Swim Avila - Open Water Swimming: December 2016

Sunday, December 18, 2016

We had a beautiful winter day at Avila Beach today. The air temperature was about 55 and the water about 52 - 53. The water was clean and the waves small. There was a mild offshore wind and a small chop moving away from the beach. Swimming today were Niel, John Hampsey, Amy and Johnny. Before we got in we watched Jon Harmse run the CalPoly tri team through a swim/run/swim workout that looked like something that he picked up from the lifeguards.

The numbers from the creek on Thursday were around the limit and were followed by a major rain, so I guessed that the west side of the pier near the creek was probably dirty os we stayed on the east side. We swam out to the end of the pier, down to near the end of the beach and back along the beach to the pier. I'd forgotten my Garmin so without a plot I'd guess we covered 1/2 to 2/3 of a mile in 38 minutes. The water temperature estimate was a group agreement based on intensity of the brain freeze, the numbness of feet and hands throughout the swim and that John's hands were cold enough that he could not keep his fingers together. The swimming conditions were very nice except for feeling the cold working in.

The view along the Avila Pier

Johnny and John

Amy with her new goggles

Niel, down near the end of the beach

Johnny, John and Amy

Next Sunday is Christmas Day so I do not expect anyone will be swimming. We will be back in the water on Sunday, January 1, 2017.

niel

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Niel, Heidi and Johnny swam today. It was clear and sunny with scattered clouds, no wind, flat seas and 1-2' surf, and very clear water, just about perfect swimming conditions. I estimated the water temperature at 54 to 55 degrees. The creek had posted some pretty clean numbers so we headed down towards the creek mouth and swam the one mile triangle. The water was clear enough that I saw a school of fish swim underneath me near the end of the pier.

Johnny near the mouth of the creek

Heidi, the same spot

Niel, same spot. It sure was flat this day.

There always used to be people at the end of the pier to say hi to, but the pier has been
closed for a year and a half and won't reopen until after it has been rebuilt, in 2 to 3 years.

Heid and Johnny at the opposite end of the triangle

Avila looked nice from the ocean.

While we were swimming the fog came in around the point at the port and
wrapped all of the way around to Pismo Beach.

I what to send out a big Thank You to GH Sports for their support of the Avila Dolphins. Yo have the best people and gear!

niel

Sunday, December 4, 2016

The weather at Avila Beach was sunny, comfortably warm and breezeless. The water was flat with a good sized swell. The five foot sets had occasional 7 to 8 footers but there were sufficient gaps between the largest waves to allow getting out. The water temperature we 54 to 55 degrees.
Swimming today were Niel, John Hampsey, Johnny, Amy, Sydney, Sam and Heidi.

There were two guy out on boogie boards who were having this kind of luck with the Avila break. They are both in this picture, a red and a blue board.

They did get some short rides.

Amy, Sydney and Heidi getting in. Sydney, Sam and Amy didn't get out with the first group. Niel, Johnny, Heidi and John swam to the end of the pier and over to the approximate location of the last buoy on the east side of the pier, and back to the pier. Amy had gotten out and caught up with the group. Note - during the summer there are eight buoys that mark the limits No Boats/Swimming area. The harbor district takes them out in the late fall to prevent them being damaged by the bigger winter surf. So, we were swimming to where a buoy is in the summer.