Saturday sees the launch of For the Love of Swimming — a series of events and podcasts celebrating swimming and swimmers on the Isle of Wight.
The brainchild of Isle of Wight sea swimmer Sandy Ciccognani, For the Love of Swimming launches on Saturday (2nd September) from 10am at Ryde Rowing Club, Appley Beach.
Lots going on
There’ll be a day of talks, workshops and activities based around swimming and the sea. Some things you’ll need to book for, others you can just turn up. See the itinerary below for full details.
Activities include a free taster session from Ryde Town Council between 12-3pm on kayaks and paddleboards; a free short talk – What is Sea Hiking & Why You Should Try It; a talk from Dr Heather Massey, University of Portsmouth about Sea Dipping to Swimming the English Channel. You can also join VIVA Carnival club between 11am and 1pm for free samba workshops.
For the Love of Swimming Podcast
Tomorrow also sees the official launch of the For the Love of Swimming Podcast, where Sandy will be sitting down for a chat with swimmers and those who love being in the water. She hopes you’ll be inspired, moved and entertained by their swimming stories.
The first podcast is with Jenny Ball, an Islander who started competitive swimming in her 60s. Now in her mid-80s, she is still teaching, competing and encouraging others to take on new challenges.
Listen to the podcast below:
What’s happening and when
| 9.30am | Doors Open |
| Information stand about a variety of swimming opportunities such as clubs, lessons, accessible swimming, Triathlons etc (ongoing) | |
| Local artists display of work (ongoing) | |
| Healthwatch and Cancer Awareness (ongoing) | |
| Tea & cake (until they run out!) | |
| 9.45am | Introduction to Cold Water Swimming workshop with Kimberley Jennings (registration closed) |
| 10am | Sketching By The Sea with Lucy Bell (book via Eventbrite) |
| Launch of podcast called "For The Love of Swimming" - sharing the stories of local swimmers - Linda Briant & Sandy Ciccognani | |
| 10.30am | Art demos by the beach huts - Gabby Ginn & Karen Winslade (until 12.30 approx) |
| 11am | Competitive Swimming, Types of Event & Swimmers' Experiences - Seaclose Swimming Club |
| Drumming with Viva Carnival Club | |
| Carnival Crafts with New Carnival | |
| Inclusive Seaside: Ryde Beach Accessibility Consultation with Ryde Town Council (until 3pm) | |
| 12pm | Try out Paddleboards and kayaks Ryde Town Council (until 3pm) |
| 12.30-1.30pm | Swimmers Picnic - Bring a picnic and chat about all things swimming - By the Beach Huts |
| 1.30pm | Introduction to Sea Hiking & why you should try it - Island Sea Hiking Group |
| 1.45pm | Sea Hiking Competition - unofficial. |
| 2.45pm | Sea Dipping to Swimming the English Channel - FAQ About Cold Water Immersion Research & Practice with Dr Heather Massey, University of Portsmouth (Booking recommended; spaces might be available on the day) |
| 4pm | Close |
Stay up to date with For the Love of Swimming by visiting their Facebook Page.
