Blackmores Bilgola Ocean Swim, Sunday, Dec 14,'08 The season's best boutique swim Date, times Sunday, December 14, 2008, 11am Registration at Bilgola SLSC, upstairs, and closes at 10.45am Distance 1.5 km Organiser Bilgola SLSC Major sponsor Blackmores   Course Swim runs around a polygonal circuit from middle of the beach, north towards the headland, out to sea, south, then back in on an angle towards the middle of the beach. Bilgola SLSC will hang a colourful banner off the southern headland to guide swimmers from the north to the southern turning booey. When you turn that booey back towards the beach, you should head for the brightly coloured tent on the beach. Conditions Bilgola is one of Sydney's most beautiful northern beaches, which is saying something for that section of the coast. If you wanted to cosset yourself away from the world at a very special beach, then Bilgola is your go. It's very open and it can be difficult in a swell. Start and finish are mid-beach, so the swim misses the run-out that other northern swims offer beneath their headlands. It's a start and finish over shifting sandbanks and breaks. No problems once you're out, however. Might be bumpy, depending upon swell and wind. Note the late start: 11am, so you can sleep in a bit. It's handy to have that extra time to get to the northern beaches. Years run, starters last time Not sure how many years. Last season, 489 finishers. Prizes Good prize money for top swimmers: $500, $250, $100 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd overall Male and Female. Medals for age group placegetters. Good spot prizes.   Categories Under 16 16 - 20 21 - 34 35 - 49 50 - 59 60 + Information Contact Steve Dadour - email - phone 0412 416 844 Eligibility Public swim. Minimum age 12. Water safety Bilgola SLSC   os.c says You'll be sick of reading us say this, but Bilgola is one of our favourite swims. If successful ocean swims are a combination of a good swim and a sociable day out, then this is the role model. It's a swim for ocean swimming aficionadoes. It's not a long swim, and it's a circuit, but Bilgola is a beautiful beach and Bilgola SLSC always turns on a good day. They seem to really enjoy having us there. Always some kind of special at the barbie, too. Formalities happen on a lovely lawn in front of the club, which facilitates a nice critical mass of mugs spinning yarns afterwards. Don't forget to breast the bar: it's also the most interesting surf club bar in Sydney. Entry Entry - $25 prior to race day, $35 on race day. Moral: enter in advance. NB: For online entries, we accept Mastercard and Visa. Attempts to enter using any other card will not succeed. On-line entries close midnight, Friday, December 12, 2008. Online entries have closed Click here to check progress entries on-line. Click here to download entry form for more info and mail entry.