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This iconic Central Masters swim event has proven popular on the browns island course and we will again ‘round Browns Island in an anticlockwise direction from St Heliers Beach, this swim is only for advanced swimmers and has special entry criteria.

When and where

Date: 28 March 2021
Assemble: 6:00am St Heliers Bay
Start time: TBC am
High Tide: 7:47 am
Nominal cut-off time: 4hrs 30 mins
Prize giving: St Heliers

The course

St Heliers Bay start next to the boat ramp out round the “White Stick” then around Browns Island anti-clockwise, back round the “White Stick” to the finish next to the boat ramp in the middle of St Heliers Bay.

The logistics

Because of the big variation in swim speeds and the long duration of this event swimmers will be responsible for providing their own kayaker, jet ski or boat for safety and support during the race.

Support vessels must have a means of communication in the form of a waterproof cell phone or marine VHF. The VHF operating channel on the day will be Channel 8.

Support paddlers must be experienced and capable of providing support to the number of swimmers they are accompanying. Based on previous experience, stand up paddle boards and rudderless sit on kayaks are NOT suitable

Swimmers may elect to swim as a group with one kayak but must stay in that group for the full distance.

Swimmers may not continue unaccompanied if their support craft becomes unavailable. They will be asked to board an official support craft and transported to the finish.

Kayakers must stay with their swimmer for the duration of the race. Swimmers finishing without their support craft will be listed as DNF in the published results.

Cutoff times

In order to satisfy the Harbour master’s safety requirements we will be enforcing cutoff times. The times are based on clearing the main boating channels in 4.5 hours. Slow swimmers who exceed the cutoff times will be instructed to board an official support craft (for a “pickup & drop”) and will be moved up the field. They will be given an “assisted finish” time in the results.

Terms and conditions of entry

Swimmers are responsible for providing their own safety support craft for the event. The support craft must be suitable for conditions on the day and the paddler must be fit and competent.

Swimmers must have already swum at least 5 km in open water.

If you are over 12 and under 16, you will need to confirm parent or guardian consent when you enter

ACM reserves the right to refuse to allow a swimmer to participate in the event on the day if the safety officer believes that the swimmer or their support vessel will not be safe in the actual or forecasted sea conditions.

Swimmers and support paddlers must obey instructions given to you by event officials (including official support craft crew) at all times. Swimmers who fail to follow instructions may be listed as DNF in the results.

Swimmer support vessels must have a means of communication in the form of a waterproof cell phone or marine VHF. The operating channel on the day will be Channel 8.

For safety reasons we must avoid excessive spread of the field. Slower swimmers who exceed cutoff times will be transported forward up to the pack to reduce the spread, if you are asked please assist with this otherwise you will be asked to leave the water.

Swimmer support craft must give way to other swimmers at all times.

Support craft will assemble South and East of a buoy located approximately 500m from the start. As your swimmer passes the buoy you will move off with them. Do not cut across the field of swimmers unless you are 50m clear of any swimmer.

Entry fee and conditions

• The entry fee is $100
• By entering the event entrants acknowledge the terms and conditions of entry.
• Enter the 10km Marathon Swim using your credit card through our secure server. You will receive confirmation of your entry by return email.
• If you wish to withdraw before the event your registration fee will be refunded only if written notice of your withdrawal is received by the organiser at least one day before the event. An Administration Fee of $20 will be charged for withdrawal.
• If the race is cancelled because of bad weather please note that your registration fee will not be refunded.
• Online entries close midnight on the Thursday before the race.
• The cost of a late entry on the day is $120 subject to a maximum of 100 entrants

Prizes and trophies

PRIZES AND TROPHIES

There will be a spot prize draw for all those present at prize giving including a top spot prize of a wetsuit kindly provided by Swim T3

• John White Cup and miniatures for fastest male & female non-wetsuit swimmer
• Lodi Raos and miniatures for the fastest wetsuit swimmer male & female.

Marathon Swim Training Plan

12 Week Training Programme

1. Click here for the 1st 4 weeks of the 12 week programme designed for Marathon Auckland Swim
2. Click here for the 2nd 4 weeks of the 12 week training programme
3. Click here for the 3rd 4 weeks of the 12 week training programme

Kayak Hire 

Kayak can be hired from Fergs Kayaks, they come with paddle and lifejacket.  Fergs will deliver to St Heliers and pick up at the end of the event for $TBA per kayak.

• Single sit-on
• Double sit-on