Question 1

What are the age limitations at the race?

Accepted Answer

Swimmers need to be at least 16 years old to swim The Breakwater Classic.

People aged 16 and 17 will need a chaperone to swim with them. This means the chaperone stays right next to the young person and escorts them from the start to finish.

Question 2

Can my kids enter the Marlins Open Water Champs?

Accepted Answer

Only children from the Marlins Swimming Club can enter the club champs.

Question 3

Where does the race start and finish?

Accepted Answer

Schedule
9am - registration opens at the life boat station
9.50am - Race brief on the slipway
10am - 2km swimmers start
11.30am - Prize Giving's on the beach at the finish area
Midday - Course sweep
1pm - Marlins Swimming Club Open Water Champs

Question 4

Where can spectators watch from?

Accepted Answer

Spectators can view the swim start from the Breakwater and follow the swimmers out along the whole route cheering them on. The event finishes on Breakwater beach, which also has full public access.

Question 5

How fast do I have to swim?

Accepted Answer

We have a generous cut off, around 1h30min to complete the 2km.

That equates to around 1 minutes and 7 seconds for 1 length of an average 25m pool.

After this the safety boat/crew will potentially pick you up - this is at the discression of the helm on the day.

Question 6

How does the tide affect the swim?

Accepted Answer

We are nice and sheltered in the harbour area, and then next to the wall.

We have planned the swim at the slackest tide, meaning there will be almost no tidal 'push or drag' during the swim.

Question 7

What safety is covering the swim?

Accepted Answer

We have a fleet of qualified 'on the water' crew in kayaks and on rescue boards.

We also have spotters and counters along the breakwater wall.

There will be also be 2 boats on the course incase of emergency.

On land there are qualified first aiders, and the lifeboat station crew (so long as they aren't out on a shout!)

Question 8

I have a disability, can I swim?

Accepted Answer

We would love to help you get involoved.

Please get in touch so we can discuss any needs and do our best to get you involved.

Question 9

What's it like swimming in the harbor - is it safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes!

The water has been tested for contaminants and pollutants and has passed for safe swimming.

The water traffic in and out of the harbour area will not be using the stretch right along the wall. All traffic knows about the swim happening, and this is why we have spotters and safety crew.

Where you need to swim around the concrete pontoons, we have marker buoys creating a channel, which gives swimmers a safe route past.

Question 10

Can I kayak around the course to watch my friends/family swim?

Accepted Answer

We ask that people do not go around the race course at the same time, just to avoid collisions and any confusion. However it is a public space and we cannot stop people entering the water.