The event

Important Race Information

The 2009 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim is being held on 21st February. The race departs from Cottesloe Beach and finishes at Thomson Bay, Rottnest Island. The distance of the race is 19.2km. The event categories for competitors are:

• solo
• duo - teams of 2
• team - teams of 4
• Lavan Legal Charity Challenge - teams of 4

Minimum Age

The age limit for the 2009 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim is a minimum of 14 years of age in accordance with the FINA rules for open water swimming (OWS 1.2).

Entries Open

The online entry system for the 2009 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim will open on 3rd November 2008 at 8.00am. Entries will remain open until 5.30pm on the 9th November 2008.

Ballot System

A random ballot will be conducted to determine which duos and teams are successful in gaining entry into the 2009 event. The ballot is run several times until all places are filled. Preference is given to some entries each year. They are as follows:

• 5 places are held for current RCSA committee members
• 5 places are held for Life Members of the Association
• 5 places are held for disabled teams
• 10 places are held for international teams
• 20 places are set aside for interstate teams
• 30 places are set aside for regional teams

When the ballot has been run, an email will be sent notifying entrants if they are successful in gaining entry.

If you are successful, you will have 7 days to go in and enter all your boat details and make payment. If you do not complete this in 7 days, your entry will be put back into the ballot for the next round.

Swimmers Details

On entry you will need to complete the following information for each swimmer:

• First name
• Surname
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Address
• Telephone number
• Mobile number
• Email address
• T-shirt size
• Emergency contact name
• Emergency contact telephone number
• Emergency contact mobile number
• Medical conditions

Consequence of Duplicate Entries

Please do not try to gain entry by submitting more than one entry. In fairness to everyone, if you submit more than one entry for your duo or team, the RCSA will place a ban on you and all your team members from entering the 2009 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim for 2 years; the current event and the next event.

Solos

All solo swimmers gain automatic entry into the event. Entries close for solo swimmers on 16th November 2008. The entry cost for solos is $215.00 (inc GST).

First time solo swimmers will be required to do a 10km qualifying swim in 4hrs and 15min or less. If you are not able to complete the 10km in the time required you will be given a refund minus an administration fee.

For more information on the qualifying swim, please click on the link www.rottnestchannelswim.com.au/content/other-events

Successful solo swimmers who are residents of Western Australia will recieve applications for their customised number plates 3 weeks after race day.

Duos and Teams

The entry fees for the duo category is $430 (inc. GST) and for the team category is $860 (inc GST). Entry numbers are restricted for safety reasons.

Categories for teams are as follows:

• 56+
• 100+
• 150+
• 200+

Categories for duos are as follows:

• 28+
• 50+
• 75+
• 100+

Lavan Legal Charity Challenge

This is a special category for teams. These teams compete for the Lavan Legal Charity Challenge Cup. There are only 30 places available in this category. The entry fee for this category is $1920 (inc. GST) per team.

For this you will receive:

• Meal and drinks at the VIP function over at Rottnest Island
• Lavan Legal Charity Challenge Race Pack
• Separate briefing - a breakfast briefing
• A donation will be made on your behalf to a charity of Lavan Legal's choice
• A photograph your team crossing the finish line printed and framed

If you are unsuccessful in the Lavan Legal Charity Challenge ballot, the entry will be transferred into the normal team category ballot.

Briefing

It is compulsory that a swimmer from each team/duo and solos attend the 2009 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim Briefing. It is recommended that your skipper also attends the briefing. It will be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday February 3rd 2009 at Challenge Stadium in the Main Arena.

Support Boat

Solo swimmers require a support boat that is a minimum of 5m in length. Duo and team swimmers require a support boat that is a minimum of 6m in length. It is recommended that paddle craft be used to assist the swimmer/s and skipper on the day.

Call signs for solo swimmers and teams will be the swimmer/team number. For example, if you are swimmer 100 then your call sign is swimmer 100 and if you are team 450 then your call sign will be team 450.

The support boat information that is required to complete your entry and make payment is listed below:

• Name of boat
• Boat registration number#
• Boat length#
• Make of boat - boat make and model
• Engine Type - inboard or outboard
• Type of marine radio - 27Mhz or VHF#
• Mooring location/number if staying overnight at Rottnest
• Boat skipper name#
• Boat skipper address#
• Boat skipper mobile number#
• Boat skipper Recreational Skipper's Ticket number#

# compulsory information to complete your entry.

Wetsuits and Rash Vests

Swimmers are not allowed to wear wetsuits. In accordance to FINA rules, swimmers are not permitted to wear swimwear that can assist in buoyancy. This includes wetsuits or anything made out of neoprene. However swimmers are permitted to wear swim skins, rash vests and the pointzero3 suit made by Blueseventy.

Start Times

The first wave of solo swimmers leaves Cottesloe Beach at 6.45am and the last wave of team swimmers leaves the beach at 8.45am. The first solo wave will be comprised of females and the top seeded males to a maximum of 100 swimmers. The second solo wave will be comprised of the remaining males.

Swim Wave Start Time and Category Race Number

1 6.45am (female solos and seeded males) 1-199

2 7.00am (rest of male solos) 1-199

3 7.15am - duos 200-399

4 7.30am 56+ 400-499

5 7.30am 200+ 500-599

6 7.45am 150+ 600-699

7 8.00am 150+ 700-899

8 8.15am 100+ 900-999

9 8.30am 100+ 1000-1099

Cut off Times

All competitors who have been in the water longer than the allocated cut-off time are required to leave the water. After these cut-off times, official vessels no longer provide support and insurance no longer covers the event.

• 10km - 1315hrs
• 15km - 1530hrs
• Beginning of 400 finish channel - 1730hrs
• Finish line - 1800hrs

Terms and Conditions and Withdrawals

The terms and conditions for the 2009 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim can be downloaded below.
Applications for withdrawal from the event made before 24 December 2008 will entitle the applicant to 50% refund. No applications for withdrawal from the event will be accepted after the 24 December. All applications for refunds must be made in writing.