A hearty set of swimmers, rowers, kayakers and pilots appeared at the South End extremely early. Some rowers left against a rising ebb between 4-5am in order to make the trek to Candlestick. After a swim briefing (note 5am arrival at the club meant 5:40am to some - delaying our departure) Kayakers loaded up on a powerboat and swimmers piled into 3 zodiacs to make the 60 min. + journey down the San Francisco skyline.
The jaunt down was a bit bumpy at best but spirits were high among Roper our pilot-in-charge, Robyn photographer supreme and three fellow swimmers. The ebb was really kicking in and you could tell this would be one for the history books.
Sometime after 7am the horn blew and swimmers were jumping off boats, rolling off zodiacs and off in style. Since I haven't been spending a great amount of time in the water I decided to wimp out on three fronts. One, for the first time ever I wore a wetsuit top. Two, I wore my TYR split fins. Three, I didn't jump at Candlestick but further up on Hunter's Point. Get over it.
Around Hunter's Point I hopped in sighting on AT&T Park well off in the distance and the south tower of the Bay Bridge. The water south of the Bay Bridge was noticably warmer than north of the bridge.
It took me a little over an hour to sneek between the two south towers of the Bay Bridge where I was immediately reprimanded to get closer to the San Francisco shore. Note that I hate swimming near the Ferry terminal because you have boats coming from all directions. While I did hug in, I changed my sighting to Alcatraz and the fun really started.
First, the water was noticably colder once I passed under the Bay Bridge. It dropped a good 2 degrees. Second, the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. As soon as I rounded the corner approaching Pier 39 it was difficult to see with the high waves. Third, a SF Police boat came zooming out of nowhere and scared the living daylights out of me. I swam over to a kayaker to make sure someone higher in the water could be seen.
Just when I was ready to cry "uncle" to get me out I could see the top of the breakwall in the far off distance. All I kept thinking was "I'm cold, my shoulders and back are tired and I want a sauna." It was the company of three fellow South-Enders and the pack mentality that kept me going. By the time I passed Pier 39 and started inside the breakwall (did I mention the Harbor Queen came out of nowhere and about ran over us??) the water was ripping.
Turning left into Aquatic Park and seeing the beach was a welcome but painful relief. I probably kicked myself in the last 20 yards (go legs!) and Diana C. was there to drag us up out of the water and into hot showers.
My time? 2 hours exactly in waters ranging from 50-54 degrees, smooth as glass to rough as _______.
Everyone made it with no one being pulled - 3 women "clean" (no wetsuits or fins) and that's a fine report.
