[Ruth Effler]

Hi all! Will anyone be going to the beach into October and onward? Loved my first summer open water w CIBBOWs and am interested in linking up with anyone who goes in the cooler months. I am thinking of trying to go tomorrow or next Wednesday. Or any time! – Ruthy

[Martine Hasenauer]

Hi Ruthy
I will go on Sunday.
I am a pretty slow swimmer though…
Martine

[Jacqueline Broner]

Yep – a bunch of us go year round. You’ll still find us Sat/Sun around 10am or a bit later.

[Ruthy Effler]

Thanks, all! This is good to know. I will look for you all at Grimaldo’s Chair 😉

[Sarah Gill]

Hello friends! I just renewed my membership, and really enjoyed building my swim skills with you guys this past summer. What’s it like these winter months? How cold is it really? I’d like to try it once in a while for fun….are you all still around Saturdays or Sundays?

[Sarah Moore]

Hi Sarah (and ALL)! I just bought a wet suit so that I can start swimming year round at Brighton. Would love to have someone else to swim with on a cold Saturday/Sunday in January! Let me know!

[Jacqueline Broner]

Hi Sarah and Sarah. There are swimmers in Brighton all year round, Saturday and Sunday. That said, the water is very cold (currently around 44 degrees) and even the most hardy winter swimmers do not stay in long – maybe 10 minutes tops but if you aren’t acclimated to cold water, even 10 minutes is dangerous. Might be a bit better for you with a wet suit – all I can say is, come out, feel the water, learn the danger signs, and have fun. I should also point out that swimming is technically prohibited off season, so you take a risk.

[Kayla]

Hi all, what is the water temperature like between March and May? I am an ocean swimmer from New Zealand but will be moving to NY in a couple of months and thinking of signing up for the membership. Do you think it is absolutely necessary I pack my wetsuit? – I am very tight on space. And while I am here, is there an additional fee to swim on Saturdays/Sundays?
Cheers, Kayla 🙂

[Jacqueline Broner]

Hi Kayla – We don’t meet officially as a club until after Memorial Day (end of May) so any swimming between March and May will just be a very casual meet up of winter swimmers, no membership necessary. No organized swimming, just a “get in and swim” on your own but there will be people around. Water temp varies a lot from March to May – could be as low as 4.8c going up to 12c in the later months. But yes, COLD and if you’re not cold water acclimated I do recommend a wetsuit.

[Karly Bennett]

Hi all – Just joined and excited to hop in the water for some longer swims once things warm up. Im just getting back into swimming shape …. do any members get together to swim indoors during the winter? Im out in the Rockaways and would love to link up with anyone else who wants to get a group together. Cheers – Karly

[Dustin Zubke]

Hello Jacqueline – when you say swimming offseason is “technically prohibited”, is that a guideline or a rule? As in, is it illegal to swim off-season and if so, how effectively is that enforced?

Also, I know combined sewer overflows (CSO) are a concern for swimming in various parts of NYC. Are CSO’s an issue at Brighton?

Thanks!
Dustin

[Jacqueline Broner]

Hi Karly – sorry for not responding sooner. People do swim in the winter – it’s informal, not official gatherings. You’ll find people around on the weekends mostly but some go during the week. Late morning is when you’d most likely see people.

[Karly B]

Hey Jacqueline thanks for the response! Folks out there I swim at the Y in Rockaway if anyone is around and wants to join!

[Jacqueline Broner]

Hi Dustin! Yes, it is illegal in NY to swim without lifeguards present. That said, it is sometimes enforced off hours in the summer months but really not in the winter. A few people were issued summonses in the late spring last year when the beaches were closed due to Covid.

CSOs not a big concern at Brighton Beach but we do warn that swimming after a very heavy rain is not usually advised.

[Inger Yancey]

Hi all,
I just joined!! I’m very excited to get back into the ocean regularly, after spending a bunch of time during the pandemic building up my swimming skills in a pool. Woo-Hoo! I grew up at the beach in So Cal.

But I’m a bit worried about CSO’s. Is there anyone who monitors that for CIBBOWS? I know there are maps of the CSO locations, but never figured out how to make sense of what data is publicly available. If there isn’t any system of notification within CIBBOWS, let me know. I volunteer to work on it. I am a member of the S.W.I.M. Coalition, which stands for Storm Water Infrastructure Matters.

[Diane C]

Hi everyone,
I am a Californian who swims regularly in the San Francisco bay. I will be in NYC in early November. Where is a good place to swim in open water. What is the temperature likely to be?
Thanks,
Diane

[TG]

Though not officially sanctioned, there is a crew of swimmers to be found around 10-11am at Grimaldo’s chair on the weekends, and there’s often people there before and after.

You can find the local Brighton beach swim info at http://www.shallweswim.today which includes the water temperature over the last few years by day. It’s usually in the mid50-low 60s, definitely swimmable.

[Kaity]

Hey everyone! I just moved into the city and was looking for weekday swim buddies once the early spring comes around- do y’all do midweek swims? Or do you know of anywhere I could connect with people that do? Thanks!

[CIBBOWS_SwimGoddess]

While off-season swimming is officially not allowed, you may be able to find the water tribe at the beach.

There is a Sun 10/11am unofficial group, an early am (sunrise – 6:30/7a) swim group, and a late afternoon group… There may be a mid-day one, but I’m usually working. While there are fewer people during the off-season, there are some hearty souls who visit the beach all year long.