If you love open water swimming, whatever your speed or style, you will find a group of kindred spirits here. We swim year round in all conditions with only a swimsuit and a thermal cap. We hold a series of club swims and all members are welcome to participate. This is your chance to have a safe swim outside the cove with breakfast and awards afterward. Some of the favorites are the New Year's Day Alcatraz, Kirby Cove, Anita Rock, Pier 7 and the Golden Gate.
The emphasis in each of these swims is safety and participation. If you're interested in participating in the South End Alcatraz Invitational swim, a race open to the public, please register. This is a terrific 1.25 mile race; and we'll even let you wear a wetsuit!
Getting started is easy, just come down to the club and introduce yourself. Helping out at a club event is another way to meet the members and learn the dynamics of the group. See the answers to the more frequently asked questions:
Which events are open to the public?
Is it dangerous?
How clean is the water?
What are the signs of hypothermia?
What should I do if I feel hypothermic?
How do I learn to pilot?
What if I prefer to wear a wetsuit?
What if I'm not a fast, competitive type of swimmer?
What if I am a fast swimmer and want to be challenged?
Which
events are open to the public?
The
Alcatraz Invitational, held this year in July, is the only event open to the public. Day use is available for $6.50 on alternating days with the Dolphin Club.
Is Bay swimming dangerous?
Yes. Boats are the most dangerous thing to watch for when swimming outside of the Aquatic Park cove. Hypothermia can be lethal, so you must learn and respect your limits in the cold water. Sea lions have been known to bite, but this is rare.
How clean is the water?
Runoff after a heavy rain can contaminate the Bay water. Generally, though, the water is clean enough to swim in every day. The salty taste, lack of clarity due to algae and other marine life, and ocean smell may be off-putting to some. These aspects aren't "dirty", and you will get used to it the way you got used to the chlorine. Check this link for current water quality.
What are the signs of hypothermia?
Cold, shivering, mental confusion, "high" like a SCUBA "narc", suddenly feeling warm and that you could go on forever.
Sometimes there are signals once you are out of the water that indicate you have gone beyond your limits. Dizziness, nausea, itchy or blotchy skin,physical weakness, mental confusion (test yourself by talking to Lee, he'll let you know if your brain is addled).
What should I do if I feel hypothermic?
If you feel any of the above signs during a swim, get out immediately. If you are not close to shore, tell your pilot to watch you carefully or get in the zodiac and wrap up in blankets. Warm up SLOWLY in the shower before going into the sauna. Have someone test the water temperature for you (I test the shower to feel lukewarm on my skin, but relatively cold on my head since hair and/or thermal cap act as insulation).
How do I learn to pilot?
Bob Roper, a living legend, knows the water best. Be the ballast in his zodiac, watch, listen and learn. We have had piloting workshops - keep an eye out for updates. You can also take out a kayak and pilot along with the zodiac or other kayaks. The bottom line: if you express an interest, there will be no shortage of people to help you.
What if I prefer to wear a wetsuit?
Few people here ever use a wetsuit. Those new to cold water swimming are more comfortable wearing a wetsuit until they are able to acclimate. Unless you are day use or a new member, it's likely that you will be asked why you want to wear it and when you will shed it. This is a complex issue with many individual opinions, ask about it in the sauna.
What if I'm not a fast, competitive type of swimmer?
There are lots of people in the club because they like the WATER and are not trying to break any speed records. You can wear zoomers or other fins to keep up with the faster people, or find others who are your speed and have a similar schedule.
What if I am a fast swimmer and want to be challenged?
There are former Olympic-level athletes, long-distance enthusiasts who have crossed the English Channel or done flip turns between Alcatraz and the club, daredevils who have swum from the Farallones or across piranha-infested Lake Titicaca, and an extra-cold masochist who has crossed the Straits of Magellan (that must be in his blood because his father had done the same thing, fifty years earlier). There is no shortage of inspiring, multi-faceted, and generally humble members here. The common bond is that we love the water and a personal challenge.