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MINIMUM AGEThe Geo Bay Swim competitor age limit is 14 years. Competitors under 14 years of age wishing to compete must apply in writing with signed permissions from a parent or guardian and an accredited swim coach COMPETITORS DETAILSOn entry you will need to complete the following information for each competitor:
WETSUITS & RASH VESTSThis is a wetsuit legal swim. Wetsuits or rash vests are encouraged as protection against the possibility of stingers which are common in the bay around that time of year. DISABLED ENTRIESDisabled entries will be available by application. COMPETITOR PRE-RACE BRIEFING - COMPULSORYIt is COMPULSORY that every competitor and support paddler attends the check-in and Briefing. Check-in will be held at the Busselton Volunteer Marine Rescue Group building located at the intersection of Geographe Bay Road and Georgette Street from 4.00pm on the Saturday evening before the race. The race briefing will be done at the same location immediately after Check-in finishes. *** WARNING *** While strong winds at this time of year are rare head winds of 10 to 15 knots have been experienced before. The only safety issues to date from previous events have been with support paddlers not adjacent to their swimmer. This situation poses an unacceptable safety risk and will not be tolerated. If any support paddler is found to be consistently further away from their swimmer than these distances THE SWIMMER WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE WATER IMMEDIATELY. So to avoid the disappointment of an enforced removal from this event you must ensure your SUPPORT PADDLER IS COMPETENT TO COMPLETE THE DISTANCE WITH YOU. THE COURSEThe event start line will be on the beach to the east side of the Quindalup boat ramp, Geographe Bay road, Dunsborough. Competitors will swim in an easterly direction towards the finish line at the eastern side of the Busselton jetty. The course limits are the shoreline to the south and a series of large marker buoys set out from the shore approximately 300 meters to the north around the edge of Geographe Bay. At the finish line competitors will have to pass underneath the Busselton Jetty through chutes to the finish line on the beach in front of the Goose cafe. CUT OFF TIMESAll competitors who fail to reach a gate by the allocated cut-off time will be directed to leave the water. After these cut-off times, official vessels no longer provide support and insurance no longer covers the competitor. The support paddler must remain with the competitor until they have exited the water, then they may proceed to the next gate to await the next team members start permission. The other Duo member or the next Team member may still continue in the event but must wait until the cut off time has been reached and their support paddler is present before leaving the respective gate.
TEAM CHANGEOVER POINTSThere are four changeover gates. They are at the 3.7Km, 4.6 Km, 2.3 Km, 4.2 Km & 4.1 Km marks. GATE 1 GATE 2 GATE 3 GATE 4 FINISH Duo and Team competitors should know which of the 4 relay gates they are to be stationed at. Relay team members must meet for their change at the waters edge in the gate staging area. Changing Relay members must make physical contact before the next member can proceed. Relay team members must register with event staff at both the start and finish gates of each of their relevant swim legs. Personal effectsA secure Bag storage area will be provided at the finishing area for solo competitors. Each solo competitor is allowed to store one reasonable size backpack or sports bag in this area. Transportation of bags from the start line to this area will be provided. Please clearly mark your bag for ease of recognition, include your name and contact number. No storage of personal effects will be provided for teams. If relay swimmers require a towel or clothing at the end of their relay leg; they should ensure that their team-mate takes it with them to the relevant gate FINISHThe finish gate will be some metres out of the water and your time will be recorded as you pass through the timing gate. Assistance will be available for swimmers having difficulty getting up the beach and such assistance will not be grounds for disqualification. Please move promptly through the finish gate and do not wait around in the finish chute. Upon finishing it is important that you report to race officials at the finish tent before leaving the area. WITHDRAWALSIt is the responsibility of any competitor withdrawing from the event to notify registration as soon as possible. The finishing competitor in each team is expected to help vouch for the safe return of their team mates. SAFETYConsiderable effort goes in to maximising the safety of participants in this event. On water safetyThe Busselton Volunteer Marine Rescue Group will be attending specifically to on water safety. They have a high level of accredited training for this role & will be highly visible. They should be your first option if you have any on water safety concerns. If you require assistance, your support paddler should sound their whistle (provided in race pack) and raise your hand to attract attention. Support craftSupport paddlers are there for the competitors safety and as such they must remain in close contact with their swimmer at all times without hindering them. If competitors are tired they may hang on to a ski or a float for a brief rest or to take on fluids or nutrition. You will not be disqualified unless your forward progress is aided. Support Paddlers; you are here to support a specific competitor or team but if you are the closest, please render assistance to whoever requires it, this goes for competitors also. We are all here to enjoy a great swim in company & in safety. Please look out for one another. A sweep craft will follow the last competitor through to the finish to further ensure competitors safety. StingersStingers are always a consideration. If you are concerned by or are sensitive to stingers, wear a stinger suit, rash vest & apply a barrier cream. First AidSt John’s personnel are on standby for the event and there is a first aid trained person at each change point and at the finish tent. The Marine Rescue Group officers also have first aid & resuscitation equipment and an ambulance will be called if required. Pedestrians & TrafficAll normal precautions must be observed when crossing roads etc. Fluid & energy replacementBottled water & fresh fruit is freely available for competitors at each of the change gates and at the finish. Skin protectionPlease use sunscreen, which is freely available. Wear hats, cover up & seek out shade where possible. Do not apply sunscreen or Vaseline to areas that will bear your race number. Only Race Officials may apply Texta numbers. Please also consider fellow competitors and take the extra care of trimming finger and toenails. SmokingPlease help make the Geo Bay Swim a smoke free event. Enjoy the clean air of Geographe Bay. Rubbish on coursePlease be considerate of the local community and refrain from discarding any waste, including energy bar / gel wrappers, equipment and bidons on the Course other than at a change gate area where rubbish bins are provided. ToiletsPublic Toilets are located adjacent to the swim start, at change gates 3 and 4 and at the finish area. Personal responsibilityThe Geo Bay Swim is an ocean swim. You swim in an uncontrolled, natural environment. The weather, sea conditions & sea life, your own exertions & numerous other factors all introduce an element of risk. The race organizers go to considerable lengths to maximise your safety but ultimately it is your choice to swim. Your welfare is your personal responsibility or the responsibility of your legal guardian. WEATHERThe following outlines the average weather conditions found in Geographe Bay in the month of November. Sunrise Sunset Average daily temperatures Expected water temperature Expected Water Visibility Low tide High tide TIPS FOR PADDLERSSupport paddlers must remain within a maximum distance of 10 metres from the swimmer you are escorting! Except during the race start, at stage gate change areas and at the finish line where congestion would be too great. In these areas a maximum distance of 50 metres must be observed. If a support paddler is found to be consistently further away from their swimmer than these distances, they will receive a warning. 3 warnings will be considered grounds for race disqualification. The following notes have been prepared by Canoeing Western Australia Inc. Be aware of the scope of conditions you may encounter. Prepare for the full extent of those conditions. Paddlers will be on their craft between 4-9hrs. You will require water, food and protection against the elements. The physical effort required to maintain an upright position close to your swimmer in challenging conditions will be considerably demanding. Prepare and maintain yourself and you will not be a liability to your swimmer(s). Hydration Comfort Stability Manoeuvrability CLOTHING Warmth Cooling Stability Canoeing Western Australia recommends you gain some paddling knowledge and practice at your nearest canoe club and undertake an Open Water Paddle Competency Assessment. |
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