The event

Posted Sat, 01/11/2008 - 19:40 by Rottnest Channe...

Important Race Information

The 2011 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim will be held on 26th February 2011. The race departs from Cottesloe Beach and finishes at Thomson Bay, Rottnest Island. The distance of the race is 19.7km. The event categories for competitors are:

  • Solo
  • Duo - teams of 2
  • Team - teams of 4
  • Lavan Legal Charity Challenge - teams of 4

Minimum Age

The age requirement for the 2011 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim is a minimum of 14 years of age on the day of the swim in accordance with the FINA rules for open water swimming (OWS 1.2).

Entries Open

The online entry system for the 2011 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim will open at 8.00am (WST) on 1st November 2010. Entries will remain open for one week and will close at 5.30pm (WST) on the 7th November 2010.

Ballot System

All solo swimmers gain automatic entry into the event. A random ballot will be conducted to determine which duos and teams are successful in gaining entry into the 2011 event. The ballot is run several times until all places are filled. Preference is given to some entries each year. They are as follows:

  • 5 places are held for current RCSA Committee Members
  • 5 places are held for Life Members of the Association
  • 5 places are held for disabled teams
  • 10 places are held for international teams
  • 20 places are set aside for interstate teams
  • 30 places are set aside for regional teams

When the ballot has been run, an email will be sent notifying entrants if they are successful in gaining entry.  It is recommended that you check your entry status once the ballot has run, as some internet providers may block the emails that we send out to you.

If you are successful, you will have 4 days to log in and enter all your boat details and make payment. If you do not complete this within the 4 days, your entry will be placed back into the ballot for the next round.

Payment Options

Payment for entries and additional T-shirts can be made with either VISA or Mastercard via the online registration system.

Swimmers Details

On entry you will need to complete the following information for each swimmer:

  • First name
  • Surname
  • Gender
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Telephone number
  • Mobile number
  • Email address
  • T-shirt size
  • Emergency contact name
  • Emergency contact telephone number
  • Emergency contact mobile number
  • Medical conditions
  • Successful crossings

Consequence of Duplicate Entries

Do not try to gain entry by submitting more than one entry. Swimmers who submit more than one entry will be penalised and all team members will be banned from entering the 2011 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim for two years; the current event and the next event.

Solos

All Solo swimmers gain automatic entry into the event. Entries close for Solo swimmers at 5.30pm (WST) on 14th November 2010. The entry cost for Solos is yet to be decided..

First time Solo swimmers, and previous Solo swimmers who have not competed in the event in the last five years, will be required to complete a 10km qualifying swim in 4 hours and 15 minutes or less. Solo swimmers who do not complete the 10km in the time required do not qualify and will not be permitted to start.

For more information on the 10km qualifying swim, please click on the link www.rottnestchannelswim.com.au/content/other-events

Solo swimmers who are successful in the 2011 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim and who are residents of Western Australia will receive an application form for their customised number plates four weeks after race day.

Duos and Teams

The entry fees for Duos and Teams is yet to be decided. Entry numbers for Duos and Teams are restricted for safety reasons. Duos and Teams are categorised by adding the ages of the participants in each Duo/Team. The categories are as follows:

Duo

  • 28+
  • 50+
  • 75+
  • 100+

    Team

    • 56+
    • 100+
    • 150+
    • 200+

Lavan Legal Charity Challenge

This is an exclusive category for Teams. These Teams compete for the Lavan Legal Charity Challenge Cup. There are only 30 places available in this category. The entry fee for this category is yet to be decided.

The entry fee for this category includes:

  • Separate briefing - a breakfast briefing
  • Lavan Legal Charity Challenge Race Pack
  • Food and drinks at the VIP function (held from 2pm - 5pm) at Rottnest Island
  • A donation made on your behalf to the Starlight Foundation
  • A framed photograph of your team crossing the finish line

If you are unsuccessful in the Lavan Legal Charity Challenge ballot, your entry will be transferred into the normal Team category ballot.

Briefing

It is compulsory that all Solos, and a swimmer from each Duo/Team attend the 2011 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim Briefing. It is highly recommended that the skipper also attends. The briefing will be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday 8th February 2011 at Challenge Stadium, Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont.

Support Boat

Solo swimmers require a support boat that is a minimum of 5m in length. Duo and Team swimmers require a support boat that is a minimum of 6m in length. It is recommended but not compulsory that paddle craft be used to assist the swimmer/s and skipper on the day.

Call signs for Solo swimmers and Teams will be the Solo/Team number. For example, if you are Solo swimmer 100 then your call sign is "Solo swimmer 100" and if you are Team 450 then your call sign will be "Team 450".

The support boat information that is required to complete your entry and make payment is listed below:

  • Name of boat
  • Boat registration number#
  • Boat length#
  • Make of boat - boat make and model
  • Engine Type - inboard or outboard
  • Type of marine radio - 27Mhz or VHF#
  • Mooring location/number if staying overnight at Rottnest
  • Boat skipper name#
  • Boat skipper address#
  • Boat skipper mobile number#
  • Boat skipper Recreational Skipper's Ticket number#

# compulsory information to complete your entry.

Swim Suit Regulations

Swimmers are not permitted to wear wetsuits or anything made out of neoprene. However swimmers are permitted to wear any swim skins of any brand, rash vests, the pointzero3 and nero swim suit made by Blueseventy.

Start Times

The first wave of Solo swimmers leaves Cottesloe Beach at 5.45am and the last wave of Team swimmers leaves the beach at 7.30am. The first Solo wave will be comprised of females and the top seeded males to a maximum of 100 swimmers. The second Solo wave will be comprised of the remaining males.

The following list outlines the start waves for each category, and their respective start times:

Swim wave 1: start time 5.45am; Solos - female and seeded males;

Swim wave 2: start time 6.00am; Solos - rest of males;

Swim wave 3: start time 6.15am; Duos, race number 300-499;

Swim wave 4: start time 6.30am; 56+, race number 500-599;

Swim wave 4: start time 6.30pm 200+, race number 600-699;

Swim wave 5: start time 6.45am; 150+, race number 700-799;

Swim wave 6: start time 7.00am; 150+, race number 800-999;

Swim wave 7: start time 7.15am; 100+, race number 1000-1099;

Swim wave 8: start time 7.30am; 100+, race number 1100-1299;

Cut off Times

All competitors who do not reach the allocated distances by the set cut-off times are required to leave the water. After these cut-off times, swimmers are recorded as "did not finish" (DNF) and must leave the water immediately. These times have been set in accordance with the Authorities governing the event and must be adhered to. Swimmers who do not leave the water will face disqualification (DSQ) and can be blacklisted from the event.

  • 10km - 1215hrs
  • 15km - 1430hrs
  • 18km - 1515hrs
  • 19km - 1615hrs
  • Beginning of 400m finish channel - 1630hrs
  • Finish line - 1700hrs

Withdrawals

Applications to withdraw from the event made before 15 December 2011 will entitle the applicant to a 50% refund. All applications for withdrawals/refunds must be made in writing and emailed to admin@rottnestchannelswim.com.au or posted to PO Box 2004, Claremont, WA, 6010.

Withdrawals after this date do not receive a refund, but must still inform the RCSA in writing of the withdrawal by either emailing or posting to the RCSA as per above.

Presentation

The presentation of prizes will be held on the beach in front of Hotel Rottnest at 5.30pm on race day. Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place getters in the Solo, Duo and Team categories only. Cash prizes are irrespective of which age category was entered (eg. 56+ or 100+).

All successful Solo competitors, place getters and category winners are requested to assemble at the front of the presentation stage at least 20 minutes prior to presentations. A photograph of all Solo swimmers will be taken just before the start of the presentations.