Since we started iin 2004 there has been a significant increase in the number of elite swimmers which is starting to give the Bloody Big Swim international profile.  This is to be encouraged but not to the detriment of local participants and amateur participants from all around Australia .

The event has been modeled on several existing very successful Marathon swims, including the Rottnest Island Channel Swim which has grown to be extremely popular.

The Event

11.2km open water swim from Frankston Life Saving Club to Mills Beach Mornington, starting at 9.00am.

Categories of entrant: solo, duo and teams of 4

Open Water Swims are now attracting large numbers of participants, most notable the Largest Open Water swim in the world, Victoria's Pier to Pub which hold's the world record for the largest number of competitors in an Open Water event.

All entrants must attend a briefng the night before to explain logistics and safety issues relating to the swim, and to collect their race timing tags and shirts.

Race Details

The Bloody Big Swim is an annual event conducted by the Austalian Marathon Swimming Association with the aim "to promote interest in open water swimming for fun and fitness."

This is not an event reserved for the swimming elite, and competitors can choose to swim as duos or in teams of four...a chance for all swimmers of all abilities to swim with their friends or workmates.

• The Entry fee has been kept as low as we can , to esnure everyone who wants to swim can enter....this year we have increased the Entry to $90, but if you neter BEFORE NOV 1, you can do so at the old registration fee of $75 per swimmer; that is solo entries cost $75, duo $150, and teams $300; better value for the solos, but then they do have to work a bit harder!

• EVERY entry is required to have an Accompanying Paddler and an Escort boat..for both safety and insurance reasons; when its flat it might seem unnecessary, but if it blows up, you'll thank us.

Race Briefing

With increased numbers we have now moved the pre-race briefing for the 2012 Bloody Big Swim, scheduled for next Friday night January 27 to the Mary Herring Hall, at Toorak College, Old Mornington Road, Mt Eliza. ( Melway ref 101 G10)  The Hall is actually on the corner of Old Mornington Road and Williams Road. Brieifing will start at 6.30pm sharp, and will run for about an hour.

A representative of each entry must attend a race briefing to be informed of the event rules, regulations and course details. It is also highly recommended the skipper of the support boat attend to be briefed about the boat drivers responsibilities.

Full race instruction, race caps, boat numbers and polo-shirts will be issued at the briefing.

Race Day

The 2012 Bloody Big Swim will be held on Saturday January 28. Solo swimmers will depart from in front of the Frankston Life Saving Club, in Wells St, Frankston to the Mornington Life Saving Club, Mills Beach Mornington. Duo and team swimmers will start in waves of around 25 swimmers following the solo swimmers.

The race will finish in front of the Mornington Life Saving Club, on Mills Beach. Due to safety controls the finish time will be strictly adhered to.

A presentation ceremony will be held at the finish line in front of the Mornington Life Saving Club.