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The Keppel Islands Swimming Association (KISA) has established the following official rules to ensure the safety, integrity, and fair conduct of the Swim Around Keppel (SAK).
All participants—including individual swimmers, relay teams, paddlers, skippers, and support crew—must strictly comply with these rules. Non-compliance may result in immediate disqualification and a ban from future KISA events at the sole discretion of the Association.
Age Requirements (as of race day):
20 km Individual Swim: Minimum age is 14 years.
Relay Teams & 6 km Swim: Minimum age is 12 years.
Mandatory Equipment: Swimmers must wear their official event-issued swim cap and an approved high-visibility swim-tow buoy at all times while in the water.
Race Number Identification: Each swimmer’s assigned race number must be clearly marked in bold ink on the outside of both upper arms or shoulders prior to entering the water.
Swim Categories: Unassisted vs. Assisted
The event offers two official categories: Unassisted and Assisted. Both categories are welcome, timed, and recognized on the official results board under their respective divisions.
Unassisted Category (Official Traditional Marathon Swim): To be officially recognized as an unassisted marathon swim (in accordance with Marathon Swimmers Federation / MSF rules), the swimmer may only wear and use:
One standard textile swimsuit (one-piece or briefs/jammers) containing no neoprene, rubber, flotation, or thermal-retention material;
One standard cap (the official silicone/latex SAK event cap must be worn);
Standard swim goggles;
Nose clips and/or earplugs;
Grease or non-thermal anti-chafing balm; and
The mandated passive event safety tow-buoy.
Assisted Category: Any swimmer wearing or using equipment outside the MSF unassisted criteria will automatically be classified in the Assisted Category. This includes, but is not limited to:
Wetsuits or neoprene apparel (tops, shorts, caps, or socks);
Stinger suits, rash vests, or thermal compression garments;
Wearing two suits or two caps;
GPS sports watches, tempo trainers, or earphones/audio devices;
Approved artificial aids or adaptations used under medical exemptions.
Prohibited Outside Support (Both Categories)
Regardless of category (Assisted or Unassisted), the following actions remain prohibited:
Actively holding onto or being supported by any boat, motorized craft, paddle craft, or escort person;
Drafting directly behind or in the wake of any motorised support vessel or escort paddle craft.
Course Cut-Off Times:
Swimmers and teams must reach designated course checkpoints by the scheduled intermediate cut-off times.
Swimmers and teams must cross the finish line before the overall event cut-off time. Swimmers failing to make cut-offs must exit the water when instructed by officials.
Exception: A swimmer or team actively swimming the final beach stretch toward the finish line at The Spit may be permitted to complete the course at the Race Director’s discretion.
Official Course Execution: To record an official finish, the swim must start from and conclude at the designated start/finish line at The Spit within the designated race times.
To ensure swimmer safety, all solo entrants must submit verified proof of qualification before their registration is confirmed:
20 km Individual Swim:
Completion of a 10 km open-water swim in under 4 hours (official race result or recorded GPS track such as Garmin/Strava displaying elapsed time and course); or
Completion of an official open-water swim event equal to or exceeding the full round-island distance (20 km or more).
6 km Individual Swim:
Completion of a 3 km open-water swim in under 2 hours (official race result or verified GPS track); or
Completion of an official open-water swim event exceeding 3 km.
Screenshots, official result links, or device tracking logs must be submitted during or immediately following registration.
Competency Standard: All relay swimmers must be capable of swimming continuously and unassisted in open water for at least 30 minutes. It is strongly recommended that participants maintain a baseline open-water pace of at least 3.0 km/h (equivalent to ~2:00 min/100 m pool pace).
Changeover Protocol:
Swimmer changeovers must take place at least 5 metres away from the support vessel.
The incoming and outgoing swimmers must execute an above-water, visible physical tag. Any body contact constitutes a valid tag, provided it occurs visibly above the water surface.
Mandatory Support Vessel:
Every relay team (and designated solo swimmer requiring dedicated craft) must secure their own support boat.
Vessel Size: Vessels must be a minimum of 4.5 metres in length and legally rated to carry the entire team, paddler(s), and support crew according to the vessel’s Australian Builders Plate (ABP). For offshore comfort, safety, and sun protection, a boat of 6.0 metres or longer is strongly recommended.
The skipper is legally responsible for vessel seaworthiness, capacity management, and maritime compliance under Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) regulations.
Safety Equipment & Lifejackets:
One correctly sized, approved lifejacket must be on board for every person on the vessel, plus an additional lifejacket for each active swimmer and paddler.
Deploying an escort paddle craft (kayak/ski) alongside the swimmer is strongly recommended to assist navigation and crew communication.
Mandatory Boat Registration Details: Teams must register the following details with KISA prior to the published deadline:
Boat name, make, model, length, and state registration number
Engine configuration (inboard/outboard)
Marine VHF radio model/specifications
Skipper’s full name, residential address, mobile number, email, marine license number, and state of issue
Teams failing to submit verified boat and skipper details by the cut-off date will be withdrawn from the event without refund.
VHF Radio & Communications:
Support vessels must carry an operational marine VHF radio switched on and tuned to the designated SAK Safety Channel at audible volume at all times. Dual watch on standard calling channels (VHF 16) is strongly encouraged.
Skippers must keep a charged mobile phone accessible at all times as a secondary communication method.
Swimmer Recovery & Propeller Safety:
Whenever a swimmer is approaching, touching, or boarding the vessel (including changeovers or withdrawals):
The engine must be placed in neutral and the propeller completely disengaged.
On multi-outboard configurations, all engines must be in neutral before a swimmer approaches the stern.
Where ocean conditions permit, swimmers should board from the windward (weather) side of the boat.
Strict Prohibition on Moving Astern: Support vessels are never permitted to make way astern (reversing through the water) to retrieve a swimmer. Reverse thrust may be used solely to arrest forward motion in an emergency, provided the skipper has verified the water immediately behind the vessel is clear of all swimmers and paddlers.
Speed Limits & Navigation:
A strict maximum speed limit of 6 knots applies across the entire swim course and within the vicinity of any swimmer, paddler, or escort boat.
Skippers needing to clear engine carbon or run at higher revs must navigate well clear of the course boundary and other participants before doing so.
All participants, support vessels, and paddle craft must yield right of way to commercial shipping and ferry traffic at all times.
Zero Alcohol Policy: Skippers and safety crew are strictly prohibited from consuming alcohol or operating under the influence of drugs while responsible for a vessel, swimmers, or crew members.
This event is proudly brought to you by the Keppel Islands Swimming Association.
Swim Around Keppel is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
