Has anyone else heard they are not allowing any swimming in the gulf right now in PCB due to bad water? Not sure if it is all related to recent storms in N.O. or what. Calls currently into local health dept for real story. I heard the water is real bad. Swim at IM Fla in question?
The problem right now is that there’s an outbreak of red tide in the area. It happens every so often in these parts, and usuall clears itself up in the open water before too long. Should be long past being an issue by IMFL.
I’ve got a sprint tommorrow about 40 miles west of PCB. The RD has been in contact with the health department all week, and the report is that there’s very slight red tide in Destin right now- water’s fine to swim in, though you want to rinse off afterwards if you’ve got a known sensitivity to red tide- and that the swim and race are going off as scheduled.
When I lived right at the beach, it never got me when I was swimming, but it could cause moderate respratory distress if you inhaled too much of it over a long period of time when you were just walking around close to shore.
Yep, this happens most every year on some part of the north Florida Gulf coast. Most people never hear the warning and swim anyway w/ no problems. Usually clears up with the first sign of cooler temps, which are supposed to hit tonight!
You should stick to California…
No idea where you got that from.
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Florida’s three biggest businesses are agriculture, construction and tourism.
Do you have any idea what you are talking about?
The Red Tide is NASTY! Hopefully it will clear before the race.
It is even affecting my cycling… most of my rides are fairly close to the beach and the smell of the red tide is so disgusting that it makes it really difficult to breathe.
Jill, just what is Red Tide?
http://www.redtideonline.com/faq.htm
BTW the red tide is really bad today. I am sitting in my office right now which is accross the street from the Gulf and I can feel that effects of the Red Tide right now. It leaves an irritated feeling in the back of your throat as you breathe.
THanks, Sean. That ws very interesting, I had figured through the points mentioned on the thread at it might be some chemical thing, man made or otherwise.
please fix it by Oct 31st:)
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October 31? I wish that I could fix it by October 8th!
Hey Tom, I also answered you on the arnge page last night. No swimmin prohibition anywhere that I’m aware of, though it’s probably not a good idea if you have respiratory problems. The cool front that just came through should spell the end for the red tide. Even at it’s peak, it probably wouldn’t have caused a swim cancellation, though it would have been annoying.
Just out of curiosity, where did you hear that the Gulf had been closed to swimming?
The Red Tide is NASTY! Hopefully it will clear before the race.
It is even affecting my cycling… most of my rides are fairly close to the beach and the smell of the red tide is so disgusting that it makes it really difficult to breathe.
It’s not the red tide that stinks, it’s the dead fish. If you have a persistent cough while you’re near the water, that’s most likely the red tide.
so now that they just banned running in Florida too, it’s going to be just a bike race? 
Are you able to race?
We don’t do competive sports in Florida. Too many heart attacks. It is going to be a group ride for charity.
depends how the tibial stress fracture heals
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Current red tide status in NW Florida-
http://www.floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=12628
The High ratings for Bay county are in the bays, not in the Gulf proper. Gulf readings will be much lower.
Raced in Walton County this morning and neither the humans nor the propaganda dolphins hanging out by the kayaks near the first turn buoy had any problems with it.
would wearing a mask over the mouth help keep it out. RT is real nasty and makes you cough incessantly. sorry about that!
Oct 8 New York Times has an extensive article describing the red tide. The current red tide is due to an algae bloom that began near St. Petersburg this past January, spread south to Naples and then north up to Pensacola. The algae produces a toxin that causes short-term respiratory problems in humans when it vaporizes, and causes more serious central nervous system damage in fish, birds, and sea mammals.
People at the beach will experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sniffing, itchy or teary eyes) from the algae toxin, and also experience the horrible smell of rotting animals. Surfers are reporting eye infections.
Hurrican Katrina actually helped by churning up the waters a little bit, and the current westerly winds are also helping.
Best advice is to monitor the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute for water tests in the various test locations.
BrokenSpoke