Ekurhuleni 1200m Swim - 29 January 2012. Victoria Lake, Germiston – GP.
This is one of the few swims where you do not have to swim around buoys as the race is from point to point. There are buoys in the water to assist with navigation. Registration takes place at the finish and busses run continuously to ferry you to the start. Over the past few years the water quality has been acceptable. This lake can be categorised as a sludge dam, with visibility at the edges being zero when the bottom is stirred up by the swimmers. The water is clearer in the deeper sections of the lake.

Germiston Lake is a popular picnic spot with permanent ablution facilities and parking relatively close to the finish area. There is a large grassed area with plenty of trees for shade. Be careful of walking barefoot, as there may be broken glass lying around.

Other info you may need:

• Race Number and Chip Collection will take place at Germiston Lake on race day from 06h00
• The finish, parking and start of the 5km and 3km will be on the Western Side of the lake.
• The 1200m is a point to point cable swim starting from the yacht club. Shuttle Buses for swimmers will leave from the area close to the finish prior to each race.
• The race organisers have this year gone for the personal chip system which works so well at triathlons and running events. Timing will be done by Champion Chip. The entrant buys the chip which is registered against his or her name for life. All results for that chip are available on www.championchip.co.za. Swimmers that entered online can collect their chip on race day.

Late entries are accepted at the start from 07h00 onwards. For more information contact Anna Visser on 082-4493134 or visit www.gautenglifesaving.co.za.

The Maragon Platinum Mile - 05 February 2012. Buffelspoort Dam, near Rustenburg – NWP
This is a wet start a short distance from the bank and about 50 metres from the finish line. The first and second buoys are clearly visible but the finish is difficult to see as the bank is packed with spectators and umbrellas. There are extra marker buoys at the finish. The water is clean and relatively clear with visibility up to two or three metres. The water temperature is just right. Water-grass at the edges does not affect participants. The pristine quality of the dam’s water is largely due to the catchment area in the nearby nature reserve.

Online entries close on 1 February 2012 and are available at EnterOnline. Late entries are accepted at the start. For more information contact  Di Williamson on  083-2543628.

Cadiz Freedom Swim 2012

Message from patron and swim committee chairman, Ram Barkai

Dear all

The Cadiz Freedom Swim is now known around the world as one of the greatest extreme sea swims of its kind and is increasingly attracting international interest and participation. This year’s event (April 28/29) is no exception with some of the world’s top open water swimmers expected to race for the first prize of US$10 000, second of US$5 000 and third of US$3 000. Over the years, we have made every effort to present this race as a safe event, worthy of its reputation as one of the most extreme, cold water sea swims in the world.

With hindsight, experience and in consultation with major role-players, I am excited to announce new format changes for 2012 to further bolster safety and decrease our carbon footprint.

In the interests of protecting the environment and in particular Robben Island – a World Heritage Site -- and to assist many swimmers who struggle to secure support boats, solo swimmers will no longer require motorised vessels to accompany them. Instead, each swimmer will be accompanied by a paddler on a sea compliant kayak or similar vessel. Paddlers will be fully briefed and will carry safety equipment. At least 30 official motorised vessels, including the NSRI, will provide roaming support, attending to calls for assistance from paddlers. This eliminates the expense of securing individual vessels and reduces dramatically the impact of scores of boats on the sensitive environment around Robben Island and in Table Bay. Paddlers will be allocated and swimmers requesting their own paddler may apply to the event organisers in this regard.

Additionally, the swim route will be buoyed every 500m, providing a clear line to be followed. A stationary safety boat will be anchored to each buoy (identified as a Safety Island Station), allowing paddlers and swimmers the opportunity to seek assistance at these points. 

A marine co-ordinator, working closely with the NSRI, will oversee water safety and every effort will be made to ensure a safe and enjoyable event.

Relay swimmers will race around the southern rocks at Big Bay in what will be a challenging 9.2km route, comprising eight loops of 1.15km. This route proved both exciting and gruelling in 2011 and many found it more challenging than swimming from the Island. 

This means relay swimmers will no longer require support vessels, further decreasing our impact on the environment and eliminating the cost and hassle of securing a boat. Lifeguards will be located along the relay route and medical officials will be on hand at the beach. The first open (non wetsuit) team out of the water wins US$5 000, 2nd: US$2 500 and 3rd US$1 000. And there are great sponsored prizes for the Schools, Wetsuit and Corporate relay categories.

With the elimination of individual support boats for both solos and relays, the overall costs to swimmers will be reduced. We have, however, added some costs to the entry fees to cover the additional logistic and safety measures required to allow us to present a greener, safer and hassle-free event.

Additionally, we have appointed new event organisers, Energy Events (www.energyevents.co.za). Trevor Ball and Grant Ross are the new event managers and can be contacted for all queries at info@energyevents.co.za or on 079 558 3168.

Another exciting first this year is an open water swimming seminar on Friday 27 April in Cape Town which will include presentations by some of the biggest names in swimming globally. All entrants to the Cadiz Freedom Swim are welcome to attend.

I welcome your comments on all of the above. Mail me, the event organisers or post on the Cadiz Freedom Swim Facebook page. 

All details for the 2012 event are up on www.freedomswim.co.za and entries will go live in the next day or two. Keep an eye on the site.

We look forward to an excellent event and urge you to enter as soon as we go live to secure your place and to once again be part of one of the world’s greatest cold water sea swims.

Ram Barkai
Chairman: Cadiz Freedom Swim Committee
CEO: Cadiz Holdings
January 2012

"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash." George S. Patton

See you in the water!

Tom Cottrell & the Guide Book Publications Team

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