Here is a calendar round up of some of the open water swim events around the ACT and southern NSW, oh and the odd one or two a bit further afield.
For full information about ocean swims happening around the world, visit www.oceanswims.com and www.worldstop100openwaterswims.com.
JANUARY
Roughwater North Bondi Ocean Swim … The first of the two North Bondi classics… Two distances – 2km and 1km – you can do one swim or both swims.
The Bloody Big Swim …as the name suggests, a huge 11.2km swim from Frankston Life Saving Club to Mills Beach Mornington, Victoria. Categories of entrant: solo, duo and teams of 4. EVERY entry is required to have an Accompanying Paddler and an Escort boat.
Tathra Wharf to Waves … offers 600m age group and 1200m open swims in the Ocean at Tathra, NSW … competitors can enter both distances … on a Sunday, usually around mid-end January. Warning: the water can be extremely cold, so wetsuits are used by a large number of competitors!
The Great Sydney Swim …. The Body Science Great Australian Swim series offers enjoyment in every experience from the 2.2km Swim for the experienced swimmer, the 750m course for those just starting out where entrants swim along-side some of open waters best swimmers and sports stars.
FEBRUARY
Sydney Morning Herald Cole Classic … Australia’s largest ocean swim, The Sydney Morning Herald Cole Classic, where participants dive into the beautiful waters of Shelly Beach to complete the 1km or 2km course to Manly Beach, Sydney, NSW. There is also a massive 9km option.
Jervis Bay Huskisson Ocean Classic … a 1000m swim in Jervis Bay which forms part of the Elite Energy Triathlon Festival. The ocean swim is the day before the main triathlon events of the weekend.
Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims … offer three swim options: 500m, 2.5km or 5km in Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra … competitors can enter one swim only.
MARCH
Narrandera Lake Swims …part of the Riverina Rush MultiSport Festival in Narrandera, there are three swims on offer: 2km, 5km and 10km.
Broulee Bay to Breakers Ocean Swim … a 1.4km ocean swim from Shark Bay on Broulee Island out to the ocean and around the headland to the Broulee Surf Beach.
Ord Minnett Sydney Harbour Swim Classic provides an opportunity to compete in a swim event on Sydney Harbour, starting and finishing at the Man’O’War steps at the Sydney Opera House. There are two races … the 1km Mini Swim Classic and the 2km Swim Classic – competitors can enter either or both races. Note that this event was cancelled in 2013 and no longer runs.
The Sun-Herald Surf Swim … run by the Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club, there is a 1.5km or a 750m swim to compete. The swims start and end on the beach at Dee Why, NSW.
Shark Bait Ocean Swims … Organised by Jervis Bay Triathlon Club, the event takes place at Vincentia Sailing Club, Plantation Point in Vincentia. Three races appealing to both experienced and novice swimmers: Shark Bait Classic 2km, Shark Bait Round the Point 1km, and the Shark Bait Mini is 250m.
APRIL
Tilbury Classic Ocean Swim … an Easter Sunday special 1.9km swim around a beautiful headland at Culburra beach.
Mollymook Ocean Swim … a 2km swim starting at the northern end and finishing at the southern end of Mollymook Beach, NSW . There is also a 500m Junior and Novice ocean swim at southern end (open to Juniors 10, 11, 12 years, and ‘Novice’ ocean swimmers (13 years and over). Finally, there’s a 250m Dash for Cash swim (open to all entrants in either the 2.0 km or 500m events).
JULY
SEPTEMBER
Waikiki Roughwater Swim … 3.84km of ocean swimming off beautiful Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. Swimmers from all over the world have travelled far to participate in this annual event that has been running since 1970! Especially large numbers have trekked from Australia, Japan and California. The Swim has had as many as 1344 swimming comfortably together at one time in this world-famous bay.
NOVEMBER
Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon … three off-road triathlons back-to-back, an icon event celebrating the natural side of Canberra. Swimming in three separate lakes, climbing and descending nine peaks, the 150-kilometre Triple-Tri course explores Canberra from every conceivable angle. The event consists of the following elements … 1.5km swim/35km MTB/20km run/3.5km swim/40km MTB/12km run/1.2km swim/24 km MTB/13 km run. The race can be enjoyed by solo entrants or relay teams in 2 Categories: Teams of 3; and Teams of 4 – 9 members. Within each Category there are 3 divisions: Open, All-Female and Mixed.
Sri Chinmoy National Capital Swim … a 9km swim for solo swimmers and relay teams starting at Scriviner Point and going along the full length of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, ACT.
DECEMBER
Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim … The Bondi to Bronte event is one of Sydney’s most iconic ocean swims. The swim runs between the first two Surf Life Saving clubs in the world, over a distance of 2.1-2.4km (depending on the positioning of the buoy off McKenzie’s point). Starting and finishing at two different beaches is one of the unique aspects of this journey. It gives the competitors a real sense of achievement.
Triple Edge Event … The Triple Edge Event will include four Saturday races – 5km swim, 10km swim, Road Race and Canberra Marathon. Sunday will feature two Sunday triathlons with the first Endurance Tri which is a true “ITU Long Distance” Triathlon. The swims are in Lake Burley Griffin.
