Pacific Jules

Monday 31 January 2022 - Wilf, Suzie, Shark & Palmy

Happy 87th Wilf.

HB Suzie.

The Pirate said “it was this big “.

Up went the signs.

Out went the JetSki .

I said hi to Guy@5:30.

Then I swam with theses guys.

Congratulations to all the B&Bers who competed in the BIG swim (2.8kms Palm To Whale beach). They all received  a medal (this one is Roger’s).

Many podiumed - Danny (Bronze) & Jane (silver) (blue shirts).

I heard Drinky beat Stickman, these guys were there too.

 Matt got a speedy time.

But Jeanette’s performance was phenominal:

Who’s moustache?



The gang plus Nat.

 

Stay safe. Enjoy yourselves.

Simon 

 

Friday 28 January 2022 Sea the changes

As we approach the end of January, we can see it get a bit darker in the morning than in the middle of summer. People say there are no seasons in Sydney but I think there are subtle seasons if you look, especially in the sea and in our swim. Time is passing and we can see it in the  changing wind directions, the light in the morning and the temperature of the sea, plotting its own course. We can also see the temperature in digital and also (yay) chalk. The return of the chalked up temperature involved about 800 posts in fb. Take that Beyonce.

And here we have the [drum roll] Budgy Smugglers SWIMMER OF THE YEAR Jackie Leslie. What a brush with celebrity

The rip situation is still in place. But there was also some chop from a wind. Nice temperature though and clear in parts. Very good swim

And just as well. It was Michelle's birthday today and Elaine brought her camera so that good photos could be taken. in the meantime, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Michelle

Nathan and Kieran

Paul and Kemper

Out in the bay

under the sea

Into the waves

breathing to the right

Out on a wave

Popping up to see why there is a blogger in your way

Gorgeous at the point

 

BUDGY SMUGGLER Swimmer of the Year

We are happy to announce that the B&B Swimmer of the Year is ....... Jackie Leslie! Thanks to Budgy Smuggler, Jackie receives a $200 voucher to spend in the Budgy Smuggler shop. 

 

B&B monthly dinner – 8^th February 2022

The first B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 8th February at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. Join us for a fascinating story about the restoration of the marine environment and biodiversity, specifically the project “Living Seawalls” undertaken at the Fairy Bower pool.

The talk by Dr Melanie Bishop, the project leader of Living Seawalls, will discuss the almost 50% loss of biodiversity due to marine construction and the shorelines being replaced with hardened seawalls.

The Living Seawalls project is reviving marine life with twelve locations around Sydney Harbour and hopefully many more to come.

The cost of the dinner is great value at only $30 a head, which includes shared entrees, and a selection of mains to choose from (including a vegetarian option). Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each (please note, NO BYO). Bookings are essential, so to avoid disappointment and secure your spot please book HERE.

 

B&B monthly dinner – 8^th February 2022

The first B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 8th February at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. Join us for a fascinating story about the restoration of the marine environment and biodiversity, specifically the project “Living Seawalls” undertaken at the Fairy Bower pool.

The talk by Dr Melanie Bishop, the project leader of Living Seawalls, will discuss the almost 50% loss of biodiversity due to marine construction and the shorelines being replaced with hardened seawalls.

The Living Seawalls project is reviving marine life with twelve locations around Sydney Harbour and hopefully many more to come.

The cost of the dinner is great value at only $30 a head, which includes shared entrees, and a selection of mains to choose from (including a vegetarian option). Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each (please note, NO BYO). Bookings are essential, so to avoid disappointment and secure your spot please book HERE.

'Stralia Day 2022

Well! Now the year finally begins. As we all know, the period between Melbourne Cup and Australia Day is the unofficial long holiday in Australia.

The Roger and Guy team kicked off the day with this magnificent mural on the top of the steps.

The huge number of bags about the wall, surf club and tree was a 'blast from the past'.  It has been quite sometime since it was a challenge to find a little square of ground for the swim bag.

There was a ginormous cake stall to raise funds for Careflight.  The story behind the stall is a very serious motor bike accident in a remote place that could have been fatal had it not been for Careflight. Thank you to everyone who baked, donated and bought from the stall. At last update, the stall had raised over $2,000.

And, of course, many thanks to the tireless efforts of Elaine.
With Elaine is the the grateful recipient of Careflight's swift response, Drinky, the equally grateful brother, and wonderful helper Sacha, who many of us remember from the early days at Bluewater.

Paul was like the white rabbit today - in a hurry; look at the time; really can't stop...

No breach of copyright after yesterday's announcement that the Aboriginal Flag can now be displayed.

Roger in meditation on a cake pose.

These three swam early so they could be almost first to the cake stall.

The water was welcoming although that nasty rip was still surprising quite a few swimmers!

It looks fine, but these bronzed boys in blue are ever watchful for those in trouble. They were reluctant to have their faces shown, so both donned the sunnies for the photo.

Viz was not fabulous and no wonderful fish sightings on my swim.
Returning to Manly - after finally getting through that rip - to find the WOWs have taken up residence on Eric's Steps.

Melise and Georgina looking totally chilled.

Have a terrific day however you choose to mark this day.

25/01/2022 - Bagpipes, Billie the Turtle and Brendan and the Breadknife :-)

What a morning! The surf was pretty big by 7am so although many of us walked down the ramp to the sound of Cameron on the bagpipes most of us came back at halfway to avoid the rips and surf. Billie the Turtle enthralled many of us and Brendan the turtle rescuer came down to the swim! 

It's 7am and although the waves looked to be quite gentle  at 6.30am, some early swimmers came back telling us the rip was strong. JK advises halfway might be a good option and reminds us that as it is Robbie Burnes Day and we are going to have a bagpiper to serenade us to the swim!

Here's Cameron the bagpiper!

We ask him for an encore and Johnny can't help himself and does a little dance!

Drinks Expressers come out as 7amers go in!

The amazing Boyle family. Most of us know kind, warm and wonderful Queen of the Wows Lisa! Here she is with her siblings and hubby John

Cameron takes off his kilt...

Unfortunately he wears boardies beneath :-( !!

I could only find one Scot this morning. Harvie is here with her buddies, Lainey (me), Tatchi, Michelle and Jo. A very brave Scot she is too. Afraid to put her face in the water a couple of years ago she now bravely does the B&B swim!

Leisa notices me!

Karen is over the moon there are only 4 tickets left to her Storyroom next Tuesday at Bucketys!

It's Angela and Sophie's birthdays!

Joyous Wows

Sophie

It's fantastic that we are back to singing Happy Birthday at Shelly and splashing people! We stopped it for almost 2 years due to covid regulations. Did anyone ever catch covid at our swim or in the water? No. Thank goodness things are starting to get back to normal!

I've been looking out for Billie the Turtle every day for the last couple of months and at last was rewarded this morning by her appearance around the pool! The 'moments of awe' that make life so wonderful...described by Julia Baird in Phosphoresence... when you see a Turtle swimming up to the surface to get some air... Luckily we called over a few other swimmers too and even birthday girl Sophie saw it too!

Gorgeous Groper having a sex change!

Eagle Ray. Not great viz today but if you dive down with a camera and crop your photos, it looks like viz was much better!

Our lovely Dorset

Love these ladies, Merrilee and Sparkles

Last but not least...our amazing humble but brave Brendan the Breadknife-wielding Turtle rescuer! Last Friday the surf was huge at North Steyne but he got through it with a breadknife in one hand and set free a Turtle trapped in the sharknet. He's our hero! The shark nets trap and kill so much marine life. In 11 years (tomorrow) swimming with the B&B I've never come across a dangerous shark, no thanks to the nets I'm sure. Most of us want them to go.

See you all for the charity cake stall tomorrow from 7-9.30am!

lots of love

Lainey

 

B&B monthly dinner – 8^th February 2022

The first B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 8th February at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. Join us for a fascinating story about the restoration of the marine environment and biodiversity, specifically the project “Living Seawalls” undertaken at the Fairy Bower pool.

The talk by Dr Melanie Bishop, the project leader of Living Seawalls, will discuss the almost 50% loss of biodiversity due to marine construction and the shorelines being replaced with hardened seawalls.

The Living Seawalls project is reviving marine life with twelve locations around Sydney Harbour and hopefully many more to come.

The cost of the dinner is great value at only $30 a head, which includes shared entrees, and a selection of mains to choose from (including a vegetarian option). Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each (please note, NO BYO). Bookings are essential, so to avoid disappointment and secure your spot please book HERE.

Monday, 24 Jan 2022 – Monday morning you sure look fine

 

The sun was shining and Fleetwood Mac’s tune Monday Morning was pleasantly rolling through my mind - “Monday morning you sure look fine”. 

 

While I swam to Shelly, the line “Friday I got traveling on my mind” was a happy thought, thinking of friends and family who are getting the chance to travel and see loved ones - more of it. No matter where travels take us, always great to come back for a B&B. 

 

Not sure the rest of the song translated to the swim, song is still an amazing opening to both a brilliant album and B&B swim today. 

 

Stay safe. Scott

 

 

Happy Birthday Pete, and great job Em for making the B'day swim happen 

Thanks Guy! Another day is paradise

6:30am crew in good spirits 

Apparently there were a few turtle sightings, only managed to catch a glimpse of a local dolphin 

Awesome community that keeps us coming back! 

Nice vis out there today 

Training crew 

Starting the week well 

 

Always a nice moment when the sun hits the point 

Smiles all round 

 

The mysterious case of the missing Weatherman

Look at all those fancy clothes

But these gonna keep us warm, just like those

Cars and phones and diamond rings, bling bling
Those are only removable things

What about your mind, does it shine?

What about your soul? Is it cold?

Is it straight from the mold and ready to be sold?

Rustys Pitch report

Raindrops outside my window. Southerly wind. My perfect combination to head to Manly. Less people, flat and pristine. Stealthy catches the early worm. Sarge stretches and lists his aches and pains. They will be washed away in a minute. A tug from the rip, less but still some pull. Zig Zag tells us of a turtle at the shed. A group of ladies there excites us, but they are just shooting the breeze. Fair enough. From the point to the shed sees some of the most fish I've ever seen. After pushing off from Shelley we head wide to Winki Pop, warm water rushing over the boulders. Some stand ups in the surf. Cut the channel across to the point, dodging the 7s. Blue skies and sun pace with us across the bay. 

Every day at 5.30am Guy measures and sets us up with his thermometer and chalk. At 6.30 we wonder, a sleep in or a vandal with a duster? 

The express and the FFF prepare for the swim

Muscular bodies lead out by Trooper. Zig Zag perves sideways.

Despite an early rain, it has cleared to blue skies. 

Emma and friend greet the morning sun.

Thanks for the swim and coffee Team. Don't let your true love run cold.

Rusty the Fish

 

SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

We are happy to announce that the B&B Random Swimmer of the Year is ....... Jackie Leslie! Thanks to Budgy Smuggler, Jackie receives a $200 voucher to spend in the Budgy Smuggler shop. On a lesser note, the Swimmer of the Month for December is none other than David Panton. He will receive a $100 Budgy Smuggler voucher. All you have to do to be in the running for Swimmer of the Month, is to swim at least once in the month and log you swim. The more you swim, the more chances you have to be drawn as the Random Swimmer for the month. To be eligible for Swimmer of the Year, you have to swim at least once in every month, and log your swim. So, it is not too late to start logging your swims in January to be eligible. If you want to sign up to log your swims please email Ian at [email protected] .

 

10 km SWIM

The first 10 km swim of the summer will take place on Saturday 29th January at 7 am (conditions permitting). Join the normal 7 am swim to start the 10 km, then continue onwards. Please check in at the desk before 7 am on the day, so we know you are participating.

 

I'll Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

Back to good swimming conditions today, if you don't mind dodging a couple of errant raindrops.

And whilst the swim is important, for me it's the depth of friendship with fellow BnB'ers that have enriched my life and carried me through the last couple of challenging years... reminding me of the song...

What would you think if I sang out of tune...

Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song...

And I'll try not to sing out of key...

Oh I get by with a little help from my friends...

Mm I get high with a little help from my friends...

Mm gonna try with a little help from my friends...

What do I do when my love is away?

(Does it worry you to be alone?)

How do I feel by the end of the day?

(Are you sad because you're on your own?)

No I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm gonna try with a little help from my friends...

Have fun beautiful BnB'ers... see you on the beach again soon xo

 

Swirling, Surging, Surfing, Sub-20’s… and Seth

Siyabona 

That was yesterday. Big water. Today so much calmer even manageable for the flat water swimmers (me and Suzie) and really beautiful in with a few raindrops to make it extra wonderful.
Temp 21.7 C  and Amanda and I saw a turtle at half way. Yay and yay again. 

The mood board today 

What’s up with the Seth thing you ask afterall this week has seen some wild stuff happening. Some Drinks Express folk seen crashing into rocks  (my lips are sealed for the cost of a tea or two) as the surf pounded them to hard places.
So on to the Seth thing : Our beautiful grandson Seth was born on Sunday in the UK - yay. Jonny, his aunts Lou and Nat and I are beyond delighted.
Fun fact : Seth and his father have matching turtle budgies (of course) ready for his Aussie debut trip. 

 The 6.30 lot coming in without scratches today. 

Calm on the surface but Capless claims of fastest swimmer are met with a derisory yawn from Squirrel

The talk continues with an animated Squirrel discussing Capless alleged win with line judge Trooper who feigns interest. 

JK aka The Voice arrived back from hols. Welcome back JK it’s been quiet at the point and beyond. 

The Merpeops going in for the 7 am swim 

The actual 6.30 winner (every day maybe ) amazing swimmer Jenny Britz ignores the noise and poses with the aspirant sub-20 group Tim and Mike. 

A Saffer huddle with Suzie (and Wally) and the Britz crew. Gary, Jenny and Kara. 

Amanda, Nicci ( welcome back from France) JK and Jo pose post swim against the seascape 

Post swim coffee and kak praat ( talking rubbish) Amanda hears it from Derek and The Donald while Bindi hopes for salvation. 

Or a dog treat please Gogo Di (Granny in IZulu) 

Jo, Greg ( our amazing drone man) and Danny and more  kak praat. Greg heard me say camera. Always one.

Where is Wally (when he’s not is his aunts arms)  

The allure of a beekeeper. The Beekeeper of Seaforth,  Mr McNaughty attracts local talent Kirsty, Champ, Rick and Gayle. It’s the honey Honey. 

Model of the day Roz with a wonderful post swim ensemble complete with matching umbrella to add a splash of glamour to a gloomy day. 

All for today, Hambe Kahle everyone 

Gogo Di
x

Management Message 

SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

We are happy to announce that the B&B Random Swimmer of the Year is ....... Jackie Leslie! Thanks to Budgy Smuggler, Jackie receives a $200 voucher to spend in the Budgy Smuggler shop. On a lesser note, the Swimmer of the Month for December is none other than David Panton. He will receive a $100 Budgy Smuggler voucher. All you have to do to be in the running for Swimmer of the Month, is to swim at least once in the month and log you swim. The more you swim, the more chances you have to be drawn as the Random Swimmer for the month. To be eligible for Swimmer of the Year, you have to swim at least once in every month, and log your swim. So, it is not too late to start logging your swims in January to be eligible. If you want to sign up to log your swims please email Ian at [email protected] .

 

10 km SWIM

The first 10 km swim of the summer will take place on Saturday 29th January at 7 am(conditions permitting). Join the normal 7 am swim to start the 10 km, then continue onwards. Please check in at the desk before 7 am on the day, so we know you are participating

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 18/1/2022 - Charity Cake Stall coming up/Rippy Swim

2 important announcements below! Cake stall on Australia Day for Careflight and chance to volunteer at Cole Classic!

After Drinksy's brother Mark Drinkwater had a terrible accident...  he was transported by the Careflight chopper on 20th Feb 2021.We are raising funds for Careflight to say thank you for their role in helping him make a full recovery. As part of that fundraiser we're having a Cake Stall on Australia Day Wednesday 26th January! (Note Date edited due to a huge surf carnival) Please remember to bring some cash and if you could make a slice, muffins or something tasty to sell would be fantastic! Thank you  

The Cole Classic is coming up and the Surf Club needs volunteers to help on Bags and registration. If any swimmers could volunteer a few hours it would be greatly appreciated. Everyone gets a free t.shirt and (covid pending - a free drink in the bar post event). Please click on link!

https://manlylsc.com/cole-classic-volunteers-2022/?fbclid=IwAR1tP7gr-EuzQJmDGH1k5VA6sofFRpBXK_wHBaDtlUtAwoIJKrF_K7kzfSo

Some of the Drinks Express above, Jan, Drinks, Frangi and Simon. A few got scraped on the rocks this morning. It was a bit calmer than the last few days but still very rippy.

Lifesavers closed the beach at 7 and asked us to go from halfway unless very proficient in surf.

I went from Shelly and viz was better than expected. Anne had seen a Grey Nurse and Lucy a Turtle! I only saw an Eagle Ray and Yellowtail. I did see Penny and Pete's beautiful grandaughter Finley on the way to Shelly though. Together at at last after numerous flight cancellations and wrecked holiday plans :-(

A few swam the harbour and they could have seen Octopus or Seahorses there. ( I did yesterday)

Drinksey and his brother Mark who nearly lost his life if it wasn't for Careflight. Please remember Cake Stall from 7-9.30am Saturday and if you could donate a slice to sell would be amazing!

Just realised it's our founder's birthday today! Jules Isbill is celebrating her birthday in WA. We have a lot to thank her for...this amazing, inclusive, welcoming swim! Have a great day Jules!

Thanks

Lainey xx

 

Mon 17th: Tsunami Spumey

Massive seas this morning ... water 22º

On-Point Pete: "Too freakin' scary."

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Honkers John: "Wild."

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Jo Barton (Coming back in): "Butt-clenching."

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Jeffie: "Nothing untoward out there ... but just a quiet teabag for me."

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Bodysurfing Brian: "Not as bad as last Tuesday."

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Champs (who turned back): "There is a limit."

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Dive Centre Manly: "Stick together."

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Pro lifeguard: "Heaps of water movement.  Large swell."

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Tarana Pub butts: "Stay on dry sand."

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Yesterday's Nipper Nats coordinator: "We had to close the beach.  Sand events only."

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Cole Classic update (three weeks to go): "Last year's entrants.  There will be an extra tent set-up where you can collect your Free Entrants 2021 Towel"

Regrettably, the towels didn't arrive on time in 021

- End of blog -