Whether you prefer to go individual or gather your mates for the team relay event, sign up today for the swimming experience of a lifetime.
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Whether you prefer to go individual or gather your mates for the team relay event, 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.
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.
Conquer Great Keppel Island with your mates! Gather a team of 3 to 5, change over swimmers every 5 to 45 minutes, and share the victory. Too easy! Mixed teams welcome and no previous experience necessary. Further details on entry requirements can be found below.
Male & females aged 14 years +
Completed previous long-distance open water swim event
Official 10km open water swim time < 4 hours or alternative (see The Rules)
Must supply paddler (no SUPs permitted)
Mixed teams aged 14 years +
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.
7th March
7th May
31st July
TBC
7th August
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, individuals and teams, at the date of the Event (15th August 2020) is 14 years.
Swimmers must, at all times, wear their official swim cap and swim tow (both provided) 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 Red Beach by 12:30pm.
b. All individual swimmers / teams must finish the race by 4:30pm. Exception: individual swimmer / team is swimming the last beach (Fisherman’s) 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, point between the Fisherman’s and Putney beach at specific/assigned time.
All swimmers must be accompanied by an assisting vessel.
Participants registered for the Individual Swim event must be accompanied by a paddler while in the water. No support boat required. No stand up paddle boards (SUPs) permitted.
Teams registered for the Team Relay event must be accompanied by a support boat (one per team). Click here for a copy of the Boat Registration Form
If you require assistance, please contact us.
Swimmers must qualify in order to participate in the individual swim. To qualify, prospective individual swimmers must have:
a. Completed an official 10km open water swim event, from 1st June 2019 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 August 2019 (screen shot of the event details and results are sufficient for approval).
Looking to join a team or an additional team member? Please visit our Facebook Page
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 15th July 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 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, and 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.
Swimmers and support crews for both the Individual Swim and Team Relay events will gather at The Spit on Great Keppel Island on Saturday, 7th August at 9.30am for a 10am start. Early morning transportation from Rosslyn Bay will be available.
Swimmers will commence the event heading North along Putney Beach and continue in a clockwise direction around the island, passing the Red Beach checkpoint by 1:00pm. Upon completion of the swim route, swimmers must cross the finish line at The Spit where their time will be logged.
At 5.00pm, all swimmers who have not completed the event will be required to board a support boat, unless they are swimming along Fisherman’s Beach to the finish line.
The Presentation and After Party will commence at the GKI Hideaway Island Bar and Bistro at 6:00pm. Late transportation to the main land will be available but, why would you want to leave?
The Spit
Red Beach
The Spit
GKI Hideaway Island 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.
Swim Around Keppel 2021 is a 20km open water swim around Great Keppel Island on Saturday, 7th August 2021.
This event is proudly brought to you by the Keppel Islands Swimming Association.
