Rules

Rules and Regulations 2012

The Swim

  • The Solo Swim takes place from the beach at Murray's Bay on Robben Island to Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, on Saturday, 28 April, 2012 (should weather and sea conditions be adverse, the event will take place on 29 April 2012). The Solo Swim will start at 10h00 or at such hour as determined by the Swim Committee.
  • In the unlikely event that the Swim is cancelled outright, entry fees will not be refunded.
  • The Swim Committee may, in its sole discretion and for any reasons whatsoever, cancel, postpone, delay, or otherwise, amend the date and time of the Swim, provided that the Swim shall not be cancelled or postponed unless:
  • The ocean swell and conditions make swimming unsafe
  • The wind is too strong for boats/kayaks to support participants, or for the participants to swim effectively;
  • Visibility is too poor for supporting vessels to support their participants properly; or
  • Clear sightings of sharks in the area make it unreasonably unsafe for participants.
  • All participants, once qualified, participate in the Swim entirely at their own risk and swimmers are to use their discretion on the day if the water temperature is very low.
  • Each Solo swimmer must be supported by a motorised vessel, which is subject to SAMSA regulations. Two solo swimmers may share one motorised boat, provided the swimmers remain within 10m of the boat at all times during the race.
  • Experienced solo swimmers may apply to the swim committee to be accompanied by a paddler (organised by them) rather than a motorised vessel. Kindly apply to info@freedomswim.co.za, provide a brief history of your cold water or extreme swimming experience and a brief motivation.
  • The swim will be subject to the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (hereafter referred to as CLDSA) rules, except in wetsuit categories.
  • A cut-off time for solos of 2 hours at the half-way mark shall be implemented for safety purposes. Participants who have not made the cut-off shall be disqualified and removed from the water.
  • Support boats, swim officials and the NSRI should pull participants out of the water should they be at risk.
  • Swimmers shall not be permitted an artificial aid of any kind, however, swimmers may grease themselves, use goggles, and wear a single official cap and a single bathing suit. During the swim, no physical contact with the swimmer shall be made by any person. Swimmers may not touch the boat while swimming.

    • Pull-out process:

  • A swimmer is allowed to pull-out at anytime during the swim
  • A support boat should pull out its swimmer if the swimmer is at risk. A paddler can alert the official support boats at any time, should they require assistance
  • Swim officials may pull-out any swimmer at anytime, if they believe the swimmer is at risk
  • Once a swimmer has been instructed to pull-out he/she will be automatically disqualified
  • The swimmer's support boat or the officials will exercise their discretion and follow the swim briefing advice in order to pull a swimmer from the race.
    • Swimmers who refuse to follow a pull-out call will be automatically disqualified for the swim and the committee reserves its right to penalise the swimmer

    Relays:

  • Relay teams must comprise 4 members.
  • Relay teams will race around the southern rocks on Big Bay Beach.
  • Relay teams must swim eight loops of about 1.15km a loop -- a total distance of about 9.2km

    • Entry Qualifications

  • Only Solo swimmers will be required to qualify for the event.
  • swimmers MUST be well prepared and swimming fit and must spend time swimming and acclimatizing in cold water ahead of the event.
  • In order to qualify a Solo swimmer must have:
  • Completed swimming from Robben Island to the mainland solo within the past three years and recognised by the CLDSA ; or
  • Completed the 2011 Cadiz Freedom Swim contingency route in Big Bay; or
  • Swam 5 km open water in temperatures of 15C or below in the past five years or;
  • Completed one of the qualifying swims in early 2012.
  • Dates as follows:
    1. Sunday 29 Jan, 9am, Big Bay
    2. Saturday, 25 Feb, 9am, Big Bay (Round the Rocks race) 
    3. Monday 21 March, 9am, Camps Bay (Human Rights Day Swim)
    4. These swims are overseen by Tony Sellmeyer (082-457-1242) of the CLDSA who may be contacted for special qualifiers in the event that swimmers absolutely cannot attend any of the above dates.

Any other qualifying requests (outside of Cape Town) must be made to the swim committee chairman Ram Barkai through info@freedomswim.co.za.
Those wanting to arrange alternative qualifying swim dates in Cape Town may seek to do so through the CLDSA's Tony Sellmeyer 082 457 1242 or through event organisers Trevor Ball or Grant Ross on 27 (0) 79 558 3168 or info@freedomswim.co.za.

 

Qualifying conditions are as follows: If the water temperature at qualifying swims is at 14 degrees or lower, swimmers must spend no less than 1.5hrs in the water and be comfortable when emerging. If the water temperature is at 15 degrees, swimmers must be in the water for at least 2hrs. The Swim Committee shall have full discretion on allowing or preventing a swimmer from participating.

Swim Categories

  • There are 2 swim categories:
    1. Solo (CLDSA + Channel swimming rules)
    2. Relay (Four swimmers)
  • Open no wetsuits
  • Open wetsuits (one or more members of the team wearing a wetsuit)
  • Corporate relay - (wetsuits optional, but advised)
  • Schools relay - (wetsuits optional, but advised. Participants must be between 12 and 18 years old)

    Solo Swim - Category

  • The minimum age for a participant shall be 15 years on the day of the Swim.
  • Participants will be required to qualify for the swim.
  • The entry fee shall be R1950 for Solos (students/under23s R1560). Entry fees to be paid by Credit Card to Cadiz Freedom Swim account - see account details page on this website.
  • Solo swimmers will be identified by white caps, relay swimmers by red caps. All swimmers must wear the official cap.

    •  

    Relay Swim - Category (non wetsuit, wetsuit, schools and corporates)

  • Relay participants are not required to qualify but MUST all be well trained, swimming fit and prepared for very cold water temperatures.
  • Changeovers shall occur on the beach - the retiring participant must touch the next swimmer to mark the changeover.  
  • The last relay swimmer will exit at the Cadiz arch, marking the finish.
  • The swim will be officiated by the CLDSA.
  • A relay team will be categorized as Wetsuit Relay team if one or more members of the team swim with a wetsuit.
  • Relay participants must each swim two loops. No swimmer may swim less or more than two loops.
  • Each relay team will nominate a team captain who will be responsible for all administrative requirements for the team, including all online entry details and who will act as team liaison
  • Wetsuit relays will NOT be certified by the CLDSA.
  • Schools relay swimmers must be aged from 12 to 18 years old.
  • The entry fee shall be R3200 per four person team (schools/under 23: R2560)
  • All swimmers, boatmen and paddlers MUST attend a pre-race briefing at Vista Nova School -- dates to be provided by early March 2012.
  • All boats and kayaks or similar vessels must be compliant with safety protocols and rules.
  • Boats must be SAMSA compliant and paddlers should be qualified by Canoe SA.
  • Paddlers must ensure they are at least 2metres from their swimmer at all time, try to maintain eye contact regularly and alert officials should they believe their swimmer is at risk. Swimmers significantly further than 2m from their paddler will be pulled out by officials.
  • Boats and paddlers must display their swimmers number visibly.
  • Boatmen and paddlers must ensure they are briefed or have read all relevant communication on hypothermia and all race rules and regulations.
  • Boatmen and paddlers who do not abide by the swim rules may cause their swimmer to be disqualified.
  • Swimmers should plan their race in advance with boatmen/paddlers.
  • Boatmen/paddlers may not touch their swimmer during the race and should throw feed to the swimmer.

     

    Officials

  • The Swim will be overseen by:
  • Race organisers, including the NSRI, CLDSA and officials
  • Organisers and officials on shore and on the water
  • Medical staff at sea and in the medical facility on shore
  • Timekeepers
  • Emergency services and staff
  • Volunteers