- Date21 May 2023
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About
- Enter the event via the online entry form
- Pay your entry fee
- If the event is cancelled it will be run 3 weeks following the original event date
- Refunds are available however a 10% administration fee will be deducted
- Refunds are not available for a no-show on the event day
The South Head Roughwater from Bondi to Watson's Bay is an epic 10km swim and is not for the faint-hearted.
Also known as the "Bondi to Watsons Bay ocean swim" - obviously because of the course the swim follows - the Roughwater provides the ultimate challenge for advanced ocean swimmers looking to take on the elements and themselves just as winter starts to set in.
If you've been training all summer, taking in many of the ocean swims on offer throughout the country, then this swim can be the icing on the cake.
If taking on the Roughwater is a step too far this year, why don't you get a team together and enjoy this magnificent swim with your friends.
You can put together teams of up to six swimmers.
More to it than your average swim
As you can imagine, this swim brings with it a lot more challenges than your average off-the-beach, around-the-buoys swim.
There are compulsory briefings, each swimmer/team must have a boat accompany them and a number of other responsibilities you will need to research before you register. It's important to note that each individual solo swimmer requires their own support boat. If you would like to share a boat, you will need to enter as a team.
For this swim, we recommend you take the time to learn about what's involved, give yourself plenty of time to organise a boat (mandatory) and lead paddler (optional), and ensure you're completed the necessary training to ensure you're in the best shape come event day.
You can read about the Process For Entering on the 'Other Information' tab, below.
This is an epic swim - no two ways about it.
You start on the beach at North Bondi, stare out to the end of Ben Buckler, and then take off and round the headland before swimming north along the cliffs to the entrance of Sydney Harbour. Entering the harbour, you pass Camp Cove and hook a left until you weave your way into Watsons Bay, finishing in front of the Watsons Bay Hotel.
There's only one thing left to do after this epic journey, and that is to celebrate with your support crew and team at the Watsons Bay Hotel. Crack a bottle of champagne and it's 'cheers' to everyone - enjoy the spoils!
This is a complex event and you'll need to manage your own parking at both ends and that of your support staff.
PROCESS FOR ENTERING
The process for entering this event is more comprehensive than standard ocean swim events. Please ensure you complete all the steps below in order to be officially entered.
Step 1: Pre-reading
Read the Event Information Booklet to educate yourself on everything involved in participating in the event, including the requirement for a boat and spotter (paddler optional).
Step 2: Provisional Entry
Step 3: Complete the forms below
We suggest viewing the forms to see what information is required, then collecting all the information and completing the forms.
When your Provisional Entry and all the forms are completed, you are officially entered.
Entries close at 5pm on Thursday, 18 May 2023
Step 4: Attend the compulsory briefing
Friday, 19 May 2023 @ 7 pm at the Watsons Bay Hotel
Event cancellation
Participant cancellation
Gallery
Video
Details
- Event TypeOcean Swim
- VenueBondi Beach
- Swim Distances10km
- Course Type/sPoint To Point
- Minimum Age/s15-years-old
- Max Entries250
- Entry Price Range$150 - 900
- Online Entries CloseThu, 18 May 2023 - 5pm
Event information booklet
Pricing
$150 per swimmer:
- Solo - $150
- Duo - $300
- Trio - $450
- Quad - $600
- Quin - $750
- Sextet - $900
Schedule
Compulsory briefing
- When: Friday, 19 May 2023 @ 7pm
- Where: Watsons Bay Hotel
- Who: Swimmers (at least one per team)
- Includes: Swim number allocation and the issue of swim caps
On the day
- 9:00 am - Solo swimmer start
- 9:15 am - Duos and Teams start
Please see the Information Booklet for the full schedule.
Location
Bondi Beach NSW, Australia
Event results
2023 results (PDF) - Note, that the results are in bib order, not in finishing order.
2022 results (PDF)
Nathan
18 May 2022 at 4:53pmEpic
George Morrison
18 May 2022 at 6:25pmGenerously organised and expertly managed, it was a perfect day out along a beautiful stretch of water – can’t wait for next year!
Martin Palfrey
22 May 2023 at 10:49amAnother great event yesterday, I always get a thrill swimming past beautiful Hornby Lighthouse and through the surging turbulence of the Heads. A challenging windy chop up the harbour to finish off my already sore shoulders.
Congratulations to the organisers, John and Dave who rightly promote it as an experience rather than just another race.
Also congrats to Rowan Webb who completed his 20th Solo.
Yesterday was my 19th and 18 for Chad Schneider.
Lucas Woodford
23 May 2023 at 4:23pmGreat swim, incredible event.
It should start earlier though… start at 8am instead of 9am.