BackSWIM COURSE - 1.9km

SWIM – 1.9km / 1.2 mile Sea Swim

The 1.9km / 1.2 mile swim is an ocean swim, and each athlete is expected to have the ability and conditioning to complete the swim. If an athlete does not make swim cut-off, he will not be allowed to continue on the cycle leg. IRONMAN provides a brightly coloured official swim cap for each athlete. This cap is provided for safety and MUST be worn throughout the swim. Prior to the start, optional swim bags will be available for each athlete’s sweats, slippers, etc. No valuables and no bicycle pumps, PLEASE. These bags must be placed in the Swim Bag Tent and should be retrieved immediately after you finish the run section or withdraw from the race. Please Note: NO valuables must be put into your Transition Bag/Swim Bag - the Organisers do not take responsibility for loss or damage to personal belongings.

RACE DAY: Pre-race final check-in will begin at 05h00 (approx. 2 hours before race start). Athletes will be required to cross over the mats at the swim start to ensure that we have an accurate count going into the water. Failure to cross these mats could result in disqualification. For those who wear glasses or hearing aids, please label them with your name and race number. Tables will be provided at the exit from the swim, where these can be handed in. These can be picked up here after the swim. There will be showers at the end of the beach run. You will cross a timing mat at the exit from the beach, which will record your swim time. This is the point you need to have crossed in order to make the swim cut-off. It is required for our athlete count that you pick up your transition bag. You may not change in the bag rack area or block another athlete’s progress. Wetsuits may be fully removed in the changing tents only. Public nudity is prohibited. Please take your bag to the bag drop-off zone outside the changing tent. (NB: It is the athletes’ responsibility to ensure ALL their equipment is placed in the bag and securely closed - please CLEARLY mark your wetsuit with your name.

Pre-race final check-in will begin at 05h00 (approx. 2 hours before race start). Athletes will be required to cross over the mats at the swim start to ensure that we have an accurate count going into the water. Failure to cross these mats could result in disqualification. For those who wear glasses or hearing aids, please label them with your name and race number. Tables will be provided at the exit from the swim, where these can be handed in. These can be picked up here after the swim. There will be showers at the end of the beach run. You will cross a timing mat at the exit from the beach, which will record your swim time. This is the point you need to have crossed in order to make the swim cut-off. It is required for our athlete count that you pick up your transition bag. You may not change in the bag rack area or block another athlete’s progress. Wetsuits may be fully removed in the changing tents only. Public nudity is prohibited. Please take your bag to the bag drop-off zone outside the changing tent. (NB: It is the athletes’ responsibility to ensure ALL their equipment is placed in the bag and securely closed - please CLEARLY mark your wetsuit with your name.

Please pick up your swim bag, which you placed in the Athlete Tent area, after the race or if you withdraw from the race. This needs to be picked up before 17h00.

RULES:

1. Each swimmer must wear a swim cap provided by the race organisers. Wearing swim goggles or a face mask is recommended, but optional. Wetsuits are permitted.
2. No fins, paddles, snorkels, or flotation devices of any kind are allowed.
3. Please be sure your timing chip is properly fixed on your left ankle.
4. No individual paddlers or escorts will be allowed. The Swim Course will be adequately patrolled by surfboards, kayaks and patrol boats.
5. Time penalties will be imposed on athletes not behind the official start line 5 minutes prior to each wave start. The Warm-up Area is to the left of the Start Area. Once you cross the timing mats to the Start Area, you cannot exit this area for any reason.
6. Swimmers are required to stay on course, swim anti-clockwise and keep course markers to the left, except for the last buoy, which will be on your RIGHT. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. 
7. A swimmer experiencing difficulty and in need of assistance MUST raise an arm overhead, pump it up and down, and call or seek assistance. A swimmer who has received assistance, whether voluntary or involuntary, must retire and withdraw from the remainder of the race, unless such assistance did not aid the swimmer in making forward progress. No swimmer shall return to the race if the official rendering assistance requests that the participant withdraws from the race or receive medical assistance.
8. The swim course will be CLOSED 1 hour and 10 minutes after the start of each wave. Athletes who have not crossed the timing mat that records the end of the swim will be disqualified and will not be permitted to continue the event.
9. After the swim, athletes must collect their Cycle Bag. This is a security measure designed to maintain an accurate count of swimmers in and out of the water.
10. After the swim, athletes must dress for the cycle leg of the race in designated changing tents only. Wetsuits may be stripped to the waist only and completely removed in the changing tent only. No dressing will be allowed in the bike holding area as it impedes traffic through the bike lanes. Public nudity is prohibited. Athletes who do not follow this rule will be given a 4 minute penalty in the Penalty Box.
11. After changing, drop off Cycle Bag in designated "bag drop-off zone", outside changing tent.

The race will start in 5 waves - Please Note: These are preliminary start times and can be changed up until race briefing on Friday, 21 January 2011 at 18h00.

Wave 1 - 07h00: Pro Men + Pro Women

Wave 2 - 07h15: Age Group Men from 18 - 44 years of age

Wave 3 - 07h25: Age Group Men 45+

Wave 4 - 07h35:  All Age Group Ladies 18 - 80+

Wave 5 - 07h45:  Teams

Wetsuits will be allowed.

The cut-off time for the swim is one hour and ten minutes from the wave start.

Cut Off Times per wave:
Wave 1: 08h10 | Wave 2: 08h25 | Wave 3: 08h35 | Wave 4: 08h45 | Wave 5: 08h55

Click Here to download the SWIM MAP