SwimQuest Mathraki travel towards home

A proportion of the group met for a morning dip but I skipped this due to the tight timing of an early breakfast and boat transfer. My roommate was up and about very early and pointed out a distinctive blood moon. Again, not easy to photograph, but I tried, and it certainly formed a memorable closure to the week.

Not a true 'blood moon'

It seems that this isn't a true blood moon, one due to a lunar eclipse, as they are occurring in March and August this year.

The transfer by boat and minibus worked well despite both boats being temperamental at some point. The trip across to Corfu coincided with a misty haze lifting and gradually revealing the land.

The mist fading over the Ionian Sea

The reluctance of the boats added to the anxiety of those with early flights, but we did arrive at the planned time. Everything during the week ran on a relaxed, casual time but deadlines for travel were met. I chose flight times to fit the advertised connections but I'm not sure I'd recommend this as transfers were adapted to suit the participants’ flights. I'd suggest contacting SwimQuest if your optimum flight doesn't quite work to the publicised times to see what can be arranged.

I chose to wait a few hours in the airport to avoid the midday heat and moving luggage. Corfu airport was frantic, with large package holiday groups. However the various queues for security and passports worked well. There was a brief issue with passport control across Europe (unrelated to the much-criticised EU Entry/Exit System) during my wait but as far as I could tell, the staff handled it well and prioritised those needing to depart.

In reviewing the week I have had many new swimming experiences without serious travel problems. It's worth noting that there's only around 2 hours of planned swimming per day. This works out, for me, around 6.5km in total. Some of the group did extra dips, and of course, swam further on occasions, but I didn't feel a need as even this amount is vastly more than my normal swim training load. The technique, or coaching, element was personalised to ability, age and previous experience and I have made concrete, albeit small, improvements in my stroke. Cassie is a keen observer and effective communicator and clearly loves helping people learn to swim. My only criticism would be that I'd have liked more individual time on technique in a given session.

The restaurants on Mathraki are very capable of providing vegan fare and I couldn't say I'd ‘missed out’ significantly. The non-vegans (so everyone else) praised the meals too. Greece is as hot as you'd expect but the water may not be. I was the only wetsuit wearer but two other swimmers commented on being cold at the start of the week. I think a shorty wetsuit or rash vest would be advisable both for warmth on the occasional cool mornings and to keep the sun from burning back and shoulders.

SwimQuest Mathraki Fifth and final swimming day

Today's weather had returned to normality, hot, with only the lightest of winds through the day. We started with a boat trip into the ‘middle’ of the sea. The sea was a deep blue, with shafts of light seemingly emitted from underwater, the aureole effect. We floated, did a few strokes under water and, in my case, climbed out once cooling. I soon heated through in my poncho under the sun.

Swimming through rays of sunlight

The boats then took us to the small islet of Platja for a loop of 500m, or for some, nearly two loops. The going was mostly good, just a small rough spot at a pole of the island. My shoulder survived and I was warm enough in the 26 degree water.

In the afternoon we returned to the bay at Mathraki for some coaching observation and short videos. After half an hour I thought my shoulders had enough wear and sun. In the evening Cassie reviewed the video with us and pointed out improvements in:

• Rotation of hips
• Less elbow drop, although still obvious
• Good body line, with slightly higher kick, my heels distinctly breaking the surface

Small improvements in technique

Some points to work on:

• Keep right angles in catch don't make hands go under body
• Keep recovery wide, this may help avoid shoulder problems. No need for idealised high elbow recovery especially when older

SwimQuest Mathraki Fourth swimming day

I awoke a little earlier than usual and conscious of last night's talk about sunrise I nipped out and tried some photos before another doze.

Sunrise seen from near the hotel, just like a sunset...

Today we really did go to Arillas, a busy seaside resort on the ‘mainland’ of Corfu (the website shows how the village has become busier over the last 40 years). On the way we stopped in a sheltered spot between two islands and explored the rocky margins, including a small sea cave. Once warned of sea urchins I didn't put my feet down. We practiced rotation again before a few hundred metres into less sheltered waters. Before leaving the island we had a brief tour of its cliffs in the powerboat.

One of the boats nudging into the cliffs

Arillas wasn't great. It has bars, an ATM (which had run out of cash) and a pharmacy. It was also very hot and busy; reasons I've not visited Greece previously. I tried a walk but after a 10 minutes I just had to return to the covered bar area.

Our technique session on the beach was on ‘catch’ after a reminder to think about an engaged core. Not easy to concentrate on both. Need to:

• Hinge arms after a light touch reach
• Just do a right angle, avoid deliberately going under your body
• Only apply force under your body after a successful ‘hinge’ and follow through
• Think about leading with wrist, not hand

On the return journey we completed another island swim, this time I was brave and managed without wetsuit. In the warmer water I was more limited by shoulder discomfort more than chills. Worth noting that a wetsuit reduces the risk of sunburn too.

We ate at a more ‘locals’ taverna uphill of the hotel. It was nominally a BBQ but started with the usual salads and giant beans. I was served with a lovely mushroom casserole as the guides had let the cook know that I'm not keen on aubergine. The omnivores did receive a stack of various barbequed meats.
Tonight was full moon, we had an atmospheric walk back, not easy to photograph well.

SwimQuest Mathraki Third swimming day

Today's plans changed. We should have done technique offshore then gone to Arillas. But, after the morning swim the currents increased so we were back to Mathraki for lunch. However,  the teaching tips for today were:

• Roll from hips into ribs and finally shoulders
• Reinforce yesterday's points on kick and arms

It was lovely to focus on technique, sheltered between two islands, rather than in a pool.

Listening to technique tips on the glorious turquoise sea

After lunch we went to an island, under the impression that it was supposed to be calmer than Arillas. In the event it was still pretty rough and discouraged me from doing much more than focusing on breathing air rather than water. Even the experienced swimmers found it rough, although they were able to spot a few fish. I was ever so pleased to reach the boat. Type 2 fun in my case, for sure.

SwimQuest Mathraki Second swimming day

A disco in the Taverna last night had the potential to keep me awake but it was quieter than the noises of the sea and air conditioning combined. We had another great breakfast at which I discovered the almond milk. The tap water stopped briefly afterwards but everyone managed to make do. The hotelier seemed to have to do some repair work offsite.

Before swimming we each received 10 minutes of feedback on our recorded swim. Importantly Cassie explained the possible causes of the actions we could see rather than focusing on the visible issue. For instance, she noted my 'putting on the brakes' hand during reach and suggested that this was likely due to a lack of core control. I needed to deal directly with that, not just angle my arm differently. Points to think about are:

• Leading arms at 11 and 1 o'clock
• Rotation should start at hips, do more
• Avoid head lift at the end of a breath
• Keep heel up in kick, not downwards

Practical technique considered parallel, forwards arms. I'm fairly consistent here after plentiful catch-up drills. Already I was aware of discomfort in my left shoulder. I'd start a programme of ibuprofen gel and daily paracetamol. Cassie had stressed the importance of technique in minimising injuries in swimming, an indeed that she'd had problems herself from technique that was less-than-ideal. 

Swimmers close to the Mathraki shore

The afternoon swim was from the boat near the harbour and across the bay, naturally I got lost on the return leg and had to be coaxed in the right direction. I'd wondered why the boat I was targeting was moving further away, still worth doing 1.6km.

We ate at the Blue Dolphin tavern near the harbour this evening. Starters were great, but the vegan main course a little disappointing.  

SwimQuest Mathraki First swimming day

The hotel breakfasts are really generous so it's a good job that time was allowed for it to 'settle' before swimming. However, once in the water I found it cold and suffered in the so-called warm-up. The guides noticed the shivering. They allowed me to be first to be videoed, I didn't expect to look good.

Still of the video of my first swim, feel free to critique the technique

We were given some tips for sighting and it was stressed that this is a safety issue. Cassie's recommended technique is to push down, to raise your body, for a quick peek, followed by a breath to the side. Of course I practiced during the week but this should be topped up in the pool over coming months.

Before lunch we had a presentation, an overview of technique, which thankfully mirrored my local coach's advice. At least there is a consensus now. My video revealed the usual problems which I thought I'd reduced. I blame the cold. I'd learn more tomorrow.

The bad weather had brought cold water evidently, so I fought my way into my wetsuit for the afternoon swim. This was a comfortable 1.2km along the shallow coastline to a beached yacht.

The yacht floundered in a storm a few weeks ago

Yesterday a few of us walked up the road to a small ridge to see the sunset. We were a little late so allowed more time this evening. However, we were thwarted by a layer of cloud. In coming days there'll be opportunities to have clear skies perhaps? An evening walk felt essential after 3 square meals today and only short swimming sessions. 

SwimQuest Mathraki Arrival

Last night we learnt via WhatsApp that the transfer has been brought forwards to this morning due to predicted rough seas. Lucky I was in town!

Our minibus took us north, to the port, through typical Mediterranean scenery. Just over an hour on mostly winding country roads. If anything, greener than I expected for such a hot country. The journey was an opportunity to start to get to know each other, inevitably limited by the seating layout.

The motorboat journey was just over half an hour of bouncing across waves. Our luggage was balanced on the back seat. Most of the group were glad when we, and the bags, reached port. Then another short transfer, this time by a very tired minibus, along the partially paved coast road.

Hotel Paradise and Taverna adjacent to the sheltered beach

Hotel Paradise lies in a small cove, with a sheltered beach. The rooms are basic. Water and electricity are a little limited on Mathraki but we only had one short period, this week, without tap water.

The guides and coach had joined the transfer but it was only on dry land that good introductions were made. The SwimQuest guides would manage logistics whilst Cassie would give a mix of group and individual coaching during the week.

The unusual weather meant that it was cool enough to walk to the island's peak during the afternoon. Subsequently, it would be too hot to do this. Remaining group members arrived on a later, much rougher, crossing at the publicised time. Adaptation of the programme to suit weather and travel requirements would prove to occur most days. For instance,  today's acclimatisation swim was cancelled due to the rough sea, even in 'our' enclosed bay.

The evening meal was plentiful with salads, cooked vegetables and something meaty for the non-vegans. It was pleasing that my menu request was noted without any fuss. There was no choice as such to the meals and we were asked to pay a fixed amount. Ultimately, the cost of the food and transfers was less than the amount given in the documentation (which is best way for things to work out). It would be do much easier for participants if it were included in the holiday price. 

By now we'd learnt more about each other, a mix of ages from late 30's into 70's, and of first-time open water swimmers into very experienced sea swimmers and triathletes. I'd put myself into the older age range and lower experience. Most swimmers were from England however two were from other European countries.