History & Milestones

Some Milestones

Timeline

• Pre-2005 Clifton Cold Water New Year’s Day Mile only (Restricted to lifesavers)

• 01/01/2005 Clifton New Year’s Day Swim (5 participants) (1^st Sunday of 2005).
  • 1^st Sunday Of Month Swim (“1SOMS”) continued monthly with simplistic rules – minimum of 3 participants required for an event.
• 2007 Web information portal launched
• 2009-2010 Swim event on 1^st Sunday of every month.
  • Backup routes and venues identified in 2010.
  • The month of “May” was a non-swim month until 2009.
• Feb 2010              500^th race number allocated (Fred Burnard)
• Dec 2011              1000^th race number allocated (Greg Schneider)
• 2013-2014 Season introduced Clifton Openwater Race Experience (“CORE”) with focus on speed route meeting criteria of FINA. Partnered with WP Aquatics to scrutinise the course.
  • 1500m rectangular lap course setup off 4^th beach. Distance being swum 3000m solo or 2x1500m relay.
• Jan 2015              2000^th race number allocated (Shaun Brassell)
• 2013-2014 3^rd Sunday Of Month Swim with focus on preparation swims for 70.3 East London. (Nov, Dec, Jan)
• 12/01/2014 Largest swim start with 177 participants (3SOMS January)
• 2016 Online entry system launched, all swims have a short route alternative. WhatsApp broadcasting groups established
• 2015-2016 CORE route restricted to 1000m lap and participants given the choice of 1|2|3 laps within 60 minutes.  (A Challenge of 4 laps within 60 minutes is also in place)
• Mar 2017 3000^th race number allocated (Ellmarie Wurth)

• 2017-2018
  • Launch of Openwater Swim Academy in public tidal pool
  • Increased participation focus and participation recognition
  • “Bus” drivers for those wanting to achieve time goals 1:30 / 1:45 / 2:00 / 2:30
• Feb 2018 CORE Endurance event launched (6hr/3hr/1hr)

• 2018-2019           

Mar 2019 Viking Swim launch (4.2km Cosy Bay to Camps Bay)

Data analysis shows that in excess of One million meters is swum in a season by participants

• 2019-2020           

Aug 2019 4000^th SwimNo issued Tamzyn Kotze

Sep 2019 Partnered with WP Aquatics to hosts FINA style race route on Clifton 4^th

Oct 2019 Viking II Swim (extension of route to 5km)

Mar 2020 Viking II Swim

COVID-19 Global pandemic closed beaches

• 2020-2021         

COVID-19 affected season with beach shut-downs.

Repositioning of 3SOMS to be Adventure style swims

Oct 2020 Swim with a view (Cosy Bay to Oudekraal and back)

Nov 2020 SeaPointer (Broken Baths to Bantry Bay and back)

Dec 2020 Camps Bay Classic (Camps Bay to Clifton 4^th)

COVID-19 protocols changed format from Hares and Hounds to limited participation with multiple waves of swimmers released at set intervals.

• 2021-2022           

Delay to season start due to COVID-19 wave

Introduction of FinishTime Passport to remain COVID-19 protocol compliant.

Issued scannable wristbands to reduce contact on land.

Introduction of new format with SplashDash for newcomers