What is the Cadiz Freedom Swim? (2012)

The Cadiz Freedom Swim is one of the toughest, most extreme long-distance cold water sea swim races in the world – solo swimmers race 7.5km from Robben Island to Big Bay Blouberg, Cape Town. This channel is renowned for its bitterly cold water (between 9 and 14◦C) and strong, unpredictable currents.
The swim raises funds for the Vista Nova School for children with learning disabilities in Cape Town (see www.vistanova.co.za).

The solo race begins at or near 10am from Murray's Bay on World Heritage Site, Robben Island, and ends on the beach in Big Bay, Bloubergstrand.
There are two categories, solo and relay.

Solo

Standard costume and official cap only (CLDSA + Channel swimming rules. Swimmers must be 15 years or older). Limited to first 200 entrants only for logistical and safety purposes.
Solo swimmers should be accompanied by a motorised vessel, as per all previous Cadiz Freedom Swim events. Swimmers should organise their own vessel. Experienced swimmers may apply to be accompanied by a kayak/paddler, again, as per previous events.

Boats must be fully SAMSA compliant. The responsibility rests on the swimmer and skipper to ensure SAMSA requirements are met. Non compliant vessels will not be permitted on the water.
Two swimmers may share a motorised boat, provided they are both never more than 10 metres away from the vessel.  Swimmers found further than 10 metres away will be pulled out by officials. We encourage swimmers to share boats and to ensure they do so with partners who swim at the same pace.

Swimmers choosing to be accompanied by a kayak or paddler must arrange their own kayak and should request permission from the organisers at  info@freedomswim.co.za. Paddlers should be experienced, attend the pre-race briefing and read all relevant correspondence. Swimmers must be clear that paddlers will struggle in chop and wind, whereas boats will be able to withstand slightly more averse conditions. If conditions are unsafe for paddlers on race day, their swimmers will have to forfeit the race. It must be understood that this is an extreme event, subjected to unpredictable weather and ocean conditions.

Launching and travelling to the island will be subject to a strict procedure to be communicated to all swimmers/boatmen ahead of the event.  An operations centre, comprising a range of role players, will oversee the calling of the race and the safety of the event.

 

Relay (four swimmers)

The relay race will take place around the southern rocks at Big Bay. Teams must swim eight loops of about 1.15km a loop -- a total distance of 9.2km.
This removes the need for support boats for relay teams.

The relay category comprises:

Open no wetsuits
Open wetsuits (one or more members of the team wearing a wetsuit)
Corporate relay (wetsuits optional)
Schools relay (with wetsuits. Participants must be between 12 and 18 years old)

Cadiz Financial Services Group owns the event. Ram Barkai, CEO of Cadiz Holdings, is a regular participant in the event and is chairman of the swim committee. This event requires massive logistical and organizational input with safety being the primary concern.

Since its inception in 2001 the swim has grown each year with up to 500 swimmers (solo and relay) expected in April 2012 - among them are some of SA's most extreme athletes and several international competitors. In 2011, Bulgarian Petar Stoychev, the most successful marathon swimmer of the last decade and world record holder for the fastest English Channel swim, won the race.

There is a high level of media interest in the swim, including international and national television and press coverage, largely because of its extreme nature.
The event also highlights Robben Island's role in SA's struggle for democracy. Swimmers are made aware of this historic context, as well as the World Heritage Site status of the island. Every care and consideration is taken to ensure the island is accorded the necessary dignity and respect.

The race is fast becoming a showcase for development swimming, with a large contingent of development swimmers expected to enter in 2012, a direct result of the work of the Cadiz Open Water Swimming Development Trust.

The swim is scheduled for 28 April, but unpredictable weather and sea conditions require a contingency date, i.e. 29 April. All participants, paddlers and supporters must prepare for both days.
In the event that conditions do not allow the race to go ahead, it will be cancelled. There is no refund.
An open water swimming conference will be held on the morning of 27 April.

All those involved in the event must adhere strictly to all rules and regulations. The cold Atlantic poses a real physical threat to swimmers no matter how fit they are. Participants must read the Rules and Regulations page on this site and note the qualifying requirements for entry. They must also read all swim updates emailed to all swimmers and pay particular attention to info on hypothermia.

The race is overseen by the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association with support from the NSRI and various other authorities. English Channel Swimming rules apply.

The Cadiz Freedom Swim is event managed on behalf of Cadiz by Energy Events (www.energyevents.co.za). PR and marketing by Leap Communications (www.leapcommunications.co.za).

For all swim queries, email: info@energyevents.co.za or call 27 (0) 79 558 3168.
Media and marketing enquiries to info@leapcommunications or call 27 (021) 785 3683.