THE 2025 RIP RACE has been run and won!!
Olympian Nick Sloman wins The Rip Race in a new course record of 36:36!
THE RIP RACE 2025 - Won by Nick Sloman & Mackenzie Hunter
Congratulations to the 25 brave swimmers who took on the 2025 Rip Race. They all completed the event and have earned their place on the honour board!
Nick Sloman was our male winner - in a new course record of 36:36, while Mackenzie Hunter returned to win the female division. She also swam extremely fast, beating her previous time by over 3 minutes!
FULL RESULTS
(non-wetsuit swim)
1 Nick Sloman 36:36 (Male winner - New course record)
2 Conor Hayes 39:40 (2nd male)
3 Logan Brandi 39:45 (3rd male)
4 Mackie Hunter 40:20 (First Female, 2nd victory! - new female course record)
5 Brenton Ford 40:45
6 Matt Harry 48:05
7 Garth Slade 48:15
8 Douglas Brumley 49:25
9 James Roscoe 49:26
10 Stephen Parker 49:30
11 Ian Grant 52:35
12 Duncan Butler 53:02 *. (wetsuit swim time 49:32)
13 Carl Schedlich 53:45
14 Sam Brumley 53:50
15 Jordan Berry 54:10
15 Georgia Lee 54:10 (2nd female)
16 Chris Bacskos 54:20
17 Adam Roberts 55:10
18 Richard Sullivan 55:20
19 Ryan O'Dowling 55:45
20 Liz Coolahan 56:55 (3rd female)
21 Andrew Crace 57:40
22 Scott Drummond 59:20 *(wetsuit swim time 55:50)
23 Nigel Williams 63:00
24 Callum Padgham 66:15
THE COURSE - 3.5km
Swimming across “The Rip” is spectacular enough but racing it is even more exciting. With no fixed marks, a considerable swell and some unpredictable water movement, swimmers must draw on all their experience and cunning to win! It is a no-wetsuit race to ensure a level playing field for all swimmers.
The race will commences in deep water, from a boat, near Point Nepean, and finish at the main beach at Point Lonsdale.
There are no fixed marks but we do give tips to help you navigate the stretch.
You must be faster than 54 minutes for 3km to take on the race. We ask you to verify this, or ideally come in person to our qualifying event.
RACE GROUPS
Open male - 14+ (age as of February 1, 2024)
no wetsuit *
Fina approved bathers
Silicone cap supplied by us
Open female - 14+ (age as of February 1, 2024)
no wetsuit *
Fina approved bathers
Silicone cap supplied by us
*To ensure a ‘level playing field’ we have chosen a non-wetsuit race. If you usually swim with a wetsuit or in warmer water, we highly recommend that you do some acclimatisation work.
The water is likely to be approximately 18 degrees Celsius on the day of the swim but could vary approximately 1 degree either way.
COST
Early bird - $655
Standard - $725
NEW KING AND QUEEN OF “THE RIP”:
Robbe Dillisen & Mackenzie Hunter (2023 event)
Congratulations to Robbe Dilissen and Mackenzie Hunter for taking out the male and female divisions of the 3rd Rip Race. This was a tough event given a strong wind and choppy seas, but they both navigated well and swum fast! The full results are below.
There were 18 swimmers who took on the race and with absolutely no fixed marks, crossed the stretch successfully! Each and every one of them have earned their place on our honour board. We had a range of ages from 16 - 61 and all swimmers competed without wetsuits to ensure a level playing field.
Previous winners of the event include Sam Sheppard & Naantali Marshall (2015) and Lisasndra de Carvahlo & Brenton Ford (2018).
Sam Sheppard ready to hop in and start the inaugural race in 2015, which he won!
Robbe Dilissen
Male winner: 40.59
Mackenzie Hunter
First female: 43.29
RIP RACE RUN AND WON - Saturday February the 11th, 2023
NEW KING AND QUEEN OF “THE RIP”:
Robbe Dillisen & Mackenzie Hunter
Congratulations to Robbe Dilissen and Mackenzie Hunter for taking out the male and female divisions of the 3rd Rip Race. This was a tough event given a strong wind and choppy seas, but they both navigated well and swum fast! The full results are below.
There were 18 swimmers whop took on the race and with absolutely no fixed marks cross the stretch, each and every one of them have earned their place on our honour board. We had a range of ages from 16 - 61 and all swimmers competed without wetsuits to ensure a level playing field.
Robbe Dilissen 40.59
Mackie Hunter 43.29
Brenton Ford 44.12
Cam Tregaskis 45.15
Bronte Campbell 45.16
Brianna Bond 49.42
Lisandra de Carvalho 52.39
Rod Watkins 53.39
Ben Dubberley 54.12
Anton Stanitzki 54.32
Ben Morrison 54.45
Justin Rodda 55.26
Vanessa Palmer 59.10
Jordan Berry 59.38
Ian Douglas 1.01.30
James Hicks 1.02.30
Ryan Leet 1.18.40
Abby Bolwell 1.18.41
2018 RACE DAY
If you are curious and want to get a feel fro the event, take a look at the race day video from 2018. We will have our new event video here soon!!
LOGISTICS
On the day of your crossing, you will be taken from the Queenscliff Harbour to the start (deep water near Point Nepean) by boat. From there you will swim to Point Lonsdale main beach.
SAFETY
Our organisation has escorted over 700 swimmers across this stretch safely. We have an unblemished safety record. We will have plenty of boats on the water to keep you safe. These will include RHIB’s and larger boats. Our ‘mothership’ will have a paramedic on board in case you have any issues.
We will also have plenty of kayakers on the water both to keep an eye on you and to guide you a little should you feel ‘lost’. Our crew will be on contact via VHF radio and to ensure world-class communication throughout the race.
A substantial land-based team will be there to greet you and this will include a paramedic.
TIDES EXPLAINED
The tide changes every 6 hours. Given the narrow entrance to Port Phillip, the movement of water both in and out can be very strong. Swimming The Rip is not possible if you do not understand how to work with the tide. This our job and we pick the best time to deliver the event.