Sea Swimming in Littlehampton

As I sat at the front window this morning putting a few more stitches in my latest embroidery piece, whilst waiting for Steve to join me for our now 2-3 times per week ballet workout that we do in our living room, it was a nice surprise when in my peripheral vision, I caught  a flash of somebody waving vigorously and looking up realised that it was me the woman was waving to.

Two of our equally sport mad friends from Tuff Fitty Triathlon Club were walking by giving their little dog Rosie, who is rather sweet looking, a nice long walk from their home in Rustington a couple of miles away. Of course, the talk was mainly about training and the reopening of the Littlehampton Wave Swimming and Sports Centre today. They asked if we had booked yet. We won’t be going to swim in the pool while it has its very careful starter system in place. The pool is only seventeen months old and is lovely and it is tragic that it has had to close for so long. 

The opening method is understandable but not suitable for people in serious training for triathlon since they have a booking only plan with only four lanes in an eight-lane pool. One presumes that they will be wider lanes, though on the distancing level. Skill levels, stroke types, front crawl and breast stroke mixed and swimming speed cannot, I would think be separately catered for. So sadly, little chance of a serious work out and every chance of some people getting a bit miffed. As we know you can’t please everyone.  

Our friends agreed with us that it would be best for us lot to stick with swimming in the sea for another few weeks at least. Arriving at the pool dressed ready to swim, no lockers, no cubicles, is not going to be practical is it. Only a 45-minute swim and 15-minute cleaning before the next set of people, is a brave try and hard work for the staff. Can’t see it working myself.

What I would like to add though is a bit of advice to the weaker or slower swimmers boldly going in the sea for a training swim. Firstly, do not under any circumstances go to swim in the sea alone. Tuff Fitty is doing its own set of swims and Tim and Sally are taking a seas swimming group in the deep blue sea really near the pool. 

Slower swimmers need to find a small group to swim with of similar strength. Weak swimmers should not go further than the end of the breakwaters. Never swim straight out. Side to side only, breakwater to breakwater. You do not need ten feet of water to swim train. Swim where you can still stand if you are not experienced at open water swimming. The current in Littlehampton I very strong indeed. No need to take risks.