Rainy season is here. For the last few days we have had torrential rain showers.

On Thursday evening it was great sitting on the deck at Grand Old House watching lightning dancing across the sea. Sheets of lightening turning the night to day, amazing forks of lightning playing along the horizon like fingers of fire, before the heavens opened and we had to dash to the shelter of the bar.

Trapped by the downpour we had to have a couple more drinks and watch the rain… I mean what else could civilised folk do?

Me looking like a dilettante poet watching the rain.

As if the light shows were not enough we have also had water spouts! Yep genuine water tornadoes. We have seen a few now… but this one was the best and biggest.

It’s hard to understand the scale of the thing but the first picture below was taken from about 8 miles away. the others were taken by fellow Castaway Paul from his school about a mile from the sea, it formed close to the shore just beyond the barrier reef that fringes the island. The spouts form out over open water a spinning funnel or vortex between the sea and the sky. They can pick up boats and hurl them for miles.

This one was immense! The first incident we saw was when three formed at the same time in the sea off Seven Mile Beach. They look like something out of a movie.

But it’s not all storms and waterspouts we also took part in the Flowers Sea Swim last weekend. The Sea Swim is an annual charity event and a huge deal here. Over a thousand swimmers took part in the open water event, gathering on Seven Mile Beach (fortunately no waterspouts – that would have been interesting…) before setting off swimming a mile north along the coast.

Photos from the Cayman Compass.

Now a mile may not seem far and in 25m pool its only about 65 lengths. Easy? Go on you try it in the sea with waves and a strong current and then get back to me.

Victoria and I had been practicing for a couple of months with some of our fellow Castaways so we felt confident and ready.

We set off buffeted by the waves, fighting for space in the water, feet and arms flailing and thrashing everywhere. The sea on the day was rougher than it had been during our practice swims.  A stiff breeze, 1 to 2 foot high swell, at some points the current and waves ran with us helping us along, at others it moved straight off shore and against us, we had to swim hard just to stay still and to fight to keep close to the beach.

The the mile was actually a mile and a quarter as it happens! It was also a really hot day the water was very warm.

There were so many people in the water I reckon you could have walked the course on their backs! It was amazing and horrendous, joyous and at times a bit scary.

Walking along the beach were life guards and supporters. Flanking us on the open water side were wave-runners and lifeguards on paddle board including our neighbour Damo with his now trademark beard and hat.

One swimmer had to be rescued and resuscitated, a close thing apparently, fortunately not me or one of the Castaways. The stricken swimmer got a big shout out and cheer at the end from all the competitors. We were all relieved to see them alive.

Despite the training it was hard work! I got out at the end and nearly hurled, I felt really quite dizzy and unwell. I was exhausted and overheated. I had to find a quiet shady spot to recover, tipping two bottles of freezing water over my head restored order and returned me to some semblance of normality.

I managed a creditable 39:19 minutes and came 546 out of 1100. So middle of the field and the first Castaway back. (My thanks to Jack for slowing his dad Jon down or he would have caned it!:-), next year I think Jack and Poppy will beat us all…).

The chap that came in first was a Canadian Olympian he completed the course in 16:30 minutes. He said he slowed down to look at the fish! The man is a machine!

Here are just a few of us Castaways at the finish Poppy and Jack the youngest in the group Katherine, Lisa and Victoria swimming for the girls, Paul, Jon and I for the boys.

It was a fabulous event and one I am really pleased I took part in.

The prize giving and speeches at the end of the swim.

We start training for next years swim this week.