championships in 2010, the lakeside town in Slovenia's alpine region decided to hold its own event - which is why two years later, I, 43 other swimmers, and 200 spectators have come here for its inaugural Winter Swimming Cup. Swimmers representing ten different countries will race over distances of 25m and 50m in breaststroke and freestyle, within a total of 6 categories - alongside a non-competitive ‘penguins' option for those who just want to take an icy dip.
Before the main event, Czech-based British swimmer Jack Bright swims 450m back and forth across the pool. Interviewed by the announcer afterwards, Bright offers some words of reassurance, pointing out that due to its thermal springs, even when the lake's surface is frozen the water beneath is a few degrees above zero (the organisers confirm that the water is three degrees).
Frankly, that distinction seems academic to the assembled swimmers, wearing dressing gowns and woolly hats. I have entered the 25 m breaststroke category: it's only across the pool and back but I still find my hands completely numb when I finish. I wrap up, drink some hot tea and then swim a few lengths in the geothermally warmed indoor pool of the nearby Grand Hotel Toplice, before sitting in a trance-like state in the hotel's sauna.
Swimmers return to the lakeside for the presentation of awards: everyone is cold but instilled with the quiet elation that only cold water can provide. Each category has a separate winner, but every participant is given a medal. I meet a group of swimmers from London's Serpentine club, who say they love Slovenia: ‘It was a really fun event, and amazing to come here and meet other cold water swimmers.'
Some people were swimming in cold water for the first time, including a local from Bled, Alez, who tried winter swimming to celebrate his birthday and describes the feeling as ‘the best of the best'.
After the swim, many take the opportunity to enjoy the surreal experience of walking across the frozen lake to Bled's island (with the spire of its miniature church visible all around, it's something of an icon of the area). Ominously, the ice occasionally creaks beneath me, but I'm informed that this is actually a good sign. Many of the locals are skating across the surface, and I trust they know what they're doing.
Entry to the cup itself was just 10 Euros - but some of the international visitors have opted to book a ‘package', which includes accommodation and a chance to sample some of the area's other attractions. The next day I join them at the winter sports centre of Pokljuka, in the Julian Alps above Bled. It's a world-class centre for biathlon (a sport that combines rifle shooting with cross-country skiing) but we choose snowshoeing, and have the chance to explore some ‘off-piste' terrain when we take a short cut through the woods.
Many people said they would return to swim at the event next year - and there are rumours that this could also include a longer 200m race. With its beautiful surroundings and World Championship experience, together with the flawless operation of the 2012 event (and this despite the last-minute solidification of the lake) Bled looks set to become an increasingly unmissable spot on the map of the international outdoor swimming community - whatever the time of year.
More photographs of the event on Facebook.
Jonathan Knott, March 2012
Slovenian national carrier Adria Airways will fly from London Luton to Ljubljana 4 times a week from 25th March 2012. For more information see Bled Tourist Board, Slovenian Tourist Board and Strel Swimming Adventures.
A new online reference resource for swimmers, Openwaterpedia, described as 'Wikipedia for Open Water Swimmers', was launched in September and now has 11,517 open water swimming-related entries - on swimmers, definitions, records, events, and anything else you could wish to know.
See Openwaterpedia.com for more information.
Tristan Gooley, the author of The Natural Navigator, one of the world’s only books on natural navigation, has written the following article exclusively for the OSS. His new book, The Natural Explorer, is our Book Of The Month, and is published by Sceptre.
Kate Rew: "Adventure, challenge, joy: for many swimmers, the keys to a wild swim. For me, each swim is not a form of exercise, an athletic endeavour, but an exploration – a journey that makes me see the landscape, people and my mental state from a different point of view. Roger Deakin called it “the joy of the undiscovered nearby”. We caught up with Tristan Gooley, to see what we could learn:"
Tristan Gooley: "In my new book, The Natural Explorer, I go in search of the extraordinary journey – something, arguably, almost every wild swim becomes, if you are open to it. The first step in this direction is appreciating that water is never alone, it is in a relationship.
As an outdoors writer and teacher, my interest in wild water has developed into a passion and curiosity that can no longer be contained by the water itself, it spills out in all directions. As a swimmer I have learned that there is joy to be found in following it.
It is a wonderful moment when we appreciate that there is as much fascination in the way the water marks the land that surrounds it, as there is thrill in the water itself. From this realization, it is possible to let the cool water wash over our minds, long before we let it cover our faces. To sample this refreshment we need only question the relationship of each coastline, lake and pond we visit with the land and air it mixes with. For me, it will always form a fun step before taking the plunge.
Tristan Gooley, author of The Natural Explorer
One of the best questions to start with is, ‘What lies beneath?’ Water resting on the land will tell a story of the rocks below. There are few ponds in the Sussex chalk country I know best and there is nothing like absence to sharpen curiosity. I have come to savour the heritage of each pond I do encounter.
Farmers in chalk country used to cater for their cattle by digging generous holes and lining them with water-proof clay, forming ‘dew ponds’. The sheep would gather at the ponds, and no doubt gossip around these rural water-coolers. After their drinking and socializing, the animals would leave their dung. New plants thrive in this fertilized soil at the edge of water. Insects gather at the dung and the fish then feast on the insects. Water brings life to a landscape in ripples. Some dew ponds still hold water and others can be found as the mysteriously-circular impressions in the grass.
At the other end of the rock scale lies granite. In granite country, there is no shortage of water, this impervious rock holds the water up high and its acidic nature keeps it clear and pure. Granite offers hard walks and soul-purifying swims.
If learning to unlock the physical landscape forms one of the first steps of a Natural Explorer, then the next ones broaden our perspective significantly. An understanding of the sky, light and weather and the way these interact with the water can be brought into a swim and add to the richness of the experience.
The later steps require a little courage as they take us well away from comfortable geography, through the more daunting terrains of physiology to psychology.
There is no doubt that an understanding of rocks, rivers, weather and light can enrich our swim. But they are building blocks. Two swims in the same water will never feel the same, even as the water and land remain unchanged. Our levels of blood sugar, tiredness, hormones and wellbeing will form part of every swim. Once we have become aware of these tides, we can steel ourselves to take another step and appreciate that our moods and emotions will want to join us in the water. The person we are swimming with will likely have a greater impact on our experience of the water than its temperature.
If you doubt for one second the importance of the later steps, then imagine going for a swim on your own, on an empty stomach after a long relationship has broken up. Your next swim in these same waters may be taken after a long slow picnic with a new lover, who is now joining you in the water. It is the same place, but is most definitely not the same space.
Exploration has always been fascinating and never easy. Natural Explorers will find their minds have been worked harder than their body."
Tristan Gooley, March 2012
How has our society's cultural attitude to swimming been reflected in the way that we dress when we take to the water? Many thanks to OSS Member Chris Ayriss for this article.
On a sultry summer’s day, what could be more natural and liberating than to dip into a lake or river to complete the picture of scenic perfection? In calm waters, swimmers get twice the view as water mirrors the colour and adds texture to the panorama they swim into. We love to live and holiday close to water; in fact you only have to mention a ‘sea view’, for house and holiday prices jump up. Across Scotland, in parts of Wales and throughout Europe, swimming is as much a part of the summertime experience as it was in England not so many years ago; then the 1970s TV safety film: Dark and Lonely Water, lit the screen and cast gloom over the concept of outdoor swimming. The ‘Grim Reaper’ we were shown, stood ready to take the life of any fool that dared swim in open water and we could be sure that summertime fun would lead to tragedy. Swimmers were persuaded that they really did need to ‘KEEP OUT’, leaving the sport of outdoor swimming to those ruffians who would dip regardless, and, just because they had been told not to. You might think this an oversimplification of matters, and you would be right. A great many factors combined to achieve the outdoor swimming status quo in England, so many factors, that I thought it would make a good read for all those interested in returning to the outdoors, and so I published: Hung Out to Dry, Swimming and British Culture.
Yet swimming is so innocuous that it hardly seems possible for the activity to have had more than a fleeting influence on the culture and history of Britain. Thinking further though and it’s obvious that all swimming necessitates a degree of pantomime as even the most cosseted among us will need to change into our wet suit ready for our swim. Unlike other sports, the act of getting changed, what we wear when wet and the process of getting into the water has influenced the way society has perceived what came to be a very British outdoor sport.
Bathing was fundamental to our Roman invaders and was widely practiced along with swimming, for centuries. Later Church morality motivated abstinence among the faithful, a position reinforced when the plagues of the Middle Ages swept whole families away. The only protection against disease, people were told, was to remain unwashed, so that the skins pores would become blocked with dirt preventing deathly vapours from infiltration the body. At this time in history bathing was considered to be a very risky exercise and it took centuries before the traditions of the ‘great unwashed’ were questioned. When bathing became good for you again, cleanliness was deemed next to Godliness and the righteous were encouraged to bathe as often as once a week. But it was soon discovered that much more fun could be had, especially in cold water, by learning to swim.
As time passed, the bathing machine was invented allowing participants to bow to proprietary by getting changed in privacy whilst being transported into a screen of deep waters. Yet mixed bathing, when it was introduced, presented moral dilemmas unheard of whilst bathers were separated by gender. As a culture, the British have danced around the issues of morality ever since, with a variety of attitudes surfacing at different points in time. Yet as our bathing culture spread aboard so a similar evolution in social mores was sparked worldwide. The bathing machine, invented here in the UK, became an essential part of beach life overseas as British prudery was exported along with the seaside holiday experience. In the end a changed morality allowed bathing machines to be converted into beach huts, or burned in symbol of the liberality of the times. It was much the same with the emancipation of women but it made for a much bigger fire.
This aspect of British bathing history now seems but a bizarre part of our eccentric past. Yet this important milestone in the evolution of our culture popped the cork from the bottle. The Seaside holiday evolved from its humble and secretive beginnings into an obsession with sunbathing and physical exposure. Swimming costumes developed from coverall into none at all for hardy eccentrics, or at least ‘cover little’ for the rest of us. When listening to a series of paper round experiences just the other week onRadio 4, Melanie Walters (of Gavin and Stacey) recounted her adventures living in the Mumbles as a young girl of 11 in the 1970s. Not only did she often enjoy a solitary sea swim whilst on route, but sometimes in the summer she did the whole thing dressed ready for her swim in her “little white and red check bikini,” yet she observes; “that wouldn’t happen today.” And she’s right. Attitudes have changed greatly in the decades since, and this becomes obvious when sharing holiday photographs with our children, the differences in seaside fashions from when we were young are promptly observed.
The magnetic Lido era drew swimmers in from rivers, lakes and the seaside, with diving boards, slidesand cafes offering an altogether more civilised outdoor swimming experience. Yet at the same time these Lidos put bathers on show for spectators who gathered in great numbers to watch the spectacle of the scantily clad, cavorting in the water. Beauty contests spawned a trend to judge others by their appearance and this concept has now matured so that even young children diet in hope of attaining physical perfection. Bathing fashions have changed so much over time, that even in Australia (the birthplace of Speedo swimwear) as here in Britain, swimming trunks have dropped from favour with board shorts replacing them on the beach and in the pool. Trunks may survive for the sake of speed at competitions but they have been outlawed at Alton Towers for three years now on grounds of etiquette. Yet for hygiene’s sake brief swimming trunks are seen as essential at swimming pools in France to this day. In England, men and boys more fashion conscious than ever, wear baggy shorts to hide their shape on the beach despite the half mast trousers fashion on the street.
In an effort to disguise and to hide swimmers from view, specific river bathing areas became necessary when Matthew Webb opened the floodgates to outdoor swimming by conquering the Channel in 1875. Boys in particular took the challenge to heart, unperturbed that a lack of swimwear was scandalising the ladies. Indoor and outdoor pools were to follow as a means of containing and controlling the increasingly popular swimming movement. Bathing machines and bathing costumes helped to disguise the swimmers, but warm water, and holidays abroad have now all but emptied British waters of the swimmers to whom they belong.
Let’s make 2012 a year to remember our swimming heritage and put the fun back into open water by swimming our way back to the great outdoors! Although interest in a return to nature and skinny dipping in particular is attracting interest in the wild swimming community, it is worth remembering that it was skinny dipping that got British swimmers into trouble in the first place. In the Uzbek capital, Tashkent last month, the Walrus Club (a group of eccentric bathers who would swim and dive into the canal adjacent to their club house) have had their premises and equipment destroyed by officials bringing an end to their 60 years existence. A spokesperson stated “local residents were offended by the sight of underdressed winter swimmers in the water and on the canal bank.” Times change, and even countries that have until now lagged behind the times are catching up with the notion of prudery. Will the history of British swimming provide a lesson to wild swimmers today? Or will history repeat itself and get the movement into trouble? Perhaps it would be best to contend ourselves with the freedom to swim as it gradually emerges and confine skinny dipping to the privacy of the bathtub.
Diane Hope, a sound recordist and radio producer, is currently looking to find someone who has discovered a joy in swimming or being in water a lot at some point in their lives, for a potential new BBC Radio 4 programme.
Interested in being featured? We caught up with Diane to ask for more information about the sort of person she was looking for...
I'm looking for people who have strong, distinctive character and a close connection or bond with water. The person don't have to be an extrovert... on the contrary they might be quite introverted & quiet normally - but able to speak confidiently about their thoughts and experiences.
Preferably they are involved in an aquatic activity and are in and out of the water a lot. They will have had a memorable moment where they discovered this connection and it really changed their life in some deep or fundamental way. We're also preferably looking for someone who's not been heavily featured on radio or tv already.
They should be prepared to be visited and interviewed for broadcast on BBC national radio - I'd want to visit them at home, but also possibly record material with them while they were engaged in or preparing for their watery activity. The bottom line is "do you feel in some way 'amphibious'" - and did the point at which you made that discovery in some way transform your life.
Does this sound like you? Are you interested in being featured on national radio? You can contact Diane via email before March 4th.
Dedicated Outdoor Swimming Society member, Gary Anderson, has set up, in his own words, "a group dedicated to combining two of the three real pleasures in life... biking and swimming!" We caught up with Gary to learn more about the new Easy Riders group, and to find out how OSS members can get involved.
Swimming and biking have much in common... a love of the outdoors, the sense of liberation and freedom, the energising factor and of course the camaraderie. Open roads and open water.
The Easy Riders group promotes fast rides and slow swims. Everyone, including non-bikers has been very positive about the formation of the group, and it would be great to make fellow OSS members aware of its existence, as there must be plenty more swimmers with bikes out there!
The latest in biker/swimmer chic...
If you have a motorbike capable of moderate touring or short 'run outs' to some open waters, feel free to add your name to the Facebook group and use it as a forum. You can post details of any events you'd like others to join in with, or see if you can hitch a ride to your local swims. Pillion passengers are of course welcome.
You ride and swim at your own risk so please make sure you have suitable clothing, preferably with 'armour' protection and please read the OSS guide to safe outdoor swimming.
Stay safe. See you on the road. Gary, Liz and Lloyd.
If you're looking to plan your next ride, why not check out our amazing new Wild Swim Map - perfect for scouting out tried and tested swimming spots in unfamiliar places.
This Valentine's Day, why not show a little love to your favourite swimming spot? The OSS recently spoke to Dan and Gabby of Gone Swimming, who offer guided swimming holidays around North Wales, to talk about completely rubbish swimming...
"Rubbish swimming" is an idea promoted by Dan & Gabby of Gone Swimming; to remove rubbish from swim spots the length and breadth of the country. Rubbish swimming takes the basic idea of the countryside code and moves a few steps further...
Gabby says “The first time I met Dan was in a lagoon in a slate quarry in North Wales. It was a beautiful location, and a lovely swim, only spoilt by old trainers, tents, disposable barbecues, lilos, and all sorts of rubbish.”
Rubbish swimming is about making a conscious effort to not only “leave no trace”, but to actively improve the environment that we are swimming in.
Dan explains “Every time I come down from a day in the mountains, the side pockets of my rucksack are bulging with crisp packets, chocolate wrappers, and sandwich boxes – not my own I hasten to add! I just hate to see litter being left anywhere”
Now, whenever Dan & Gabby go swimming, there is a small drybag that gets towed along with them – specifically for any litter they spot. Gabby explains “we take as much as we can, although sometimes there are big things that we cannot tow with us, we make a mental note to come back later. Unfortunately, anything that looks dangerous to us gets left too.”
There are plans to team up with a local freediving group to help clear not just the surface & banks, but also the underwater too!
So don’t just love your swim on Valentines Day, love it every day. Love your swim spot by setting out to be a rubbish swimmer!
In the last OSS Newsletter, we reported that the Friends Of Bude Sea Pool were excitedly awaiting the legal paperwork which will see them take over a long lease of the pool, and manage it from the this Easter. Since the threat of closure, this amazing group have raised over £25,000 to cover staffing costs for the season and have won grant funds for emergency repairs. There's still a long way to go, but we invited Rowena Hoseason to tell us a little about the campaign so far, and to appeal for help from any willing OSS Members!
When Cornwall Council withdrew the funding for life-guard cover at Bude Sea Pool at the end of 2010, it looked as though this closure could be permanent. Unlike many lidos, this tidal swimming pool is semi-natural and is built into the curve of the cliffs on the beach at Bude, a typical seaside town on Cornwall’s north Atlantic coast. It’s tricky to restrict access to the pool so effectively it is open for use all through the summer – which means it has to be life-guarded to meet modern health and safety requirements. In the face of the current cut-backs the county Council pulled the plug – literally. And when the sea pool is empty it’s considered to be an even more risky structure, so was in real danger of being demolished to ‘make it safe’. All that is pretty ironic, given the pool’s superlative safety record over the past 80 years, and the fact that it was originally built in the 1930s because it simply isn’t safe to bathe in Bude bay – too many rip tides and strong currents. These days, surfers and boats add to the congestion in the open sea, and the sea pool provides a safe haven for leisure swimmers, training triathletes and kids having fun.
A protest movement over winter 2010/2011 caused enough of a stir for the Council to come up with the funding for one final season of staffing – on the understanding that someone else would have to take on running the pool in 2012. So, the Friends of Bude Sea Pool formed as a volunteer social enterprise group, and a small committee took up the challenge of raising funds and then getting the pool open again for the 2012 summer season.
Just setting up a limited company and registering it as a charity is tricky enough: there’s acres of form-filling and red tape to trek through. Even the committee members who are experienced small business owners, we have found some of the constraints of running a charity to be time-consuming and frustrating. Perhaps the biggest challenge is that everyone – the public and possible business sponsors alike – are very used to dealing with professional, slick, well-established charities. There are plenty of people who come forward with great ideas for fund-raising, or excellent plans for developing the site to bring in long-term revenue, but there are very few volunteers with the right kind of experience who are prepared to step up and actually take on a committee role for a couple of years.
So the original team has had to climb a very steep learning curve; understand health and safety regs, negotiate with the Council to take on a long lease, make sure the terms of that lease will work for future grant funding, organising the tender process for crucial repair work – which has to take place between high tides, not an easy task in itself! – and so on. The next daunting task is staffing for summer: in the long term we hope to develop a life-guard apprentice programme for local young people, to help them get qualified and develop skills which could be used across the leisure industry. But we need fully qualified life-guards on duty for Easter weekend – which doesn’t feel that far away!
There have been some very notable successes in the FoBSP’s short working life, including securing £20k from the Seaside Towns development programme for the urgent repairs, and winning the local NatWest Community Force grant of £6250 really helped to take off the pressure for first-year funding. The group has also received huge support from local businesses. Over £6000 has been pledged in sponsorship for the first season, and the Bude businesses which can’t contribute directly have helped with general fund-raising to great effect. A local folk band held a benefit gig and donated proceeds from the sales of their album; you can buy Save Our Seapool ale in town, and everyone came together for a gala fashion show at the end of 2011. These efforts contributed another £10,000 to the kitty, on top of the various grants and of course the membership fees paid by the 800-plus members of the FoBSP.
Without a doubt, the FoBSP couldn’t have made so much progress in such a short space of time without support from a huge community of swimmers, and our Facebook page has been vital in reaching them and keeping them informed. Bude sea pool is a really special place to swim, and thousands of people agree: we have over 4750 FB followers. The only shame is that relatively few of these people have taken the plunge and paid the small annual membership fee of £10 to join the FoBSP. If all our Facebook followers signed up and paid £10 then we could stop fund-raising immediately, and concentrate on improving the facilities at the pool. Showers would be nice – but before then we have to make sure that all the trip and slip hazards have been fixed, and we’d like to find a more efficient way of cleaning the pool out – that’s a job for a JCB, and it needs to be done after high seas to stop the swimming pool silting up and turning into a paddling pool!
So if anyone could volunteer to help with the admin involved in saving Bude sea pool, then extra hands would be warmly welcomed by the committee. Sea pool supporters who don’t have any spare time or live further away can help out by joining the FoBSP (child and family membership are available), or by making a donation.
To get involved, please visit the Friends of Bude Sea Pool website.
Robert Aspey, The OSS Inland Access Officer, gives an update on the progress being made with the Rutland Water campaign. Read on for more information about the proposed public bathing beach.
The Outdoor Swimming Society, Anglian Water, The Royal Life Saving Society, and other groups, have been working together over the last 2 years to set up a public bathing beach in a specific buoyed off area on the shores of Rutland Water. This will keep it away from over activities such as fishing and sailing.
There is no guarantee as yet for its opening, but we are aiming for an official opening at weekends in July and August 2012. The opening will be subject to normal water levels being achieved (very low at present but slowly rising), voluntary life guard arrangements and risk assessments.
Inland bathing beaches are very common on the continent even in places with a similar climate to England, and prove very popular in the summer. A bathing beach creates a social space where people are able to interact, have a picnic, and spend time relaxing, as well as bathing. It is much more that just a swimming pool. This fits well with the present governments “big society” agenda, in helping to create social interaction and by using volunteer life guards.
If opened, it will provide a local bathing beach for the people of the East Midlands, so they don’t have to travel 70 plus miles to the coast where it is often colder and less safe. It coincides with the increasing popularity of outdoor swimming, and if opened will help encourage healthy swimming exercise in an attractive environment. Below is a photo of a bathing beach in Brittany, which gives an idea of what we are aiming for.
We are at present advertising for people interested in volunteering to train as beach life guards, who will form a dedicated life guard unit for the bathing beach. This has been publicised through the OSS, RALSA, Voluntary Action Rutland, Voluntary Action Leicestershire.
If you need any further info. please contact me.