Route(s) : The swim is a "landmark"-based swim which involves aiming at landmarks to ensure you remain on course.
Below is the typical routes either the Miler (M1-M2-M3-M4) or the Lapper (2x L1-L2-L3-L4)
Miler: (Preferred route ... Plan A.. Typical Clifton conditions without drama... but can be challenging)
From Start (in the shallows) head +/-90m off shore to the deep-sea buoy (M#1). Right shoulder turn aiming for 3rd block of flats from Arcadia point (Sea Point side). Pass over/outside Cherry reef (off 2nd beach) and try spot crabs or crayfish. Careful Cherry reef may have wave breakzone.. Its deep though so even if caught by a breaker you can swim under or out of the wave zone. At deep-sea buoy (M#2) right shoulder turn towards rocks between 1st beach and Moses beach..approximately 15m inbound leg. At shallow buoy (M#3) right shoulder turn aim for red-roof bungalow on The Ridge (Camps Bay side of Clifton Bay). At shallow buoy (M#4) left shoulder turn and head for start area. Bobber buoys off the shore act as finish line. Smile ;-) You've finished what most only dream of.
Lapper: (Plan B... foul weather.. large breakzone off Cherry Reef)
From Start (in the shallows) head +/-220m off shore towards Duiker rocks and deep-sea buoy (L#1). Right shoulder turn aiming to Arcadia point (Sea Point side)..200m to deep-sea buoy (L#2).. right hand turn aiming for Bun rock (edge of 4th beach)..200m to shallow buoy (L#3) right hand turn aiming for red-roof bungalow 200m to shallow buoy (L#4)..end of LAP 1...Repeat route except when coming to shallow-buoy #4 a 2nd time take a left hand turn and aim for start area. Bobber buoys off the shore act as finish line. Smile ;-) You've done a fast route and spent some quality time in the ocean.
Finish: 4th beach Clifton as you pass the bobber buoys placed to indicate the finish line where times are taken. Continue swimming to the beach and check-in at the admin desk.
• Collect a finish tag.
• Give your race number to the race marshal.
Hi future polar bear! BackgroundThe swim started as a fun communal way to appreciate the outdoor open water sport of swimming. A number of the participants use the swim as a training ground for the Robben Island crossing. Albeit the route is around a nautical mile whereas the crossing is 7.5km/11.5km respectively it does provide an introduction to cold water and deep water swimming. Swimmers can elect to wear wetsuits as it is a fun swim. Only a handful do though. Format
The swim takes place in a format I like to call Hares and Hounds. The objective of the format is to
reduce the spread of times and in so doing keep swimmers of different speeds in a much closer
group. The “ultimate” objective is for the timing to be such that all swimmers finish together.
New swimmers automatically are placed with the Hares and in so doing receive a 5 minute head-start
on the Hounds. The expected finish time of a Hare is ± 38 minutes (roughly 7-minutes per
400m). Swimmers who have completed the swim previously have already found “swim-buddies” and
generally elect to swim in the group that resembles their speed more closely.
Hares have the advantage of leading, whereas Hounds have the advantage of chasing. Many a Hound has been surprised at the tenacity of the Hare when caught and has muttered under-breath at the Hare finding hidden reservoirs of speed. |
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