A bevy of bathing beauties

 A group of stalwarts takes to the waves at Fish Hoek beach every morning at dawn, winter and summer and any season in between. They have been dubbed the A-team by our local lady, who deserves a similar accolade through her dedication to capturing the moods of the beach at sunrise every day, sharing her evocative photographs with the world and arousing feelings of homesickness in expats everywhere.

The A-team numbers vary as circumstances dictate, but the core group are dedicated to their early morning swim. From September to April, they are joined by the B-team, who shun the colder air of the winter months and therefore do not qualify for superior status. They haven’t all put in an appearance yet – perhaps they are waiting for the equinox on 22 September to make it officially Spring!

Their only protection from the elements is a bathing costume and perhaps a bathing cap. The possibility of shark attacks does not seem to deter them and the new shark net, which is not even set every day, is only put out after their swim, and then by able-bodied young men in wetsuits, who may or may not be embarrassed at being shown up by a bunch of old ladies.

As one who relishes the steaming jets of a hot shower and cannot contemplate dipping a toe in cold water even in summer, I believe that tolerance for the cold is an essential part of the A-team’s makeup. There must be a gene that allows them to enjoy wallowing in temperatures that are less than ambient. Perhaps they have cool showers at home.

On 1 September, they took part in the annual Spring Splash, dressed in the swimwear of 20s Flappers and quite rightly took the trophy! The mountains on the other side of the bay were covered with the heaviest snowfall in many years, further demonstrating the courage of the A-team. One of the members offered some reasons as to why they feel compelled to undergo what, for most of us, seems like self-inflicted torture, and they were: seeing the sunrise over the mountains while in the water; camaraderie (although solo swimming is also a favourite); self-discipline; the feeling of euphoria when it’s all over; fun and friends are a bonus – but most of all, the shock reaction from those on the shore who would never dream of swimming in winter!

The lure of post-plunge hot coffee on a bench in the early morning sunshine and the geniality of the group probably gets everyone off to a good start for the day. I would imagine they are really positive people who would be fun to spend some time with.

With the exposure they are getting, I’m sure it will be only a matter of time before they become a tourist attraction and the tour buses that bring visitors from the Far East to sup on our seafoods at lunchtime arrive for breakfast instead.