Salty swimmers prepare for Wreck2Reef

INDENTED Head Yacht Club’s biggest annual fundraiser, the Wreck2Reef, returns on February 10.

The 2024 event will introduce the inaugural Yellow Pole Swim, a new and shorter 600m addition to the Wreck2Reef program aimed at welcoming more participants.

St Leonards resident Gabrielle Moloney Schammer from the Salty Bitches Swim Club said many members will be participating in the new swim.

“I’ve always loved swimming and had been looking for a group to swim with. Once I joined the Salties, I knew I’d found my tribe.”

With about 1,500 members on social media, the swim club originated from a tight-knit group of local women seeking solace and camaraderie during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now a thriving community, the Salties, along with their male counterparts, the Numb Nuts, gather for morning swims at Indented Head beach during weekdays and Point Lonsdale on weekends.

The significance of the Yellow Pole Swim resonates deeply within the Salty community, symbolising personal triumphs and resilience.

For many novice swimmers, reaching the yellow pole marks a significant milestone, representing their ability to overcome life’s challenges.

Ms Schammer, an avid swimmer, has set ambitious goals since joining the Salty Bitches, aiming to complete 100 ocean swims before reaching 70 – a feat she aims to accomplish within the next 15 years.

With 13 swims already under her belt, including the demanding 3.5km Rip Swim across Port Phillip Bay’s entrance, and various local ocean events such as the Pier to Pub, she remains steadfast in her pursuit.

Looking ahead, she aspires to tackle the renowned 4.5km Hellespont event, the world’s oldest open water swim across the Dardanelles Strait.

“Joining the Salties has made a big difference to me physically, mentally and socially,” she said.

Wreck2Reef online registrations are now open at ihyc.com.au