Broulee Bay to Breakers Ocean Swim – Sun 10 Mar 19

Report by Web Editor, Al Byrne

The Canberra Day holiday long weekend of 09-10-11 March 2019 saw a few extra ACT numberplates amongst the crowds on the highway over to the coast.

Two Vikings – Nicolee Martin and Al Byrne, as well as one former Viking – Petrina Quinn, made the trip to beautiful Broulee on the NSW South Coast for the eighth annual Broulee Bay to Breakers Ocean Swim, held on Sunday 10 March 2019.

This is a 1400 metre ocean swim from Broulee Island to South Broulee Beach, first held in 2012 (then featuring two Vikings ladies amongst the field of 178). To the delight of the hosts at the Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), a record-breaking field of over 400 swimmers signed up this year!

As well as the usual senior male/female ‘age’ categories, the event also included a complementary 500 metre junior event for under 14 and under 12’s.

For the diehards (ie: Nicolee and Petrina), the age category events were followed shortly thereafter by an ‘open’ swim – repeating the full course a second time!

On an absolutely sparkling sunny morning, the day started with the usual safety briefing in front of the Surf Club on South Broulee beach. Swimmers and supporters then made their way on foot the 400 metres around the headland to the start line at Broulee Island. The three groups of senior swimmers entered the water in sequence, with the main groups as well as the outliers well protected enroute by a range of SLSC paddlers, jet-skis and inflatable rescue boats (not to mention a drone overhead!).

With a relaxed atmosphere, a ‘not-too-cold, not-too-hot’ water temperature of about 21.5 degrees, a gentle swell and good visibility in the clean ocean water, it was always going to be a great experience – and it certainly was!

From the large field of competitors, the three Vikings logged results as below:

Extensive photo coverage of the event is now online.