The first swimmer to cross The Rip was the late Doug Mew in 1971. Recorded crossings after Doug were few and far between and actively discouraged by authorities. The Brighton Icebergers organised several groups and there were even a few double-crossings. Since 2014, commercial guides accompany all Rip swims. The tides through The Rip can … Continue reading History of The Rip
From the Rock to The Rip
What could be more enjoyable than to follow-up an un-swimmable strait of water (Smashing the Rock) with one of the world’s most challenging open water swims. "The Rip" is an open stretch of water in Victoria, Australia, connecting Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. It is the only entrance for shipping into the Port of … Continue reading From the Rock to The Rip
The Harmony of Contrasts
Based on its Latin origins, the term ‘piano’ is half a word. The other half being ‘forte’. The term, piano e forte, is the full name of what we know today as the piano and was first used in the 1700’s. The term literally means soft - loud and was devised to contrast the graduation … Continue reading The Harmony of Contrasts
Three Things That Define Me
1. Japanese Tea Pot My favourite time of the day is that waking moment, just-before-the-dawn, when my mind swirls in a pure rapture at the prospect of all the new happenings for the day ahead. My first ‘earthly’ thought is of a refreshing cup of tea, strong and tasteful. It jump-starts me out of bed. … Continue reading Three Things That Define Me
The Wash-Up
When I first viewed the Alcatraz Strait two years ago, it became the swimming equivalent of an ‘ear worm’. I could not get the image of swimming this stretch of water out of my mind despite the risks and logistics involved. Rather than seeing obstacles, I could see only challenges, and exciting ones at that. … Continue reading The Wash-Up
Smashing The Rock
This morning I jumped into the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay at 06.58am and swam ashore at Aquatic Park almost one and a half miles and 37 minutes later. The water temperature varied between 11C and 15C with a variable current up to 3 knots and waves around half a metre. There was an … Continue reading Smashing The Rock
Hard Rock Part 6
It’s about one week before I ‘rock the Rock’. My boot-camp is going well and included two open water swims with the Brighton Ice Bergs. The water during these swims was about 9C, and air temperature of about 8C. The rule of thumb for an open swim to be considered ‘Cold’ is where the sum … Continue reading Hard Rock Part 6
Hard Rock Part 5
This will be the view at about 6am as I jump into the frigid, murky waters near The Rock. The moment of jumping into freezing waters will cause a type of shock, with rapid breathing and the propensity to flex up and swim too fast. I need to do the opposite: relax, breath steadily and … Continue reading Hard Rock Part 5
Hard Rock Part 4
‘Persistence and determination are omnipotent’, so said Calvin Coolidge the 30th President of the United States. To give the phrase full effect, I set up a boot-camp involving a weekly swim of 12kms, outdoor cold showers and ice baths as well as daily gym circuits. Initially, these cold showers, in the depths of a Melbourne … Continue reading Hard Rock Part 4
Hard Rock Part 3
The Rock is won or lost in one’s head. Apart from swim training and gym, what goes on in my head is just as important. Why is it that some people can withstand extreme cold water whilst others can become hypothermic in relatively warm water? Alex Hutchinson hits the mark: your subjective sense of effort, … Continue reading Hard Rock Part 3
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