Challenge your fears
Africa's premier Indian Ocean swim.
Friday 6th April 2012
5k qualification swim required
Algoa Bay, a potential World Heritage Site, is rich in both terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Algoa Bay is a ‘biodiversity hotspot’ and one of the unique dive sites in the world. In fact the area is listed in the top four richest areas in the world in terms of biodiversity. The convergence in Algoa Bay of terrestrial and marine biodiversity makes the Bay extremely vulnerable to the impact of global warming and climate change. Through swims of this nature and our association with
Ocean Messengers we would like to highlight the serious threat which our tremendous natural resource assets are under.
The threat to the potential World Heritage Site Algoa Bay is real and as a unique ecosystem the Bay needs acknowledgement and the highest protection possible.
Ocean Swim from Hobie Beach to the Bell Buoy and Back.
This crossing (approximately 8km), first achieved by Eastern Cape solo swimmer Kyle Main when he did a solo double crossing during the 2009 MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival, attracted over 50 swimmers in 2010 including eventual winners - Petar Stoychev (Bulgarian Olympic swimmer) and Melissa Gorman (Australian Olympic swimmer and 2009 5km World Champion).
Categories
Where possible, the event will be run in accordance with FINA open water guidelines. We will once again have separate categories for swimmers with wetsuits and without.
Qualification & Minimum Age
All entrants, who haven't previously successfully completed the Bell Buoy Swim, are required to complete a 5km open water swim between 1st November 2011 and 1st April 2012. The age limit for the 2012 swim is a minimum of 14 years of age in accordance with the FINA rules for open water swimming (OWS 1.2).
Entrants failing to show proof of their qualifying swim by the 1st April 2012 will be withdrawn from the event and forfeit their entry fee.
Support Craft
Support Craft will be on standby during the event. Personal support craft of the swimmers MUST have the swimmers number clearly indicated on the craft at all times. Boats without propguards ARE NOT PERMITTED. Where using a surf ski paddler, he/she must be able to prove that they are competent over a 10km distance in open seas.
Prize Pool
Over R80,000 in prizes, trophies and medals up for grabs in 2011.
Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival
Africa's largest Easter beach festival takes place at Hobie Beach Port Elizabeth from Friday 6th April through to Monday 9th April 2012. Check out the website
www.splashfestival.com to see the full list of exciting events and entertainment which will be on offer this year to captivate over 600,000 visitors to the festival.