WINTER SWIMMING
Everyone loves swimming in summer, but we believe that the thrill of the cooler water makes winter swimming even more appealing! During the colder months, the water in Port Phillip Bay is often clearer and there are less jellyfish too. There is also a lot of scientific evidence showing a range of health benefits derived from cold water immersion, so you are likely to feel happier, healthier and revitalised!
Making it through the winter takes a consistent approach. There are a multitude of physical and psychological adaptions that take place. If you stick at it, what at first might seem arduous, soon becomes a natural and rewarding experience. Swimming with a group can certainly make the whole experience a lot easier and safer too.
NEXT WINTER RIP SWIM - JULY 5/6, 2025
Entries will open in Early February
35 excited swimmers prior to the winter swim. Photo courtesy Nikole Ramsay.
Pictured are Jack Stewart, Nikole Ramsay, Lloyd Gwilym, Kirsty Tweddle and their paddler Murray Joseph - they were successful on July 3, 2021.
ABOUT THE SWIM
Taking on “The Rip” in winter is a significant challenge. It is a non-wetsuit swim and as such It offers experienced swimmers the chance to gain some real satisfaction by doing something that very few people have ever done - 98 so far.
The water temperature is likely to be about 12 degrees Celsius and you will need to be well-acclimatised to the cold.
What you get:
The experience of a lifetime
All boat transfers
A very experienced water-safety team to keep you safe
Quality merchandise only available to swimmers
Name on the honour board (only 68 people have ever swum this stretch in winter)
Distance: 3.5km - but you are likely to swim closer to 3.6
Speed: Your speed is an important factor. If you cannot swim 3km in under 66 minutes in flat, non-tidal water, please get in touch to get our advice before entering.
Time: Most swims take from 65 - 85 minutes
Escort kayaker: If you want to have a dedicated escort kayaker, we will supply one for you and you can share the cost of this with up to 4 people, if you all intend to swim together. The cost of a dedicated paddler is $300 and can be paid for when you enter. Your paddler can only manage 4 of you and you must choose your team carefully to ensure they can stick together.
We will only have 6 dedicated kayakers available. First in, first served. All other swimmers will be managed very thoroughly by our boats and jet skis.
Swimming without a dedicated kayaker: If you do not request a dedicated kayaker, you will be managed by a fleet of rescue craft and this will include IRB’s and Jet Ski’s. You will also receive plenty of advice and guidance on how to navigate your way and be watched very carefully as you cross.
Qualifying to swim: everyone MUST do this.
The qualifying swim will be held on June the 1st at Williamstown beach in Melbourne, from 10am - 12 noon. The cost will be $50. Completing this swim is mandatory. If you cannot get to this swim, you will need to supply evidence of a qualifying swim done elsewhere under guidance and verified by a coach.
Cancelation and refund policy:
If your swim day is cancelled, you will get a chance to swim the following day. You must make yourself available for both days. If that 2nd day is also cancelled, we will move the event to 27/28 July. If you cannot make that date you will receive a 50% refund. In most cases we will be able to let you know about a cancellation 24 hours prior to the swim.
If you are unable to complete the qualifying swim, we will refund you 80% of your entry fee. If you are sick or injured leading into the swim and can supply us with a medical certificate, we will refund you 50% of your entry fee.
Previous winter RIP SWIM
Congratulations to 23 swimmers who crossed on 5/8/23.
2 of them had done the winter swim before and are now the first two swimmers to cross twice in winter! Well done Staeve and Jeff.
The Winter Rip crossings:
June 2nd, 2019
July 3, 2021
July 9, 2022
August 5, 2023
July 13, 2024
WINTER RIP HONOURS BOARD
Douglas Mew - June 13th, 1971 (69 minutes) Solo - The Pioneer of the swim
Grant Siedle - June 13th, 2016 (59 minutes) Solo
Peter Grose - June 2nd, 2019 (1 hour, 40 minutes)
Sam Bryant - June 2nd, 2019 (1 hour, 40 minutes)
Ria Bleathman - June 2nd, 2019 (1 hour, 45 minutes)
Susan Berg - June 2nd, 2019 (2 hours)
John Philpot - June 2nd, 2019 (2 hours)
Cathy Snowdon - June 2nd, 2019 (2 hours)
Matthew Annells - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 6 minutes
Simon Jones - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 6 minutes
Michael Urban - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 6 minutes
Tim Koopmans - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 6 minutes (2 winter crossings, 2021 & 2024)
Warrick Steabben - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 51 minutes
Torben Vedelsby - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 51 minutes
Matt Healy - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 51 minutes
Tyson Hofstee - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 51 minutes
Sam Lane - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 51 minutes
James Geer - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 28 minutes
Ross Pollard - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 28 minutes
Ross Quail - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 28 minutes
Simon Myers - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 28 minutes
Kendra Wright - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 28 minutes
Sam Goodwin-Dorning - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 26 minutes
Luke Richards - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 26 minutes
Gary Ullmann - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 26 minutes
Matthew Fisher - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 26 minutes
Charlie Evans - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 26 minutes
Nikole Ramsay - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 36 minutes
John (Jack!)Stewart - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 36 minutes
Kirsty Tweddle - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 36 minutes
Lloyd Gwilym - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 36 minutes
Shien Lo - July 3, 2021 - 2 Hours, 30 minutes
Padraic Murphy - July 3, 2021 - 1 Hour, 35 minutes
Olivia Wawryk - July 9, 2022 - 58 minutes
John Harkness - July 9, 2022 - 58 minutes
Stephen Marshall - July 9, 2022 - 58 minutes
Murray Keeble - July 9, 2022 - 58 minutes
Andrea Schloegl - July 9, 2022 - 57 minutes
Heidi Tucker - July 9, 2022 - 57 minutes
Andrew Fenn - July 9, 2022 - 71 minutes
George Wintle - July 9, 2022 - 91 minutes
Michael Cocksedge - July 9, 2022 - 71 minutes
Alex Afshar - July 9, 2022 - 75 minutes
Jeffrey Challis - July 9, 2022 - 69 minutes - 2 winter crossings! (2022,2023)
Staeven Vallak - July 9, 2022 - 69 minutes - 2 winter crossings! (2022,2023)
Laura Marshall - July 9, 2022 - 69 minutes
Simon Ashford - - July 9, 2022 - 69 minutes
Nicole Dean - August 5, 2023 (2 winter crossings, 2023 & 2024)
Nicholas Robertson - August 5, 2023
Jane Ireland - August 5, 2023
Jack Stephens - August 5, 2023
Daniel Millwood - August 5, 2023
Andy Caddy - August 5, 2023
Alan Fitzgerald - August 5, 2023
Marianne Bradley - August 5, 2023 (2 winter crossings, 2023 & 2024)
Jodi Helliwell - August 5, 2023
Louise Day - August 5, 2023 (2 winter crossings, 2023 & 2024)
Nigel Williams - August 5, 2023
Esther Allen-Howard - August 5, 2023
Veronica van Wyk - August 5, 2023 (2 winter crossings, 2023 & 2024)
Wayne Helwig - August 5, 2023
Georgia Lee - August 5, 2023
Jordan Berry - August 5, 2023
Atle Valland - August 5, 2023
Steve Katsonis - August 5, 2023
Kimberley Rea - August 5, 2023
Conan Phillips - August 5, 2023
Marco Guidici - August 5, 2023
Matthijs Smith - July 13, 2024
Brendan O'Donoghue - July 13, 2024
Kyle Biller - July 13, 2024
Alastair Tye - July 13, 2024
Miranda Toohey - July 13, 2024
Jack Parsons - July 13, 2024
Golden Revolver - July 13, 2024
Cory Phillips - July 13, 2024
Sean McGrath - July 13, 2024
Anton Stanitzki - July 13, 2024
Zac Pearson - July 13,2024
James Wagg - July 13, 2024
Andrew Horwood - July 13, 2024
Harry Bartram - July 13, 2024
Nicholas Simpson - July 13, 2024
Phil Hazel - July 13, 2024
Matt Grogan - July 13, 2024
Bernard Wilson - July 13, 2024
Lisandra de Carvalho - July 13, 2024
Wai Ying Tham - July 13, 2024
Ashleigh Webb - July 13, 2024
Dom McColl - July 13, 2024
Colin Williams - July 13, 2024
Geoffrey Thomas - July 13, 2024
Ben Woollard - July 13, 2024
Matthew Clare - July 13, 2024
Joe Dreyfus - July 13, 2024
Peter Batchelor - July 13, 2024
Rod Watkins - July 13, 2024
Marie-Andree Fournier - July 13, 2024
Photo courtesy of Tamara Hughes