Big Weekend for a "Big Swim"

The West Neck Pod bid a fond farewell to July this weekend, commemorating this glorious month’s-end with two "Big" open-water swims. Saturday, as guests of the Greenlawn Beach and Swim Club, and joined by the Huntington Tri-Masters Swimmers, the Pod enjoyed the peaceful, natural beauty of Makamah Beach and reveled in the crystal-clear "big" water of Long Island Sound, which lulled us with an effortless eastward swim on a calm, flat incoming tide, then churned and slapped us from side to side as the wind picked up on the westward return. Despite the waves and chop, the bottom was clearly visible throughout the swim and seemingly close enough to touch even in ten-foot depths, its apparent proximity an illusion induced by the astonishing cleanliness and clarity of the water.



On Sunday, July 31^st, the Pod returned to West Neck Beach for the long-awaited day of the "Big Swim," the season’s first organized collective effort to increase our swim distance and push beyond our usual boundaries. Scores of Aquafit swimmers also heeded the call to adventure and joined the throng of Pod swimmers headed "to the Sailboat and beyond." Though an unusually strong incoming tide and a disconcerting jellyfish insurgence dimmed the group’s enthusiasm for a 3-mile jaunt, a substantial number voted "yes" for 2 miles and continued north to Fort Hill Beach. After the obligatory stopover at the floating dock where Sal Romanello demonstrated his "cannonball" technique and others followed suit, the still-rapidly-incoming tide all but flung us down the Causeway and back to the beach....and the beginning of a new swimming month. See you in the Salt – in August!

Makamah Beach Open-Water Swim

 An early morning shower, cloudy skies and the threat of thunderstorms put a bit of a damper on this morning's open-water swim at Makamah Beach, hosted by the Greenlawn Beach and Swim Club.  Still, despite the uninviting weather, Evelyn and Karl Cruise, Rob Todd, and Denise Tirino Bishop showed up for the 8:00 swim, joined by Beach Club members Todd Rowley and me.  Confronted by a chilly wind and a Sound surging with whitecaps and rolling waves, Rob and Denise opted to stay on the beach, keeping a watchful eye on the rest of us swimmers as we dove into the surf!  After a short but exhilarating swim, we all reconvened on the beach for bagels and coffee, compliments of the Swim Club.  It's back to West Neck Beach again tomorrow for an 8:00 a.m. swim, hopefully under sunny skies!  See you in the Salt!