Swim crazy - Santa Cruz to Monterey

Ppl say im nuts to swim SF Bay. N its true, is a lil crazy. Last month I swam from TI to Pier 37 unaccompanied predawn n it was scary!

But this guy takes open water distance swimming to rarefied levels.

25 miles across MBay!!

Guess that's equivalent to the catalina channel wow

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Dang that's an incredible distance. I cant even do two swimming pool lap 

Ppl say im nuts to swim SF Bay. N its true, is a lil crazy. Last month I swam from TI to Pier 37 unaccompanied predawn n it was scary!

But this guy takes open water distance swimming to rarefied levels.

25 miles across MBay!!

Guess that's equivalent to the catalina channel wow

Wow, how long is TI to Pier 37?  Damn, that sounds high risk, arent you afraid of boat traffic?

Ppl say im nuts to swim SF Bay. N its true, is a lil crazy. Last month I swam from TI to Pier 37 unaccompanied predawn n it was scary!

I guess it was less scary because you did it.. in the predawn darkness? Yikes!

A few young women have swam across MBay recently
Both that I remember swam at night with a Chaperone Boat close by

A few young women have swam across MBay recently
Both that I remember swam at night with a Chaperone Boat close by

Is there a reason for doing it at night?

A few young women have swam across MBay recently
Both that I remember swam at night with a Chaperone Boat close by

I met a guy at the Santa Cruz launch last Thursday i believe who escorted his wife who swam across the bay.

A few young women have swam across MBay recently
Both that I remember swam at night with a Chaperone Boat close by

I met a guy at the Santa Cruz launch last Thursday i believe who escorted his wife who swam across the bay.

Did you ask him if he was he trolling for bluefin on the way?

A few young women have swam across MBay recently
Both that I remember swam at night with a Chaperone Boat close by

I met a guy at the Santa Cruz launch last Thursday i believe who escorted his wife who swam across the bay.

Did you ask him if he was he trolling for bluefin on the way?

Yeh. He was a little upset because she was swimming just a little under tuna trolling speeds. Heck !

A few young women have swam across MBay recently
Both that I remember swam at night with a Chaperone Boat close by

Is there a reason for doing it at night?

I believe the wind usually subsides in the evening and gives a better wx window
The last gal swam in a swimsuit and prepped by lubing up all exposed skin
She still reported being stung by multiple Jellies

A few young women have swam across MBay recently
Both that I remember swam at night with a Chaperone Boat close by

I met a guy at the Santa Cruz launch last Thursday i believe who escorted his wife who swam across the bay.

Are you sure they have a happy marriage?   

Wow, how long is TI to Pier 37?  Damn, that sounds high risk, arent you afraid of boat traffic?

Have swam TI multiple times in both training and race so I'm familiar w the risks.  My fastest TY2 Pier 14 was 37 mins for (~1.7) But yes, it gets less scary, but its never wo fear.  Usually have a yak pilot to assist, not this time.  Also, there was additional bulljive. 

From jump street, things went askance.  Couldn't find my wetsuit n just wore jammers.  As I was pulling on my goggles on the rocks of YB, a renta cop rudely pulled up on me, and made me bounce from my intended insertion point.  A rotund walrus with a chest rack full of magazines, hand on his piece.

"What are you doing?!"
"I'm about to go for a swim, what's it look like?"
"Not here you're not.  This is a construction site."

I'm finna jump in at that moment bc what's he gun do, swim after me, shoot me? 
Then he says he'll "let me" go start my swim at the end of TI, walk to the end of the road and get in.

I said no, that would add at least 2K to an already long swim.

Then he says go around and swim at the beach.  I again said no, that would add probably 4K distance.

He says, OK, walk past the construction fence and and keep walking until you see the dead seal, then you can put in.

Without a word, I picked up my towable swim bag and walked away.  "Look out for sharks!" he yelled.  Anyway, I put in at least 500m west of where I wanted to start on YB.  That bad starting position, coupled with my lousy nav totally jacked me up.

I ended up getting caught by a big ebb tide and it felt like swimming on a treadmill.  About an hour into it, I realized there was no way I was making it to Pier 14 anymore where my car was parked.  I said screw it, just cross and then pull out somewhere on the embarcadero. 

I made it across but then couldn't find a ladder LOL!!  Pier after pier, there was security wire and fences preventing an easy exit. 

By then, I'm smoked pretty good but the ebb tide is just whipping one pier after the next past me.  FINALLY whipped into view of the Hornblower.  I blast one last effort to pull in by their pier. 

Swim up, wave, and ask the hornblower crew if I can climb up onto their platform.  "No, this is a secure area."  I asked him again, and he relented.  They said they'd run a man overboard drill, since they were doing their pre-loading warmup motions anyway.  They deployed a rescue scramble net, and I scaled up it like pirate.

The skipper also gives me the business about "you shouldn't be doing this alone" "its too dangerous", etc.

Anyway, then I humped it about a mile back to my car at pier 14.  Had my sandals shirt phone in my swim buoy.

not for everyone, and not for me all the time.  But I had the fitness and the time, so off I went 

Is there a reason for doing it at night?
~~~
I believe the wind usually subsides in the evening and gives a better wx window
The last gal swam in a swimsuit and prepped by lubing up all exposed skin
She still reported being stung by multiple Jellies

One additional reason is that you swim at night, its easier to finish during the day then finish at night.  U start at night when ur energy high, and during the day ur swimming slower and but ur still motivated bc the suns still up