A Slightly Bigger Cove

Our favorite swimming hole just got a little larger.  And it wasn't because of global warming and rising sea level.  It was because the Dolphin Club Board of Governors approved a motion to "Extend the 'in-cove' swimming boundaries to include the water west of the western-most dock in the fishing boat marina east of Hyde Street Pier."  This new boundary gives Dolphins license to frolic with the historic vessels Eureka and Hercules.  When the wind is howling from the west, it gives us a calmer place to swim and it adds a little spice to our daily swim routine.

New Swim Boundary in Orange

The original in-cove swimming boundaries were established to separate swimmers and commercial fishing boats using the waters on the west and east sides of Hyde Street Pier.  At that time, the waters east of Hyde Street Pier were an open waterway and swimmers could easily interfere with docking maneuvers, creating a dangerous situation for boats and swimmers.  In return, the commercial boaters agreed to enter and exit the docking area only from the east end of the breakwater and not through “the opening” at the end of the Municipal Pier.

With the construction of the new, expanded commercial boat marina about twelve years ago, we have a protected waterway that exists between the westernmost marina dock and Hyde Street Pier.  Approval of this motion now allows Dolphins to use this safe swimming area without violating out-of-cove swimming rules.