Where will you swim in 2012?
Outdoor swimming has never been so popular, and in this Olympic year it’s sure to get yet another boost as more of us get inspired by the open water events at London 2012. It’s probably too late to secure entry to Team GB for this year’s Serpentine races, but there’s lots more going on. Here’s our guide to the best events of 2012 …
The Big Swim
Sunday 29 January 2012
Get in quick for this Aussie swim – Palm Beach to Whale Beach in Sydney – as it takes place in just over a week (online entries close Saturday 28 January at 3pm). I’m reliably informed that The Big Swim, which dates back to 1974, is infinitely preferable to the overly corporate Cole Classic (removed from this list on expert advice!). The Big Swim is a 2.5 km swim in open ocean, beach to beach and conditions can vary from flat calm to very strong swells. Sounds invigorating.
Get more info >>
Byron Bay Ocean Swim Classic
Sunday 6 May 2012
As winter approaches in Byron Bay, New South Wales, The Byron Bay Ocean Swim Classic gets underway. Run by a local ocean swimming club, the Winter Whales, this race offers a choice of two swims – the Beach Hotel Ocean Swim Classic (2.2 km) and the shorter Westpac Mini Swim (800m). Both swims follow a buoyed course and finish at Main Beach Byron Bay.
Get more info >>
The British Gas Great Swims
May to August 2012
Firmly established at the UK’s premier mass participation swims, the Great Swims attract swimmers from around the world and raise millions for charity every year. This year the events kick off with the Great London Swim (1 mile) held in the Royal Victoria Dock on Saturday 26 May 2012. The Great East Swim (half mile, 1 mile and 2 mile races) takes place in Alton Water Park, Suffolk on Saturday 16 June, with the Great North Swim (half mile, 1 mile and 2 mile races) at Lake Windermere held over the weekend of 22–24 June. The Great Manchester Swim will be held at Salford Quays (1 mile) on Sunday 1 July and the season closes on Saturday 25 August when the Great Scottish Swim (half mile, 1 mile and 2 mile races) kicks off in Strathclyde Country Park. The Great Swims also have a fab website with lots of tips for outdoor swimming and inspiring stories from swimmers who’ve had Great Swim experience.
Get more info >>
Manhattan Island Marathon Swim
Saturday 23 June 2012
Surely one of the most iconic swims, the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim is not for the faint hearted as it is a complete circumnavigation of Manhattan Island, covering 28.5 miles. The start and finish is near Wall Street in view of the Statue of Liberty. Entry is limited to 25 solo swimmers and 18 relay teams, and a qualifying swim is required. At time of writing enrolment for solo swim had closed however enrolment for relay teams will remain open until May (or until the slots are filled).
Get more info >>
The Monster Swim
Saturday 18 August 2012
New kid on the block The Monster Swim is in a monster loch, Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. The loch contains more fresh water than all other lakes in Great Britain combined, and is, allegedly, home to Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. Don’t let any of that put you off though, this swim is a friendly, welcoming event with two distances – half mile and mile. A non-wetsuit swim requires a qualification swim on Friday 17 August, but otherwise swims are open to anyone over 14 (half mile) and 16 (mile).
Get more info >>
The Hellespont, Turkey
Thursday 30 August 2012
This iconic race linking Europe and Asia across the 2 mile strait known as the Hellespont takes place every year on 30 August. The date is significant as it commemorates victory for the Turks in the Turkish War of Independence against the Greeks in 1922. The crossing was made famous by English poet Lord Byron who, in 1810, became the first known person to swim the Hellespont. Byron swam across in honour of Leander, who in Greek mythology, would swim it nightly to reach his lover Hero. Today, the race draws swimmers from all around Turkey and overseas. SwimTrek, purveyors of fine swimming holidays, are responsible for all overseas entries to the race.
Get more info >>
The Dart 10K
Saturday 8 September 2012
Run by the Outdoor Swimming Society, this event is all about the journey as swimmers meander 10 km down the River Dart in Devon (UK) through warm (ish) fresh water (last year it was 15ºC). There’s a great atmosphere at the race with swimmers enjoying a hot tub, local delicacies and a sing-song at the finish.
Get more info >>
La Jolla Rough Water Swim
Sunday 9 September 2012
Held in La Jolla Cove, just north of San Diego in California The La Jolla Rough Water Swim is another multi-distance event, this time the races are 250 yds, 1 mile and 3 miles. Dating back to 1916 and nicknamed The Big Wet One, this swim is limited to around 2,000 entrants and attracts California’s most accomplished open water swimmers. La Jolla Cove forms a great natural arena for a swimming race and offers spectators a terrific view of the proceedings.
Get more info >>
The Peter Pan Cup Christmas Morning Handicap Swim
Tuesday 25 December 2012
Finally a chance to hit the Olympic 10k marathon course, but this race is a fraction of that at 100 yards. Given that the temperature of the water will be around 3ºC on Christmas day that’s no bad thing. The Peter Pan Cup dates back to 1864 and has been a seasonal tradition ever since. The race is held in the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park.
Get more info >>
Good luck to everyone taking part. If you have experience of any of these swims (or any others that I haven’t mentioned) please add a comment below, we’d love to get your recommendations.
NB This article has been updated since publication.
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10:16 am on January 19th, 2012
How on earth could you put the Cole Classic in your Top 10? On whose advice? There are plenty much better swims in Stra’a, not to mention the world, than the Cole, which has been exploited and abominated by Fairfax Meeja since they took it over. Used to be a traffic event. Not any more. I’m surprised.
10:29 am on January 19th, 2012
If you’re looking for good swim events in the antipodes, look at, inter alia, The Big Swim (Palm Beach to Whale Beach) in Sydney, Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia, Byron Bay Winter Whales, Pier to Pub at Lorne, Pier to Perignon (Sorrento to Portsea), South Head Roughwater in Sydney, and many more possibilities. Cannot fathom how you got the Cole Classic in there.
10:35 am on January 19th, 2012
You missed the first Anglian Water approved swim in Grafham Reservoir, Cambridgeshire, 22 July 2012 9 am Start. Organised by Keith of nicetri it is an INCLUSIVE swim accommodating both with and without wetsuits. Races Distances:- 3.8k Swim, (age Limit 17), 3.0k Swim, (age Limit 17), 1.5k Swim, (age Limit 16), 750m Swim, (age Limit 15).
A lovely location , there is a circular walk/jog/cycle of 8.5 miles for those with family in tow who do not want to watch another Open Water race. Also the 2 cafes on the route offer great cooked breakfasts, good coffee and FANTASTIC cheesy chips.
http://www.nicetri.co.uk/index.php?id=279
For Open Water enthusiasts there are 3 rivers where outdoor swimmers are a common site, the Great Ouse, the Nene and the Cam. Why not stay at the campsite in St Neots, right by the river (a regular swim spot) and make a weekend of it?
11:05 am on January 19th, 2012
Hey Paul,
It was an online recommendation so please correct me and let me know what you would add and I will do the necessary.
Cheers
Jane-Ann
PS V Scottish spelling of meeja – like it!
11:07 am on January 19th, 2012
Oops just seen second comment from Paul. Thanks for recommends will update shortly …
6:53 am on January 20th, 2012
G’day Jane-Ann,
I’ve done the swim at Whitehaven Beach, Hamilton Island every year since it’s inception in 2009.
It was one of the first open water swims I ever did and after doing it that first year, I’ve been hooked on open water swimming ever since.
Whitehaven Beach is constantly voted as one of the best beaches in the world and the swim is the only organised event at this pristine beach.
I also like doing the Byron Swim.
A word on the Cole Classic that was originally mentioned in this article – just becasue a swim is sponsored by a major organisation doesn’t mean it is no longer worth doing or that the association somehow detracts from the event.
The Cole is Australia’s largest open water swim and for that very reason I think you should have kept it on your original list.
Thanks
Scott
10:49 am on January 20th, 2012
Thanks for those recommendations Scott. Seems like the Cole is a bit controversial though I think Paul’s point was that if I was only going to include one from Australia that should not be the one!
10:56 am on January 20th, 2012
The issue about the Cole doesn’t derive from the fact that it’s now sponsored by a major meeja group. It’s from the fact that it’s not that good a swim. When the Cole family ran it, there was a real hoopla about it, pageantry and fun. Now it’s a sterile affair in which punters are herded around like sheep, shunted through chutes and reaped for their cash. Good grief, the first year Fairfax ran it, they insisted on category winners, standing their wet and cold in the rain, straight out of the water, to provide photo id before picking up their prizes. It’s also not the biggest open water swim in Stra’a. The Pier to Pub is at Lorne in Victoria. The Cole is two events, not one, and the shorter event is almost as big now as the longer. Maybe this year the Cole will increase in numbers past the Pier to Pub, but it hasn’t done it yet. As you say, Jane-Ann, if you’re picking just one, there are plenty better than the Cole.
11:44 am on January 20th, 2012
I don’t think the Cole is controversial, merely well subscribed and very well run from what I heard.
It may have changed from the days of yore but what hasn’t?