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Whether you prefer to go solo or gather your mates for the tandem, 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.
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.
They say two’s company! Swim in pairs together around the island. Male and female (mixed) tandems welcome. 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 every 30 minutes. 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 out to Middle Island and enjoy the beauty of Keppel’s tropical waters. Further details on entry requirements can be found below.
For swimmers new to open water swimming and wanting to take part in an official swim event! Swim out halfway to Middle Island and be part of the action! Further details on entry requirements can be found below.
Males & 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)
Males & females (mixed) teams aged 12 years +
Previous open water swimming experience recommended but not required
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 years +
Open water swimming experience recommended (5km & 1km)
Grab some sunscreen, grab your friends, and make your way to Putney Beach for a tonne of fun with our new Water Polo Tournament on Saturday 23rd July at 2.00pm. No experience necessary, and no registration required.
Kids! Come and be part of our Sandcastle Building and Scavenger Hunt activities (times TBC). Prizes and goodies up for grabs! This activity is free and registration is not required, just show up and have fun!
Catch all the action of our 20km swimmers as they conquer the island on Sunday 24th July, and discover the hidden beauty of Great Keppel Island aboard our 2-hour Spectator Cruise, departing from Fisherman’s Beach at 10am and 12.30pm respectively. Includes morning or afternoon tea.
For more information and bookings, please see our Special Packages.
23rd February
23rd May
1st July
TBC
23rd -24th July
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 (20km), individuals & tandem, at the date of the event is 14 years.
The minimum age for all swimmers participating, (20km team relay & duo, and 5km swim) at the date of the event is 12 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 Bald Rock Point checkpoint by 12.30pm.
b. All individual swimmers / teams must finish the race by 5:00pm. Exception: individual swimmer / team relay, duo & tandem swimmer is swimming the last beach (Putney) 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.
All swimmers must be accompanied by an assisting vessel.
Participants registered for the 20km Individual, Duo & Tandem Swim events 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 20km 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 20km Individual & Tandem swim. To qualify, prospective individual swimmers must have:
a. Completed an official 10km open water swim event, from 1st January 2020 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 2020 (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 74 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 and 74 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 the 20km Individual, Tandem, Duo, and Team Relay events will gather at The Spit on Great Keppel Island on Sunday, 24th July at 8.45am for a ~9:15am start. Early morning transportation from Rosslyn Bay will be available.
Swimmers will commence the event heading South along Fisherman’s Beach and continue in an anti-clockwise direction around the island, passing the Bald Rock Point checkpoint by 12.30pm. Upon completion of the swim route, swimmers must cross the finish line at The Spit where their finish time will be logged.
At 5:00pm, all swimmers who have not completed the event will be required to board a support boat, unless they are swimming along Putney 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
Bald Rock Point
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.
