Swims

Have we got a swim for you. We swam as members of the Manly Life Saving Club and were interviewed by Marseilles leading journalist.

Marseilles, France - Saturday a 2 km swim but if the wind blows a little expect it to be shortened to 1 km and the start scheduled for 4 waves to be combined into 1 wave. Wetsuits against no wetsuits in 4 categories Under 19 male & female and over 19 male & female.    The other group also in the same age groups were "avec palme" (with fins) with or without a wetsuit and what an array of palmes there were.   We saw some easily 2 feet long and the strangest large whale tail fins which required the wearer to dolphin kick the distance with no arm strokes.  Speed, the first guy came in 10 mins. A number of swimmers wore webbed gloves for great grab on the water. Snorkels were also popular especially by the whale tail wearers. 

The instructions were all in French of course and the water temperature was delightful at about 21 degrees on a warm summers day. The wind whipped up small waves no worse than an afternoon Nor-easter  in Sydney. 

The swim had two hundred finishers but many of the swimmers would not have made it without palmes as slow old Scott passed many after stopping to adjust goggles. Crawford won the oldest competitor narrowly from a pom in a wetsuit.

Denise despite her advancing years swam like a 20 year old and cleaned up second place in the over 19 female no palme but wetsuits included - she was first no wetsuited woman up the beach. Old man Crawford was 28th against many wettie wearing over 19 year olds.

We met Michel Arles who was 4th in the  over 19 fins and he is a member of a palme only swim club and wears a whale tail fin designed and made in Russia.

Water safety included plenty of rubber ducks and plastic canoes but the most unusual form of water safety was 4  big hairy dogs wearing floatation devices with handles for those being rescued.  

Tomorrow is the 5 km swim (wind permitting) from the Count of Monte Christo island of incarceration to the man made pebbly beach of today.   

Results should be on http://www.kms.fr

More after the 5km tomorrow but  make your bookings for next years swim and buy palme gloves snorkel and a wetsuit and start training.

Cheers

Scott Crawford and Den Elder