Researchers reported in the prestigious weekly scientific journal Science Magazine that the average wind speed and wave heights over the world’s ocean over a 23-year period have increased – which has major implications for the open water swimming community. As open water swimmers know, especially those who swim in the ocean, increased wind speeds and wave heights lead to rougher waters and more difficult swims.

On average the increase in average wind speed was 0.25% per year. Over a 23-year period, this is an incredible increase that is more certainly and easily felt by open water swimmers around the world.

Photo by Dr. Jim Miller at the 2007 World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

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