Speedy Gonzalez
02-07-2006, 07:53 AM
Had the most scary experience yesterday in a sea swim - I have never been frightened before when swimming in the sea, but I was seriously ****ing myself.
We had to swim in a triangle shape, going from the start to the first red buoy (1,000m) then from there to a 2nd red buoy (1,000m) and then back to where we had started (another 1,000m).
I had passed the second red buoy and was merrily swimming along, thinking of what to have for dinner, occasionally looking up to make sure I was going in the right direction (which for me means making sure I'm following the other swimmers, which is why I never like to be the first!):) Anyway, suddenly I heard a frantic whistling, and looked up and the guys on the rescue boat were waving at me madly, and yelling "HEAD FOR THE RED BUOY!! HEAD FOR THE RED BUOY!" I was totally confused as I had passed all the red buoys I needed to, I was heading for the finish. But they carried on, obviously in blind panic. "GO TO THE SEA WALL! GET OUT OF THE WAY"
That was when I looked up. And saw this enormous cargo ship bearing down on me. :aarrgghh: It was so near, I honestly thought that was it, there was no way I was going to be able to get out of its way in time. I had never seen a cargo ship so close up before, and believe me, this one was close....I could see the sailors' fillings as they grinned down at me (obviously thinking, aha, another mad sea swimmer bites the dust. Or the seaweed). I flicked my turbo switch on and just went for it. I swam like I had never swum before (I reckon if I had been timed I would have gone for a under-60 100m free).
The thing is, orientation is a nightmare in the sea, and even though I was going flat out, I still wasn't sure if I was going in the right direction, no matter how much I swam it still seemed to be coming right at , like it had a death wish or something.
When I finally got in, I was so knackered and my legs were like jelly.
And there on the jetty was my arch rival. "Oh well done you did a very fast time, didn't you? Only 6 minutes behind me..."
So all in all, not a good swim. Disgusting water (probably from all those cargo ships and the resulting effects they have on those who dare to swim in their paths.)
The silver trophy is ugly too.:cry:
We had to swim in a triangle shape, going from the start to the first red buoy (1,000m) then from there to a 2nd red buoy (1,000m) and then back to where we had started (another 1,000m).
I had passed the second red buoy and was merrily swimming along, thinking of what to have for dinner, occasionally looking up to make sure I was going in the right direction (which for me means making sure I'm following the other swimmers, which is why I never like to be the first!):) Anyway, suddenly I heard a frantic whistling, and looked up and the guys on the rescue boat were waving at me madly, and yelling "HEAD FOR THE RED BUOY!! HEAD FOR THE RED BUOY!" I was totally confused as I had passed all the red buoys I needed to, I was heading for the finish. But they carried on, obviously in blind panic. "GO TO THE SEA WALL! GET OUT OF THE WAY"
That was when I looked up. And saw this enormous cargo ship bearing down on me. :aarrgghh: It was so near, I honestly thought that was it, there was no way I was going to be able to get out of its way in time. I had never seen a cargo ship so close up before, and believe me, this one was close....I could see the sailors' fillings as they grinned down at me (obviously thinking, aha, another mad sea swimmer bites the dust. Or the seaweed). I flicked my turbo switch on and just went for it. I swam like I had never swum before (I reckon if I had been timed I would have gone for a under-60 100m free).
The thing is, orientation is a nightmare in the sea, and even though I was going flat out, I still wasn't sure if I was going in the right direction, no matter how much I swam it still seemed to be coming right at , like it had a death wish or something.
When I finally got in, I was so knackered and my legs were like jelly.
And there on the jetty was my arch rival. "Oh well done you did a very fast time, didn't you? Only 6 minutes behind me..."
So all in all, not a good swim. Disgusting water (probably from all those cargo ships and the resulting effects they have on those who dare to swim in their paths.)
The silver trophy is ugly too.:cry: