Frequently asked questions
HOW FAR IS THE RIP SWIM?
It is 3.5km. It starts near Point Nepean (in deep water, from a boat) and finishes at Point Lonsdale front beach.
WHEN IS THE EVENT
The 1st of February, with a backup date of the 2nd. All swimmers must make themselves available for the back up date.
WHAT ARE THE SWIM CATEGORIES?
Group crossing or race. Groups need to be made up of 4, 5 or 6 swimmers of the same speed.
WHEN DO ENTRIES OPEN?
Entries will open on August the 1st.
WHEN DO ENTRIES CLOSE?
Team entries are already closed. RTace entries close at 5pm on Friday the 13th of December at 5pm (no exceptions)
IS THERE A RACE?
Yes! It’s back! It will be open for up to 50 strong swimmers.
HOW FAST DO I NEED TO BE TO DO THE RACE?
You must be able to swim 3km in under 54 minutes. We will accept evidence of a recent open water swim without tidal assistance or a verified time from a coach. Pool time is ok, but remember the race requires some cunning navigation!
CAN I SWIM SOLO WITHOUT RACING?
No, If you are not racing you need to be in a team.
HOW FAST DO WE NEED TO BE AS A TEAM?
We suggest that you can swim 3k in less than 70 minutes. If you are a little slower than this don’t give up! Get in touch and see if we can help you, or enlist a coach!
HOW DO I BOOK A SWIM ?
You can book on our sign up page, or for winter, on the Winter page.
WHERE DOES THE SWIM START AND FINISH?
The swim starts in deep water off Point Nepean and finishes at Point Lonsdale front beach.
WHY DOES THE SUMMER SWIM FINISH AT THE FRONT BEACH AND NOT THE PIER?
The swim now has larger numbers and this makes landing at the pier impractical due to rocks and limited space.
DO YOU SUPPLY A PADDLER?
If you want a dedicated paddler we will supply one for you. The cost is $300 and you can split that with members of your team (up to 4 in winter and 6 in summer). There will be a maximum of 12 paddlers available for teams. If you miss out on a dedicated paddler, don’t worry, you will be guided and looked after by boats and jet skis.
CAN I HAVE A PADDLER IF I AM RACING?
No. We will give you some navigating tips and watch you to keep you safe.
WHAT IS THE WATER TEMPERATURE?
The water temperature is about 17 degrees Celsius in the summer and about 12 degrees Celsius in the winter.
DO YOU HOLD ANY TRAINING SESSIONS?
Yes we do. These will be announced as we get closer to each swim.
CAN I WEAR A WETSUIT?
For the summer swim, yes you can. For the winter swim, there are no wetsuits allowed. While this may seem illogical, the winter swim is set as an additional challenge for swimmers looking to take on the elements and for those that may have already done the swim in summer.
CAN I WEAR FINS?
No you cannot. You must swim unaided.
DO I HAVE TO QUALIFY?
Yes. All swimmers will need to complete a qualifying swim to show that they are ready.
WHEN ARE THE QUALIFYING SWIMS?
They will be announced as each event comes around.
WHAT IF I CANNOT ATTEND A QUALIFYING SWIM?
If you can’t make it to a qualifying swim you will need to show evidence that you are prepared.
WHAT IF I ENTER AND THEN DON’T MAKE THE QUALIFYING SWIM?
If this happens we will refund you 75% of your entry fee.
WHAT ABOUT SAFETY?
Your safety is our primary concern. We have developed a safety plan that includes input from many expert sources and from the experience of having escorted over 1000 swimmers across this stretch since 2014.
With the most experienced skippers and kayakers, we seek to mitigate any situation that may affect you before, during and after the crossing. We ask that you do your utmost to prepare yourselves physically for the challenge and let us know if you have any medical concerns of relevance before the swim.
WHAT IS THE CANCELATION POLICY? (please read this carefully)
If your swim day is cancelled, you will get a chance to swim either the following day or 2 weeks later. You must make yourself available for all 4 days.
Please keep in mind that the dates we choose are dictated by the tides. In most cases we will be able to let you know about a cancellation 24 hours prior to the swim.
WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY?
We do NOT issue refunds after Friday the 13th of December, 2024. Prior to then, if you are sick or injured and can provide a medical certificate to say why you cannot take part, we will issue you with a 50% refund. Please note that we DO NOT issue refunds if you are not available to swim on the back up days of the event so please check all the dates carefully.
THE CHALLENGE OF THE SWIM
The distance from Point Nepean to Point Lonsdale front beach, where you will land is 3.5 but the swim can feel more like a 4.5 due to water movements and weather conditions, so you need to train accordingly. We select the best tides, but you must be able to swim strongly even at the end of your swim when water movement can be significant. Make sure you are fit enough to manage choppy and confused water.
SUMMER VERSUS WINTER SEASON SWIMS
The winter swim is done without wetsuits to offer a more substantial challenge to regular winter swimmers. The water is close to 12 degrees Celsius.
Before you complete the winter Rip Swim you must provide evidence of being able to tolerate the cold. Read more here…
LOGISTICS ON YOUR SWIM DAY
On your crossing day, you will meet our team at Queenscliff Harbour or Sorrento Pier. From there you will be taken (via boat) to Point Nepean where you will start your swim from deep water. Your swim will finish at Point Lonsdale, which is 5km from Queenscliff. Further details will be sent to upon booking to explain every detail.
MORE ABOUT “THE RIP”
“The Rip” lies at the entrance to Port Phillip, Melbourne, Australia. Due to strong tides and unpredictable weather it is one of the most notorious stretches of water anywhere in the world. Thanks to a new project launched in 2014, it can now be swum safely.
SAFE PASSAGE WITH US
We are the only group working closely with the Ports Victoria to ensure a safe crossing of the shipping lane. Now, they stop the ships for us. When you book a Rip Swim with us you are ensured of a safe passage across the most dangerous stretch of water in Australia. Do not attempt to do this by yourself or with any other group. Our track record is unblemished and we use only surveyed boats and highly trained skippers. We have a world-class risk and safety management plan in place.
SAFETY – THE ONLY ENDORSED AGENCY
Your safety is our paramount concern. We have taken over 1000 swimmers across this unpredictable stretch of water since 2014. All swimmers must follow our instructions at all times. Our boats will carry essential safety, medical and rescue equipment and we have a doctor and paramedic on the trip. Further safety instructions will be issued to you when you book your swim. Our craft are extremely safe to pick you up from the water should an emergency arise.
PROJECT SUMMARY
To date, over 1000 swimmers have crossed successfully under our guidance. Average crossing time is around 70 minutes.