Not an option: Rottnest swim organisers reject calls for key change to iconic event

The Rottnest Channel Swim Association has ruled out calls for a “second day” option after wild weather forced the iconic swim to be completely abandoned for the first time on Saturday.

Thousands of competitors received a text at 4.15am – 1½ hours before the first swimmers hit the water – confirming the 19.7-kilometre open water event would proceed.

The Rottnest Channel Swim was completely abandoned for the first time in history on Saturday. Credit: 9News Perth

It followed organisers receiving advice from the Bureau of Meteorology which forecast offshore winds up to 30 knots, seas up to two metres, and swells less than a metre.

Weather expert Neil Bennett, who formerly worked for the BOM, said the forecast showed conditions were due to worsen during the day, with the trigger for a strong wind warning being 25 knots.

“Issuing a strong wind warning is usually an indication conditions are not great for small boats … it would make the sea conditions very, very choppy,” he said.

Swimmers said the conditions were “like being in a washing machine” and reported “being slammed against a brick wall every stroke”.

Multiple participants were treated on the water – one was airlifted and three were taken to hospital by ambulance. Most patients were suffering from hypothermia.

Several boats had to be towed in after breaking down in the rough conditions, while a kayaker also had to be rescued clinging to his overturned kayak after he lost sight of his team.

At 9.45am, organisers made the call to pull swimmers who were not up to the 14-kilometre mark out of the water, with observers estimating the decision left about 20 people still competing and the leader at the 17-kilometre mark.

About 15 minutes later the race was abandoned and all swimmers were advised to leave the water due to the weather conditions escalating to an extreme risk. No one finished the race.

It was the first time in the swim’s 34-year history that the event was completely abandoned mid-swim, with competitors in the water for around three to four hours before organisers pulled the pin.

In 2007, the race was cancelled before it started due to dangerous weather.

Claremont swimming coach Paul Newsome, who has completed five solo crossings and trained more than 1000 channel swimmers, said the tough conditions on Saturday meant the leader likely wouldn’t have made it to the finish line in less than five hours, despite the record standing at 3 hours 48 minutes.

“I calculated the leaders were holding about 15½ minutes a kilometre when they normally swim 12 minutes a kilometre – it really gives you an indication of just how slow and hard it was for them” he said.

A long-time advocate for the swim, Newsome said he supported the association’s decision to abandon the race, but called for future races to be reserved over a Saturday and Sunday, so organisers could choose the better day a few days prior.

“I’m certainly not the first person to have said or thought that,” he said.

“If it’s a cost factor, then just build that into the price of the event because there would have been a lot of people who would have spent a lot of money on Saturday with things like boats breaking down, who, if the option had been to pay an extra $100 to just run it on Sunday when it was perfect, I’m sure a lot of people would have gone for that option.”

However, in a statement, the Rottnest Channel Swim Association said it was not possible to reserve an additional day.

“The enormous amount and cost of logistics, including management of the shipping lane, do not allow us to plan for two days,” it said.

“More than 6500 people including swimmers, skippers, paddlers, volunteers, safety and medical staff are involved in the event.

“This is only the second time in 34 years the event has had to be cancelled and cancellation due to poor weather is a risk all swimmers are aware of due to it being an open water event.”

The association said refunds were not available if the swim was cancelled or abandoned.

Since Saturday’s event, Perth’s other Rottnest Island open-water swim – the Port to Pub, taking place in March – recorded a huge spike in registrations and sold out its 1500 entries for the first time in its history.

The event offers swimmers the option to swim the 19.7 kilometres solo, in a duo, or in teams of four or six. It also has a 25 kilometre ultramarathon option.

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