Registration FAQs

When the annual Rottnest Channel Swim first started, we had a first-in first-served approach where participants would fill in a form and deliver it to the RCSA office. This created an unfair advantage for those that lived close by and thus a ballot system was introduced in 2006 – at the same time we moved to an online registration.

We recognised that unsuccessful applicants in the ballot wasted their time filling in an online application and depositing fees that had to be returned. Therefore, we decided to follow the widely accepted practice of accepting the first applicants that complete their race entry form, up to our race limit.

For the 2022 event, to continue improving our registration and based on participant feedback, we implemented Queue-it; a virtual waiting room that provides fairer and controlled access to registrations by creating a digital queue. We continue to use this system for Events. For more information on Queue-it and how it works, head HERE.

Firstly, solos will register within the first registration period which will run for one week only (as per previous years). Solos who successfully register within this period are guaranteed entry into the event, however, for the 2025 Event solo spots may be limited. Solos will secure their spot during registration by paying the fee as well as updating their qualifying swim information.

Lavan Charity Challenge (LCC) teams will register during the solo registration window also. There are just 40 spots available but if you register in this category, you have a guaranteed spot in the Event. LCC teams secure their spot by paying the registration fee and fundraising the minimum amount as per our Terms and Conditions for their chosen charity before the date specified in the Terms and Conditions.

Duos will then register in the second registration window as per the Key Dates. All duos should nominate a team captain for your crew. They will be able to create a duo during the registration window and the team captain must make the full registration payment for the duo’s registration to be successful. Once the duo has been created, swimmers from your crew will be able to register themselves and join your team between 10:00am Thursday, 31 October 2024 – 12:00pm Monday, 4 November 2024. The waitlist for duos will open directly after all duo spots are sold out (we will announce when registrations have sold out on our social media accounts and website).

Teams will then register in the final registration window as per the Key Dates. All teams should nominate a team captain for your crew. They will be able to create a team during the registration window and the team captain must make the full registration payment for the team’s registration to be successful. Once the duo has been created, swimmers from your crew will be able to register themselves and join your team between 10:00am Thursday, 31 October 2024 – 12:00pm Monday, 4 November 2024. The waitlist for teams will open directly after all duo spots are sold out (we will announce when registrations have sold out on our social media accounts and website).

All swimmers (solos, duos and teams) are responsible for registering themselves and agreeing to the waivers.

For the 2022 Event, to continue improving our registration and based on participant feedback, we implemented Queue-it; a virtual waiting room that provides fairer and controlled access to registrations by creating a digital queue. We continue to use this system for Events. For more information on Queue-it and how it works, head HERE.

Registrations for Solos and Lavan Charity Challenge teams will open 8:30am Monday, 21 October 2024 and close 10:00am Monday, 28 October 2024 (AWST). This includes Tandem Solos.

Duo registrations will open from 8:30am Tuesday, 29 October 2024 (AWST) until sold-out (you will need to join the queue from 8:00am).

Team registrations will open from 8:30am Wednesday, 30 October 2024 (AWST) until sold-out (you will need to join the queue from 8:00am).

Since the 2022 Event, to continue improving our registration and based on participant feedback, we implemented Queue-it; a virtual waiting room that provides fairer and more controlled access to registrations by creating a digital queue.  Registration links will be on our , and from 8:00am to allow you to queue in the digital waiting room before registrations open.  For the best chance of securing an entry to the 2025 Event, you should enter the queue between 8.00am and 8.29am on either Tuesday, 29 October 2024 for Duos or Wednesday, 30 October 2024 for Teams. This will allow you to be allocated a number in the first round of queuing. For more information on the Queue-It integration, head HERE.

We have allowed for a gap between the two categories so that we can calculate how many spots are available for duos and teams based on the number of Solo registrations we receive. To make the registration process faster, participants can set up their ACTIVE.com account prior to registrations opening.

Registrations for the Rottnest Channel Swim must be completed online and within the allocated category registration times. When registrations open, please visit our website homepage and click the big, yellow button on the Home page that says ‘Registrations’.

There’s also a step by step guide to registering.

*Please note that the RCSA does not accept any late applications once the registration period for your category has closed or is sold out. We wish you all the best with your registration.

Team Captains (for Duos and Teams of four) will need to provide the following information as part of their initial registration: 

• Full name 
• Gender 
• Date of birth 
• Phone Number 
• Email address 
• Address 
• Emergency contact details (name, relationship, primary emergency contact number, secondary emergency contact number) 
• Medical history & accessibility requirements 
• Complimentary Event Shirt size 
• Crossing history 
• Media details/preferences 
• Fundraising preferences 
• Support Boat details (if you have not yet organised a boat and skipper, these details can be updated at a later date) 
• You will also need to create a Team name and password (make note of your name/password as your team members will need these to join your team) 
• Optional additional merchandise/donations 

Once your Team Captain has secured your Duo or Team spot, we’ll need the following information for each participant: 

• Full name 
• Gender 
• Date of birth 
• Email address 
• Contact number 
• Address 
• Emergency contact details (name, relationship, number, alternative emergency contact number) 
• Medical history & accessibility requirements 
• Complimentary Event Shirt size 
• Crossing history 
• Media details/preferences 
• Fundraising preferences 
• Team name and password 
• Optional additional merchandise/donations 

All swimmers (Solos, Duos and Teams) must manage their own registration details by logging into their ACTIVE.com account. They’ll then be able to see and update their details such as swim history and qualifying swim details. Solos and Team Captains will also be required to update support crew details (boat and skipper information) for the team. 

All skippers are required to register themselves and their support boats. It is the responsibility of the Soloist or Team Captain to ensure the skipper has registered. All skipper and support boat information must be entered prior to the date specified in the Event Terms and Conditions. Skipper registrations must be completed by the deadline outlined in the Terms and Conditions. Skipper details can be changed up until 5.00pm (AWST) Wednesday, 19 February 2025, for any changes after this date, participants will need to contact us directly. If this information is not entered, your entry will be removed. For more support crew information on Event day, please check out our support crew sections on the website. 

All Soloists will need to provide the following information as part of their initial registration:

• Full name 
• Gender 
• Date of birth 
• Phone Number 
• Email address 
• Address 
• Emergency contact details (name, relationship, primary emergency contact number, secondary emergency contact number) 
• Medical history & accessibility requirements 
• You will also need to select the items and sizes for your Solo Finishers Prize Pack (to view the options, head HERE). 
• Solo Qualifying information (this can be updated at a later date. For more information, head HERE) 
• Crossing history 
• Media details/preferences 
• Fundraising preferences 
• Support Boat details (if you have not yet organised a boat and skipper, these details can be updated at a later date) 
• Optional additional merchandise/donations 

 Tandem Soloists will need to additionally provide the following information as part of their initial registration: 

• Tandem solo partner’s full name (this allows us to manually pair your individual registrations)

All swimmers (Solos, Duos and Teams) must manage their own registration details by logging into their ACTIVE.com account. They’ll then be able to see and update their details such as swim history and qualifying swim details. Solos and Team Captains will also be required to update support crew details (boat and skipper information) for the team. 

All skippers are required to register themselves and their support boats. It is the responsibility of the Soloist or Team Captain to ensure the skipper has registered. All skipper and support boat information must be entered prior to the date specified in the Event Terms and Conditions. Skipper registrations must be completed by the deadline outlined in the Terms and Conditions. Skipper details can be changed up until 5.00pm (AWST) Wednesday, 19 February 2025, for any changes after this date, participants will need to contact us directly. If this information is not entered, your entry will be removed. For more support crew information on Event day, please check out our support crew sections on the website. 

Team Captains (for the Lavan Charity Challenge) will need to provide the following information as part of their initial registration: 

• Full name 
• Gender 
• Date of birth 
• Phone Number 
• Email address 
• Address 
• Emergency contact details (name, relationship, primary emergency contact number, secondary emergency contact number) 
• Medical history & accessibility requirements 
• Complimentary Event Shirt size 
• Crossing history 
• Media details/preferences 
• Your chosen charity for the Lavan Charity Challenge (Note – Fundraising must be facilitated through Grassrootz. The fundraising page on Grassrootz can be set up post-registrations, we will send information about how to set it up.) 
• Support Boat details (if you have not yet organised a boat and skipper, these details can be updated at a later date) 
• You will also need to create a Team name and password (make note of your name/password as your team members will need these to join your team) 
• Optional additional merchandise/donations 

Once your Team Captain has secured your Lavan Charity Challenge spot, we’ll need the following information for each participant: 

• Full name 
• Gender 
• Date of birth 
• Email address 
• Contact number 
• Address 
• Emergency contact details (name, relationship, number, alternative emergency contact number) 
• Medical history & accessibility requirements 
• Complimentary Event Shirt size 
• Crossing history 
• Media details/preferences 
• Acknowledgement of the Fundraising Ts and Cs 
• Team name and password 
• Optional additional merchandise/donations 

All swimmers (Solos, Duos and Teams) must manage their own registration details by logging into their ACTIVE.com account. They’ll then be able to see and update their details such as swim history and qualifying swim details. Solos and Team Captains will also be required to update support crew details (boat and skipper information) for the team. 

All skippers are required to register themselves and their support boats. It is the responsibility of the Soloist or Team Captain to ensure the skipper has registered. All skipper and support boat information must be entered prior to the date specified in the Event Terms and Conditions. Skipper registrations must be completed by the deadline outlined in the Terms and Conditions. Skipper details can be changed up until 5.00pm (AWST) Wednesday, 19 February 2025, for any changes after this date, participants will need to contact us directly. If this information is not entered, your entry will be removed. For more support crew information on Event day, please check out our support crew sections on the website. 

The link to our waitlist will become available on our website, social media and on Queue-it when registrations sell out. If you are unable to get an initial registration, make sure join the waitlist right away.  

To join the Team or Duo waitlist, you will need to provide the following information: 

• Full name 
• Gender 
• Date of birth 
• Phone Number 
• Email address 
• Address 
• Full names of the people you are intending on swimming with 

Once you have joined the waitlist, we’ll try our best to get you a spot, however, if you have not heard from us by the date specified in your waitlist confirmation email please take this to mean there wasn’t enough room for you this year. 

Participants must be a minimum age of 14 years old on the day of the swim (Saturday, 22 February 2025). See the Event Rules.

All swimmers under the age of 18 can register for the South32 Rottnest Channel Swim but must be registered by a parent or legal guardian. If a duo or team is made up entirely of under 18 swimmers, you must get a parent or legal guardian to create a duo or team (this includes payment). If all participants are under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian can select from the following categories:

• Junior duo team (non-participating team captain) to create an underage duo
• Junior team captain (non-participating team captain) to create an underage team of four.

We also have a step by step guide for underage entries.

Non-participating adults are also able to create an ACTIVE.com account prior to registration, to make the registration process faster.

The option of tandem solos was introduced in the 2016 Rottnest Channel Swim. Tandem solos are a great way to complete a solo if it will be your first crossing (two swimmers and one boat), and it’s designed for soloists who regularly train together. When you register, you must register under the category of ‘tandem solo’ and include the full name of the person you will be sharing a boat and swimming with. Please see “What info will be required to register?” for the information needed for registration. To ensure that both swimmers have a successful solo crossing, we have strict procedures in place. See the Event Rules on completing a tandem solo.

The best part about moving to a first-in first-served system is that you will know straight away whether your team is successful – no more waiting for the results from the ballot. Solos will receive a confirmation email once they have completed their registration (this includes payment) within the first registration period.

For duos and teams, once a captain has registered and made payment on behalf of the team, the captain will receive a confirmation email. They’ll then need to pass on their team name and password to their duo buddy or team members so they can join their team (this includes non-participating captains if you have an under 18 team). Remember, duo buddies and team members can’t add themselves to your team until the Join a Team period from 10:00am Thursday, 31 October 2024 – 12:00pm Monday, 4 November 2024. Once this period opens, the option to ‘join a duo/team’ will appear and replace ‘create a duo/team’.

Once your captain has secured a place in the swim, they’ll be able to invite team members to join. The captain will need to pass on the team name and password to team members, so they can log in, register and join their team by selecting it from a list on the registration system.

The category of ‘join a team’ will become available once all spots have sold out. As usual, all team names must be unique so be creative. Please make sure you are selecting the right team to join and not a team with a similar name – this will cause confusion when it comes to entering your password.

We’ve created a step by step visual guide to help you.

If you are ready to ‘join a duo/team’ please follow the simple steps below.

1. Team captains must pass on your team name and password.
2. Set up an ACTIVE.com account.
3. Head to the Registration Page.
4. Select the category you are joining (join a duo or join a team).
5. Complete the registration form.
6. Search for your team name and enter the team password.
7. Make sure you have ticked and signed all waivers and click ‘Confirm’ on the checkout page to complete your entry (no payment is required). Once this is all completed, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

We understand that things can change in the lead up to the event. As per previous years, you will have until 5:00pm (AWST) Wednesday, 19 February 2025 (3 days before the event) to update your information. Please note that the RCSA will not accept any changes after this period. Changes can only be made online through your ACTIVE.com account and include:

• Participant’s full name
• Date of birth
• Email address
• Contact number
• Address
• Emergency contact details
• Medical history
• All support crew and skipper changes.

See a step by step guide.

It’s your responsibility to make sure all team member details are correct before the cut-off date in order to participate – these must be completed online. Please see “What info will be required to register?” for information required.

Swimmer substitutes can be done when a participant in your duo or team needs to be swapped in/out. Duos are permitted to have one substitute swimmer and teams are permitted to have two (see the Terms & Conditions for the Event). Please refer to “What info will be required to register?” for cut-off dates.

As per previous years, solo entries in the South32 Rottnest Channel Swim are not transferable and no other person is permitted to participate in your place. If you’ve registered as a solo swimmer and apply in writing for a withdrawal from the event before the withdrawal date (check the Event Terms & Conditions for the withdrawal date), you’ll receive a 50% refund of the entry fee. If you need to withdraw after this date, you’ll still need to inform the RCSA in writing.

If you’re a solo swimmer, you must include the sizing for your embroidered t-shirt and finisher jacket when you register, as we need to start working on your unique solo crossing prize packs ASAP and have them ready for you at the finish line.

To view your options, head HERE.

Additional and complimentary (duos and teams) merchandise purchased through Active cannot be exchanged until the Metro Safety Briefing so make sure to confirm sizes before you purchase. Additional merchandise can be a great thank you gifts for your support crew and cheer squad and it’s common for us to sell out of sizes, so make sure to get in quick!

Congratulations on completing your qualifying swim! You only need to update your qualifying swim time if you complete an event outside of WA.

To update your qualifying swim time, you’ll need to log in to your ACTIVE.com account, and head to your registration under “My Events”. Please have the following information ready to update:

• Solo qualifying event (i.e.: Vlad Swim)
• Solo qualifying time (hours and minutes)
• Solo qualifying distance (i.e.: 10km)
• Information supporting your qualifying swim (i.e.: link to results).

For more information on qualifying swims, visit our Qualifying Swim page, or if you have any questions, please contact us at query@rottnestchannelswim.com.au or (08) 6555 3970.

If you want to see your name and your team’s name in the yearbook, all you need to do is have all the correct swimmer names in the registration system by Monday, 4 November 2024.

With the ballot being removed there is no longer an incentive to enter multiple times as you will know immediately whether or not you have been successful in registering for the event. When participants set up an Active Passport there are unique identifiers to stop people entering multiple times. As always, the RCSA team will be on the look-out for duplicate entries and if they are found the team will be banned from the Event for two years.

As the Event has grown in popularity, there will be multiple captains logging on at the same time to ensure their spot in the Event. We have eliminated some of the congestion by moving solos to a separate period, but like similar major sporting events, there is expected to be a peak in people accessing the system as soon as they can. We have a highly experienced vendor running and hosting the registration system. The system selected is used widely across Australia and internationally for a number of events that have a greater number of competitors so we are confident, and have been assured, it will not crash.