Hi Everyone,

It’s been a while since we last spoke. I hope you’ve been keeping well and safe during this strange and surreal period, taking the time to pause and rest during the lockdown. If you have been part of the essential services teams who have been supporting us all, a huge, heartfelt thanks. You are a star!

I hope you’ve had the opportunity to find the silver lining in all of this, and like many enjoyed the beauty of swimming at our beaches. I have rediscovered my love of ocean swimming during this period. Thanks to my swimming buddies, I’ve also pushed a few boundaries and developed my confidence in situations I previously would’ve shied away from. It has been just marvellous getting back into the saltwater, feeling the elements and swimming with the fish. There have been some truly amazing and glorious swims these past few weeks.

As you may have seen in the media, outdoor pools are reopening up around the city in line with the easing of the first level restrictions set in place in response to COVID-19. Below we list the pools which are currently open close to our community and we’re delighted to announce a couple of our old haunts are about to reopen. I realise the swim times at these pools are shorter than many hope for, but they are certainly better than nothing. Councils and pool management are doing their very best to reduce the risk of their employees and patrons contracting this virus. The pools I have been to in the last week have provided a systematic and organised approach which has instilled confidence in swimmers. But the best part is the one swimmer per lane ruling. I’m loving the quiet, solo swimming experience. To have a lane to oneself is such a treat.

We want to help you build your swim fitness after this ten week hiatus, so we’ve created a six week Virtual Training Plan to help you get back into swimming shape. Designed by Coach Christina, the plan comprises of three programs per week, each designed to ease you back into training without incurring any injury. A set of programs you can do on your own, at any time, anywhere. The first week’s program will be released this coming Sunday night, 31st May in time for the local pools reopening and then every Sunday night thereafter for the next five weeks. The details are further down in the newsletter. I can tell you, having just jumped back into the pool for the first time since lockdown, it wasn’t pretty. I was so slow. A program really does help.

We are super keen to return to our normal operations and have been working in the background, preparing for the time we can resume our training sessions. The key focus has been on a review of all our practices, programs and procedures to ensure the safety of our team and you, our swimmers. We will outline these changes as we come closer to returning to the pool.

In the interim stay safe and well and I hope to see you poolside soon.

As always, yours in swimming,

Kari Baynes
Director