I swam Alcatraz today

[Pipecrew]

That shit is cold, the current is nasty and the bay is rough as hell, like being in a washing machine. The swim ended up being a bit over 2 miles and took about 50 minutes.

Now I am a firm believer that the people who escaped definitely didn't make it.

[Seth Manson]

They wanted it worse than you did, keep that in mind.

[L-Pink]

Congrats on your physical condition.

[~Ray]

Originally Posted by Seth Manson

They wanted it worse than you did, keep that in mind.

very true

[Pipecrew]

Originally Posted by Seth Manson

They wanted it worse than you did, keep that in mind.

I Agree 100 percent, but doing that shit in the pitch black and with the tides they faced. Insanity either way.

[Rochard]

Congrats to you.....

Originally Posted by Pipecrew

Now I am a firm believer that the people who escaped definitely didn't make it.

Really.... If you did it for "sport", I'm pretty sure they could have done it in for their freedom.

[kane]

Originally Posted by Rochard

Congrats to you.....



Really.... If you did it for "sport", I'm pretty sure they could have done it in for their freedom.

The difference is I would guess he trained for it, they likely weren't able to while locked in a cell and he had a wetsuit on.

That wetsuit alone could easily be the difference.

Thant said I wouldn't be shocked if some of them did make it.

[MiamiBoyz]

You should just consider yourself lucky that a great white shark didn't munch your ass for lunch!

[Phoenix]

Brave. I am afraid of sharks. That is a great white hotspot.

[Spunky]

That's cool,not many people would consider doing it

[pornmasta]

Originally Posted by Pipecrew

2 miles and took about 50 minutes.

congratulations, that's pretty good

[georgeyw]

Congrats, that is a fantastic effort!! City 2 Surf this weekend for me 14k run in Sydney - nothing like your swim though!

[Aka_Bluey]

Congrats Pipecrew, but maybe you could help out here with a question i have. I live a long way from the sea, so could i ask you why do people wear all black swimsuits in these events, and divers, surfers and such? Why not wear a white one or a red one, why all black? Do they only make them in one color? To me, it seems like to a shark, you look like a black seal and lunch, in a black swimsuit? Am not trying to be smart, serious question.

Originally Posted by Pipecrew

That shit is cold, the current is nasty and the bay is rough as hell, like being in a washing machine. The swim ended up being a bit over 2 miles and took about 50 minutes.

Now I am a firm believer that the people who escaped definitely didn't make it.

[John-ACWM]

Originally Posted by Seth Manson

They wanted it worse than you did, keep that in mind.

good point!

[just a punk]

Originally Posted by Rochard

Really.... If you did it for "sport", I'm pretty sure they could have done it in for their freedom.

Indeed. Also probably sometimes there are better weather conditions

[Caldo]

Congrats

[EngineCash]

Well done... Congrats...

[webgurl]

Sweet that is quite the accomplishment. Add that to your resume

[Sid70]

WHos on the pic?

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Aka_Bluey

Congrats Pipecrew, but maybe you could help out here with a question i have. I live a long way from the sea, so could i ask you why do people wear all black swimsuits in these events, and divers, surfers and such? Why not wear a white one or a red one, why all black? Do they only make them in one color? To me, it seems like to a shark, you look like a black seal and lunch, in a black swimsuit? Am not trying to be smart, serious question.

There is a TED Talk on this subject that is pretty interesting. They make a very strong behavioral science argument that divers/swimmers should be wearing wetsuits with a black and white tiger style pattern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc0d4_uWeR8

[aka123]

How about the currents? Could you just float much of the way for example during high tide?

Humans float, or at least the last time I checked (myself). In salt water it is even easier.

[pornmasta]

Originally Posted by Sly

with a black and white tiger style pattern.

I wonder if they have a stock to sale...

[aka123]

Originally Posted by Sly

There is a TED Talk on this subject that is pretty interesting. They make a very strong behavioral science argument that divers/swimmers should be wearing wetsuits with a black and white tiger style pattern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc0d4_uWeR8

I guess this depends about that are you trying to camouflage or not, and from what direction and from who.

[BareBacked]

Originally Posted by Pipecrew

That shit is cold, the current is nasty and the bay is rough as hell, like being in a washing machine. The swim ended up being a bit over 2 miles and took about 50 minutes.

Now I am a firm believer that the people who escaped definitely didn't make it.

wow you are very sexy. What is the bracet on your ankle?

[seeric]

You're nuts man. Brave, but nuts. That channel is so active with white sharks. When we went on that tour last year, as we were riding the ferry across to the island I was blown away at how rough it was and how bone chilling cold the water was. We went through the whole tour and pretty much had free reign of the island. Got some great pictures. In that pic you posted, could you even feel your feet at that point? Quite an achievement. Congratulations.

[Aka_Bluey]

Originally Posted by Sly

There is a TED Talk on this subject that is pretty interesting. They make a very strong behavioral science argument that divers/swimmers should be wearing wetsuits with a black and white tiger style pattern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc0d4_uWeR8

Hi Sly, thanks for your reply and the link to the video. I liked how at 6:18 in the vid, he said the first swimsuit design was called "the don't eat me design" lol. But it did help me understand now why the suits are only made in the color black and white, the sharks can only see in those colors. And at the end when the 2 suit designs came out, the blue and black with the white strips, am sure these would be what people would buy and wear in the future, i mean in a commercial sense. Again thanks.

[Pipecrew]

Originally Posted by seeric

You're nuts man. Brave, but nuts. That channel is so active with white sharks. When we went on that tour last year, as we were riding the ferry across to the island I was blown away at how rough it was and how bone chilling cold the water was. We went through the whole tour and pretty much had free reign of the island. Got some great pictures. In that pic you posted, could you even feel your feet at that point? Quite an achievement. Congratulations.

Yeah I tried to keep my mind off that stuff, nothing I would be able to do anyways. You have about 2-3 feet visibility at most anyways. ;)

My feet were still frozen but at that point only half the race was done. I had to put my shoes on and run 7 miles, including over the golden gate and back. Somehow even with the super grey skies, I got a little bit of sunburn on my back.

Originally Posted by BareBacked

What is the bracet on your ankle?

It's a timing chip, they strategically place mats around the course that you must pass the chip through. It basically eliminates cheating to a degree.

Originally Posted by aka123

How about the currents? Could you just float much of the way for example during high tide?

Humans float, or at least the last time I checked (myself). In salt water it is even easier.

They told us the currents are like the quote from Forrest Gump. 'You never know what you are going to get' They constantly change while you are swimming and you definitely feel them. It's an odd feeling.

Yeah you do float in salt water and plus a wetsuit gives you good buoyancy as well. None of that shit really matters though when you deal with 2 foot swells crashing down.

[poncabare]

Originally Posted by Aka_Bluey

Congrats Pipecrew, but maybe you could help out here with a question i have. I live a long way from the sea, so could i ask you why do people wear all black swimsuits in these events, and divers, surfers and such? Why not wear a white one or a red one, why all black? Do they only make them in one color? To me, it seems like to a shark, you look like a black seal and lunch, in a black swimsuit? Am not trying to be smart, serious question.

black attracts sun light = heat

[NewOldPlayer]

Originally Posted by Pipecrew

That shit is cold, the current is nasty and the bay is rough as hell, like being in a washing machine. The swim ended up being a bit over 2 miles and took about 50 minutes.

Now I am a firm believer that the people who escaped definitely didn't make it.

Bullshit. I made it. It's an easy swim when you're swimming for your life.

[Drake]

Impressive

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by NewOldPlayer

Bullshit. I made it. It's an easy swim when you're swimming for your life.

They weren't swimming when they attempted escape. They were in a bullshit raft which likely fell apart completely after 10-15 minutes of them floundering around and with the tide/wind carrying them quickly towards the channel and out to sea.

And there is nothing "easy" about it... if any of you have ever seen the current coming out of that bay when coming in under the bridge from the ocean, you'd immediately understand that its a completely hopeless endeavor to try to paddle away from that island with a makeshift raft at night (with wind).

If you "made it", you did so with perfect conditions. Not in a crappy raft, against the tide and wind, in the black of darkness, with a large tide (affecting current speed).

[Ross]

That is pretty damn impressive, congrats Jordan! I visited Alcatraz in May and just going across on the huge boat, the water was pretty rough, couldn't even imagine getting in that water to swim, takes huge balls thats for sure.

[PR_Glen]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

They weren't swimming when they attempted escape. They were in a bullshit raft which likely fell apart completely after 10-15 minutes of them floundering around and with the tide/wind carrying them quickly towards the channel and out to sea.

And there is nothing "easy" about it... if any of you have ever seen the current coming out of that bay when coming in under the bridge from the ocean, you'd immediately understand that its a completely hopeless endeavor to try to paddle away from that island with a makeshift raft at night (with wind).

If you "made it", you did so with perfect conditions. Not in a crappy raft, against the tide and wind, in the black of darkness, with a large tide (affecting current speed).

Or they did make it and ditched the raft after and didn't have to swim at all. It wasn't impossible, it still isn't impossible being that people swim it for recreation now. Would they need some good luck? Of course, but its not like they were trying sail up niagara falls either.


Nice swim man, I did a race in lake ontario and that was cold enough for me not to mention going against the waves for half of it, couldn't imagine what it was like out there.

[michael.kickass]

Nice accomplishment, congratz.

[TheMoneyMan]

Congrats on the swim, but for them it was life or death. A ton of motivation to make it.

[trevesty]

Congrats man!

[money biz]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

Or they did make it and ditched the raft after and didn't have to swim at all. It wasn't impossible, it still isn't impossible being that people swim it for recreation now. Would they need some good luck? Of course, but its not like they were trying sail up niagara falls either.


Nice swim man, I did a race in lake ontario and that was cold enough for me not to mention going against the waves for half of it, couldn't imagine what it was like out there.

Didnt they think they got eaten by sharks since they were bloody from the barb wire. Sharks can smell blood from miles away.

[Roald]

Impressive!!!

[SomeCreep]

Originally Posted by Pipecrew

That shit is cold, the current is nasty and the bay is rough as hell, like being in a washing machine. The swim ended up being a bit over 2 miles and took about 50 minutes.

Now I am a firm believer that the people who escaped definitely didn't make it.

What people don't know is they made and wore raincoat swimsuits that kept them as dry as a bone. It would've been cold, but not deadly.

Congrats on your swim.

[Poppy]

Well-done.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

Or they did make it and ditched the raft after and didn't have to swim at all. It wasn't impossible, it still isn't impossible being that people swim it for recreation now. Would they need some good luck? Of course, but its not like they were trying sail up niagara

They didn't actually have a raft - they attempted to make something that floats from rain coats, scraps of wood and rubber cement. I believe they made paddles but the last guy had them and he stayed behind (don't recal the details)

Anyways, it's a hell of a swim, all I can say from experience is that I've entered from the ocean twice under that bridge in strong tides and it's unreal how fast the water is moving in and out of that bay.

I don't think anything is really known about which direction they were headed or attempted, I do recall the wind was against them in the only sensible direction.

I fell overboard a couple times in my life on the Bering sea and it's fucked. Even with water temps at 55 - 60 degrees, it's stil very difficult to swim as your body immediately pulls the blood from your arms and legs to the core - making it nearly impossible to use your limbs and hypothermia comes quickly. I can't imagine experiencing that and trying to fight he wind and tide at the same time knowing that if you let off just a little bit, you get shot miles out to sea

[bronco67]

It sucked being on that bay in a tour boat, so I could imagine swimming in there would suck 10 times worse.

[NewOldPlayer]

There's a terrific documentary on the "Escape" on Netflix. Interviews and real events leading up to the break out. Amazing story. The movie made it seem like it happened in a couple weeks, when it really took months of detailed planning. Loved it.

[FoxyFletch]

maybe you escaped in a previous life

[VikingMan]

I bet that first cigarette when you finished the swim tasted fantastic.

[L-Pink]

Originally Posted by VikingMan

I bet that first cigarette when you finished the swim tasted fantastic.

[Theo]

Now that's a bucket list item

[SpeedoDave]

Pipecrew,

Nice work mate. I completed the Escape from Alcatraz tri in early June.

I was scared of the swim but it wasn't too bad at all. I was 42 mins - if I was locked up in Alcatraz, you could make it.

As for the sharks - we were told that any of the man eaters don't like the bay water because it is too brackish.... I'm not sure I believe it but nobody has been eater inside the bay and there are a bunch of folks who swim out there.


Dave

[O MARINA]

Way to go Jordan