Hold on.

Are we really going out there?

Two weeks of thunderous surf has been pounding the coastline. Fast, powerful, slamming waves have washed and turned everything in their path.

We hessitated as we stood on the shore.

The roaring sound of the waves, and the sight of the white water as it bounced several metres into the air, was bewitching. Giving voice to our thoughts, it was clear we had to stay together as a group. No-one was swimming solo on this swim.

We sensed a change in the conditions.

A few were edging towards going out the back. Sure the BIG waves rolled in but after these, a short set of smaller waves arrived. Could we do it?

Setting off as a group, we passed the first and second banks. But then ...Whoa!

The BIG waves were smashing the last bank. Powerful, curved, mesmerising and terrifying. Nope, no way were we going to cross the bank with these waves around!

Positioned just off the bank, on the beach side, it was time to take a breath.

Get calm. Breathe in. Breathe out. Once everyone was ready, we watched as the last BIG wave made impact. "Go! Swim!" came the call and each swimmer in the group legged it out over the bank through the lull.

Freedom!

I don't think I've ever heard as many collective "Wows!" as I did today once we were all out the back. Spontaneous expressions of joy, of wonder.

We made it out, together.