I competed in the Warriewood to Mona Vale Swim after much contemplation about either doing Mona Vale or having a crack at Penrith. Knowing that it was going to be 40 deg. plus the day before at Penirth (where I would have to stay night before to compete), I opted for Mona Vale. Despite overcast conditions, the water was clear as a whistle. You could sight swimmers 10m or more either side. I stayed out to sea, as I usually do, as people tend to get washed in by the swell. I figure that swimming parallel to the swell, you are largely swimming parallel to the beach.
Anyhow, conditions were fine in the swim, until the last can. Last 100m of more where difficult with a rip, breaking swell and those elusive troughs. Here I caught up to the tailenders of the pink caps (2 waves before) being pulled out the water - which begs the question; should they be there?
I first did this swim in 1990, when I was venturing into triathlon. It was my second swim at that stage. Attached is an article from the Manly Daily on that swim. I only kept this as I am in the picture (with hair!!). It attracted 400 swimmers; lasy Sunday's event (20 years on) was 702. I think the weather may have kept the numbers down; Bilgola attracted an additional 40% extra than on-line entries.
So, while ocean swimming is growing in numbers, for this event, 400 to 700 over 20 years, that's only 15 extra swimmers a year!
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