Howth Escape from Ireland 2012

This was the ill fated Howth Challenge seriesTriathlon that got converted to an Aquathon at the 11th hour. But what an Aquathon it was. Swim from Irelands eye (Olympic plus 1900M) then a 10 Km… Billed as ‘for competent sea swimmers only’, my own personal challenge was simply not to die.

Everyone around me seemed to be specialist sea swimmer. So plan was to catch as many as possible, on the run, if I made it to shore..
I spent the night praying for bad weather so that I could chicken out and do the sprint , but alas it was a gorgeous morning in Howth and conditions were idyllic; No rats on Irelands eye, no playful Seals to paw at my feet (unlike the 40ft) , no Basking sharks, and not many jellies. I saw one solitary fish on the way across.
There was a reasonable tide pulling us off course so we headed against it for the first 500M. Visibility was good, and the route was well laid out with easy to spot hi vis buoys. It got choppy where it was most exposed in the middle of Howth Sound and then calmed down past the halfway line.
On its day, this is a gorgeous swim, and I recommend it for anyone that is looking to step up in longer sea swim confidence (like myself). And of course, theres the special forces / Bear Grylls feeling of swimming from a deserted Island Back to Ireland. Priceless.

Not many pulsers. (There was one only other pulser on the results lists – Ciaran Hickey)

Results / Pics http://www.howthtriathlon.com/

Written by: Cormac Garvey