Avila had nice swimming conditions today. It was pretty flat and the surf was small. The morning offshore wind was just starting to pick up. It was sunny and the air temperature was 45°. The water is still stuck at 9.5°C/49°F. I have measured a sub 50 water temperature for nine swims over the past two weeks, which may be a record.
We had a nice group today for a shorter Sunday swim. Duke, Theresa, Leslie, Niel, Jodi and Stephanie were at the beach to get in at 8AM. It was sunny, 48 degrees with the offshore breeze just starting to put a ruffle on the water. Occasionally the surf made it to 3'.
Duke and Leslie would do a shorter swim. Instead of going over to the Cal Poly Pier they went from the end of the Avila Pier to the creek mouth and back to the start.
Cold, Bumpy and Ironman Distance
I arrived at Avila a bit late this morning. I didn't see any familiar cars or anyone in the water so I swam a few triangles by myself. There were gusty offshore winds, sunny skys, a nice warmish air temperature of 60 and a water temperature of 9.5°C/49°F. The variation in the wind chop was just enough to make each leg different but not enough to be much of a problem.
I swam for an hour and covered 3057M. A year ago I would not have thought that I could stay in at these temperatures for an hour or more but swimming at Avila four times a week in these persistent low temperatures has made the conditions more familiar and apparently more tolerable. At 51 -52 degrees my feet would never acclimate to the water but my face and hands were OK. At 48 - 49 my hands are also feeling the cold. I had trouble getting my fingers to work well enough to get my wetsuit off today.
It was nice and sunny at Avila Beach today with no wind and a flat sea. The waves made it up to 3 feet occasionally and were so mushy that wading out was easy. the air temperature was 44 and rising quickly and the water was 'up' to 9.5°C/49°F. Theresa, Stephanie and Niel decided to swim out to the end of the pier before deciding where to swim. Sort of a full body toe test.
Deeper Into the 40's
Today's group was Theresa, Jodi, Stephanie and Niel. When we grouped up for the first time everyone agreed that it was colder than yesterday. Yesterday's gusty offshore winds had has their effect and I measured 9.0°C/48.2°F. Other than that the swimming conditions were great. The water was glassy with just a bit of roll and nice and clean. The waves were a bit larger than yesterday at 3' but still easy to walk out through. We decided to do a triangular route that could be 2 miles long but would not take us too far offshore if anyone got too cold. Everyone was digging extra gear out of their bags to deal with the cold. I put a second cap under my neoprene one, Jodi added gloves and Stephanie borrowed my spare pair of big goggles which cover up more of your face and prevent the dreaded ice cream headache.
niel
In The 40's
Avila Beach was just beautiful this morning. It was clear, sunny, calm and a very warm feeling 48 degrees. The predicted large surf was not in evidence at 8AM so Niel, Duke and Theresa planned on getting in here instead of over at Olde Port Beach where the surf is smaller.
My record low water temperature reading at Avila Beach was a 47° many years ago. The low 50's is the usual bottom.
We didn't spend much time hanging about talking but kept moving. The wind had strengthened making the inshore swim along the C.P. Pier a bit of extra work.
We spoke to Leslie at the showers. She had swum by herself down towards Fossil Point and was really cold. She sent this nice picture of the break at Avila.
I'll swim Tuesday morning at 8 and Thursday at 8:30 to 9, depending on how my morning goes.
niel
There was some thin to thick high clouds, a strengthening breeze and 2 to 3 foot surf in Avila Beach at 9AM. Niel, Tom, David, Stephanie and Theresa were going to swim. The air temperature was 54 degrees and the water was 51 degrees and clear. A start along the beach to the end of the seawall would start us off. Then to the end of the Avila Pier, over to and along the Cal Poly Pier nad back to our starting point for 3,318 M.
It was about 52 degrees, sunny and feeling surprisingly warm at Avila at 9 AM. There was no breeze, 2 to 3 foot surf breaking right on the shore, nice clear water and a little swell out of the SE. The water temperature was 52 degrees. Theresa arrived at 9 and Grace was expected at any moment so I went ahead and got started and would let the faster swimmers catch up. We did meet up at my second pass at the end of the Avila Pier and swam together to the mouth of San Luis Obispo Creek. I was done so from the creek mouth I headed back to the start and they headed towards the Cal Poly Pier. I didn't see Duke.
I was prepared to change course if I encountered an funny tasting water near the mouth of the creek but there was no metallic taste to the water today.
It was very wintery at Avila this morning with a solid thick grey ceiling of clouds and a light wind. Rain wasn't expected but it felt like could rain. The water looked clean and the surf was 2'+. The water temperature was 51 degrees. I felt comfortable in the water but the lack of sun and the breeze chilled me after I got out.
I was by myself and decided to swim of an hour on a route that would avoid the creek mouth. Since our big storm, when I been near the mouth of the creek the water has had a metallic taste. I have no idea what would be causing this but I'm staying clear.
At 7:30 on Sunday morning in Avila Beach it was 38 degrees, sunny with a mild offshore wind. The surf was 2 foot and the water temperature was down a degree to 50. Getting in this morning were Duke, Jodi, Niel and Tom. Tom usually swims at Olde Port Beach. We all felt that one degree drop in water temperature.
Saturday was a rerun of Thursday with clear skies, 55 degrees, but you could tell it would warm up nicely, a light offshore wind, 51 degree water and no waves worth mentioning.
Jodi and Niel got in at 8 with sort of a plan for a swim and wound up going long for 4,266 M.
