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Berryessa Open Water Swim 2011

High Wind, Big Waves Cancel Event

It doesn't seem logical that too much water could wash out an open water swim race. But that is generally what happened as the 30th Annual Lake Berryessa Open Water Swim was canceled for the first time in its history.

The event, which features two-mile, one-mile and shorter youth swim races, is hosted by Davis Aquatic Masters and usually draws between 900 to 1,000 competitors.

Water wasn't the problem, exactly, rather waves that were whipped to a two- to three-foot whitecap froth by a blustery and somewhat erratic south wind at the race site at on the lake's northwest shore.

As some 100 intrepid competitors stood around in the rain, a decision was made not to hold the race, because of concern for safety of the swimmers and volunteers who work as part of the water safety crew.

Here are photos from the non-race:

(Photographs by Tom Martens):

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