The Bold and the Beautiful (From Splash-e August, 2013)
The Bold and the
Beautiful is an informal ocean swimming squad in Manly. They meet at the south
end of Manly Beach every day at 7am to swim around to Shelly Beach and back
again. The distance is 1.5 kms. The squad includes swimmers of all abilities.
Some swim in wet suits, some with flippers. Some swim to Shelley Beach and walk
back while some walk to Shelley Beach and
swim back. The squad attracts around 150
swimmers.
It’s a friendly and relaxed group that welcomes newcomers.
The swim is magnificent. The marine life
in Fairy Bower Bay is gorgeous. Occasionally the squad is accompanied by
dolphins. Once a whale joined the lucky 49 swimmers
Newcomers can just
turn up a little before 7am outside Manly SLSC. They then register their
details and have their photo taken. They are then presented with a B & B pink
swimming hat which needs to be worn each swim. There is no water safety with
the group. There is no timing. There are no results. There is no water or fruit
at the end. After the swim many go to Bluewater Café, one of their sponsors, for
a coffee or breakfast.
Swimmers can earn a Cold and Beautiful badge for winter
swimming if they complete 20 swims over the 13-week winter season. During
the summer the challenges are 6-km swims and 10-km return swims to Freshwater
Beach and Curl Curl.
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