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Whether you prefer to go solo or gather your mates for the duo or team relay events, sign up today for the swimming experience of a lifetime!
In addition to our Swim Around Keppel event, we are excited to offer swimmers the chance to complete a Solo Swim around Great Keppel Island throughout the year. For more information, please contact us at admin@swimaroundkeppel.com.au.
Keppel Konnections
7.30am / 9am / 3pm / 5.45pm (Fri only)
Freedom Fast Cats (departs Pier One)
9.15am
Keppel Konnections
8.10am / 10am / 2pm / 4pm / 6.20pm
Freedom Fast Cats (arrives Pier One)
2.30pm
Keppel Konnections
7.30am / 9am / 3pm
Freedom Fast Cats (departs Pier One)
7.30am / 9.15am
Keppel Konnections
8.10am / 10am / 2pm / 4pm / 8.30pm
Freedom Fast Cats (arrives Pier One)
8am / 3.45pm
Keppel Konnections
7.30am / 9am / 3pm
Freedom Fast Cats (departs Pier One)
9.15am
Keppel Konnections
8.10am / 10am / 2pm / 4pm /
Freedom Fast Cats (arrives Pier One)
3.45pm
Swim the full 20km around Great Keppel Island and the sweet victory is all yours! This event is only suitable for those with previous open water swimming experience (proof of swim required). Further details on entry requirements can be found below.
Grab a buddy and grab a breather! Take turns swimming around the island. Change over as often as you prefer or swim 10km (1/2 a distance) and switch after. Male and female (mixed) duos welcome. This event is suitable for those with previous open water swimming experience. Further details on entry requirements can be found below.
Conquer the island with your mates! Gather a team of 3 to 5, change over swimmers every 5 to 45 minutes, and share the victory. Male & female (mixed) teams welcome. Previous experience recommended but not required. Further details on entry requirements can be found below.
Start at The Spit and loop around Middle Island back to Great Keppel Island. This event is suitable for individuals with previous open water swimming experience. Further details on entry requirements can be found below.
Love open water swimming but not keen on longer distances? This swim is for you! Swim alongside the Putney Beach and enjoy the beauty of Keppel’s tropical waters. Further details on entry requirements can be found below.
Males & females aged 14&Up. Completed previous long-distance open water swim event. Official 10km open water swim time < 4 hours or alternative (see The Rules) A vessel must accompanying a swimmer for the duration of the swim. Motorised vessel is not required but recommended (no SUPs permitted unless a motorised vessel is accompanying a swimmer).
Males & females (mixed) teams aged 12&Up Previous open water swimming experience recommended. Must supply support boat*
*Team Relay Support Boat – if there is no designated support boat skipper, a minimum of 2 x team members must hold a current boat license.
Males & females aged 12&Up (6km swimmers must have completed previous 3km open water swim event)
Kids! Come and be part of our Sandcastle Building and Scavenger Hunt activities. Prizes and goodies up for grabs! This activity is free and registration is not required, just show up and have fun!
April 5
July 5
By August 25th
Online - TBA
5th - 6th September
Download a full copy of The Rules, Terms and Conditions and Boat Guidelines. Click here for a copy of the Boat Registration Form
The minimum age for all swimmers participating in the 20 km Individual swim on the date of the event is 14 years.
The minimum age for all swimmers participating in the 20 km Team Relay & Duo swims, and 6km swim individual swim on the date of the event is 12 years.
The minimum age for all swimmers participating in the 1 km Individual swim on the date of the event is 12 years.
Swimmers MUST, at all times, wear their official swim cap and swim tow while in the water during the swim.
All swimmers must have their race number written to the outside of their upper arms or shoulder.
A swimmer may: grease the body before a swim, wear goggles, wear a nose clip, wear earplugs, wear two caps* (official swim cap must be the outer one), wear two suits*, wear wet/neoprene suit*,wear a rash vest/stinger suit*, wear a watch**, wear earphones*.
(Items with the * must not be used if the swim is a qualifying swim for the future open water events/swims).
(** )
Subject to obtaining an exemption from the KISA as set out below, no swimmer is permitted to use, or receive the benefit from, any form of artificial swimming aid or assistance during the swim, including but not limited to, the following:
a. Holding onto any boat or a craft, or a person; and
b. Drafting from any boat, craft or another swimmer.
If artificial aids or assistance are required for medical reasons, an application for exemption may be made by a prospective participant to the KISA during the registration. Should an assisted swim be approved, that individual/team/ will upon finishing the swim, be recorded as having finished, subject to the swim being assisted.
Individual swimmers / teams must withdraw from the swim/exit the water if they have not met the specified cut-off times:
a. All individual swimmers / teams must pass the Bald Rock Point checkpoint by 13.30pm.
b. All individual swimmers / teams must finish the race by 5:15pm. Exception: individual swimmer / duo / team relay swimmer is swimming the last beach (Putney or Fishermen) toward the finish point at The Spit.
In order the swim to be complete, start and finish of the swim must be executed from/to The Spit, at the point between Putney beach and Fisherman’s beach at the specific/assigned time.
Participants registered for the 20km Individual events must be accompanied by a vessel for the duration of the swim. Motorised vessel is not required but recommended (no SUPs permitted unless a motorised vessel is accompanying a swimmer). Click here for a copy of the Boat Registration Form
Teams registered for the 20km Team Relay & Duo Swim event must be accompanied by a support boat (one per team) for the duration of the swim. Click here for a copy of the Boat Registration Form
Participants registered for the 6km Individual events may be accompanied by a vessel for the duration of the swim. Motorised and unmotorised vessels as well as SUPs are permitted but not required.
If you require assistance, please contact us.
Swimmers must qualify in order to participate in the 20km Individual swim. To qualify, prospective individual swimmers must have:
a. Completed an official 10km open water swim event, from 1st January 2023 in less than 4 hours (screen shot of the event details and results are sufficient for approval).
b. Completed an alternative open water swim event that is of the same distance or greater than the distance around Great Keppel Island (20km or more) since 1st January 2023 (screen shot of the event details and results are sufficient for approval).
Swimmers must qualify in order to participate in the 6km Individual swim. To qualify, prospective individual swimmers must have:
a. Completed an official 3km open water swim event, from 1st January 2023 in less than 90 minutes (screen shot of the event details and results are sufficient for approval).
b. Completed an alternative open water swim event that is of the same distance or greater than the distance around Middle Island (6km or more) since 1st January 2023 (screen shot of the event details and results are sufficient for approval).
c. Completed an unofficial 3km open water swim, from 1st January 2023 in less than 90 minutes (a screen shot of the “garmin”, “strava” map/result is sufficient for approval).
To participate in a 1km swim previous open water swimming experience recommended but not required. Each person must be able to swim for a minimum of 15 min without stopping.
Conquer the island with your mates! Gather a team of 3 to 5, change over swimmers every 5 to 45 minutes, and share the victory. Male & female (mixed) teams welcome. Previous open water swimming experience recommended but not required.
For teams, swimmer changeovers must be carried out at least 5 metres from the team’s support boat, and tagging must be above the water in a visible manner. It is acceptable to use any part of the body when tagging, subject to the tag being above the water, and therefore visible.
Each relay team is required to have a support boat. You must organise your own boat. If you require assistance, please visit our Facebook Page
Click here for a copy of the Boat Registration Form
For safety, comfort and sun/weather protection, KISA recommends that the boat is no less than 6 metres. KISA will, however, allow any vessel with a length 4.5 metres or greater legally permitted to carry the whole team (including the swimmer(s), paddler(s), and support crew).
The number of people permitted on board is determined by the information displayed on the Australian Builder’s Plate. It’s the responsibility of the skipper to make sure the boat is suitable and capable of making the trip.
The skipper also needs to check thoroughly that the support boat isn’t overloaded. Information that will help your skipper understand their rights, duties and responsibilities can be found at https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Safety. Download the Boating Checklist.
Life jackets must be provided for each person on board, plus an extra one for each swimmer and paddler. It’s recommended (but not compulsory) that a paddle craft be used to assist the swimmer/s and skipper on the day.
Each relay team must provide following information regarding the boat:
• Name of boat
• Boat registration number*
• Boat length*
• Boat make and model*
• Type of marine radio – VHF Only
• Boat skipper’s name*
• Boat skipper’s mobile number*
• Boat skipper’s email address*
• Boat skipper’s Licence # & state of issue*
* Compulsory information to complete your entry.
Information must be provided by 31st August and doesn’t need to be entered during team registration. If no boat information is provided be the above date, team will be suspended from the swim, and no refund will be given. Click here for a copy of the Boat Registration Form
Support/relay boats must have an operating VHF Radio. On Event day, the radio must be turned on, tuned to VHF 72 channel, and the volume audible. Skippers must then follow any instructions given by SAK Base. If support/relay boats have the facility to do so, dual watch of VHF channels 16 & 72 is encouraged.
Skippers must keep their mobile phones on and easily accessible during the swim.
When taking a swimmer on-board, whether during a swimmer changeover or otherwise:
a. The support/relay boat motor/s MUST be disengaged and in neutral.
b. The support/relay boats MUST NOT make way astern to pick up a swimmer.
c. When possible, the swimmer should be on the windward/weather-side of the support/relay boat.
d. Support/relay boats using multiple outboard motors MUST place ALL motors in neutral before taking a swimmer on-board at the stern.
Support/relay boats MUST NOT make way astern. This means they must not move backwards. To avoid danger (to a vessel, a swimmer, a paddler, etc.) a skipper IS permitted to use astern (reverse) thrust – BUT ONLY TO STOP OR SLOW THE VESSEL’S FORWARD WAY.
The vessel MUST NOT make way astern (i.e. move backwards) under any circumstances. If a skipper needs to stop or slow the vessel’s forward way, he or she must ensure it is safe to do so (i.e. no swimmer or paddler immediately behind the support/relay boat).
This Event Rule applies at ALL times on the Swim Course regardless of the proximity of the other support/relay boats.
Swimmers, support/relay boats and paddlers must give way to commercial shipping as there is no arrangement for commercial shipping to give way to swimmers, support/relay boats or paddlers.
No support boat or power craft shall exceed a speed of 6 knots anywhere or anytime on the Swim Course or near any swimmer, support boat or paddler.
KISA and authorised vessels (e.g. rescue boats) will endeavour to stay off the Swim Course should they need to exceed this speed, except in the case
of emergency.
If, for mechanical reasons, a skipper is required to run the engine of a support boat or tender vessel at higher revs to clear the engine, this must be done well clear of the Swim Course and any swimmer, support boat or paddler.
Skippers are not permitted to consume alcohol while responsible for their swimmer(s) and paddler(s), and operating the support/relay boat.
Morning transportation from Rosslyn Bay ( 7:30am & 9:00am ) and afternoon ferries from Keppel Island ( 4:00pm & 6:20pm ) will be available.
Swimmers and support crews for the 6km Middle Island swim will gather at the stage by the GKI Hideaway for a safety meeting on the 5th September at 11:30am. Start of the swim is ~12:00pm from the Spit. Swimmers will commence the swim heading North-East toward the Underwater Observatory at the Middle Island and continue in a clockwise direction around the island staying within the course markers. Upon completion of the swim route, swimmers must cross the finish line at The Spit where their finish time will be logged. At 3:30pm, all swimmers who have not completed the event will be required to board a support boat, unless they are swimming inside the Putney Beach to the finish line.
Swimmers and support crews for the 1km Putney Beach swim will gather at the stage by the GKI Hideaway for a safety meeting on the 5th September at 3:30pm. Start of the swim is ~4:00pm from the Spit. Swimmers will commence the swim heading North for 500m toward the Course Marker and turning in a clockwise direction around the marker and swimming back, keeping incoming “traffic” on your right. Upon completion of the swim route, swimmers must cross the finish line at The Spit where their finish time will be logged.
GKI Hideaway Island Bar and Bistro will be open the whole day so we hope to see you there after your swim.
The Spit
The Spit
The Spit
The Spit
Swimmers and support crews for the 20km Individual, Duo, and Team Relay events will gather at the stge by the GKI Hideaway for a safety meeting on the 6th September at 8.45am. Start of the swim is ~9:3o am from the Spit. Early morning transportation from Rosslyn Bay will be available.
Clockwise direction. Swimmers will commence the event heading North-East along Putney Beach and continue in a clockwise direction around the island, passing the Bold Rock checkpoint by 1.30pm. Upon completion of the swim route, swimmers must cross the finish line at The Spit where their finish time will be logged.
Counterclockwise direction. Swimmers will commence the event heading South-West along Fisherman Beach and continue in a counterclockwise direction around the island, passing the Bold Rock checkpoint by 1.30pm. Upon completion of the swim route, swimmers must cross the finish line at The Spit where their finish time will be logged.
At 5:15pm, all swimmers who have not completed the event will be required to board a support boat, unless they are swimming along Fisherman or Putney (depending on a direction of the swim on a day) Beach to the finish line.
The Presentation and After Party will commence at the GKI Hideaway Island Bar and Bistro at 5:45pm. Late transportation to the main land will be available, but why would you want to leave?
Red Beach
The Spit
The Spit
GKI Hideaway Bar & Bistro
In addition to our Swim Around Keppel event, we are excited to offer swimmers the chance to complete a Solo Swim around Great Keppel Island throughout the year. For more information, please contact us at admin@swimaroundkeppel.com.au.
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.
