ILDSA Island Dhu (West Bay 2 Way) Swim 2k At Portrush Harbour 19th August 2017 Supported by V 1.0 Page 1!
The Event The Island Dhu Swim is one of the last swims on the open water swimming calendar and always proves to be an extremely popular swim with both accomplished open water swimmers and beginners alike. The course for the swim is as per attached plan. (Appendix A). Participants There will be approximately 80 competent swimmers, with a maximum of 100. Route and Time The swimmers enter the water at the slipway at the north of the harbour, and form a straight line to start. After a final safety check the swimmers will swim to a buoy at the west of the bay, which they will round, and head north west to a second buoy approximately 50m apart from the first buoy. The swimmers will round the second buoy, and return north east to the harbour, and finish by touching the harbour wall to the south of the harbour slip. Swimmers will exit the water directly via the slipway. The fastest swimmers will complete the swim in approx 24 mins with the slowest swimmers taking around 50 mins. Registration for the swim will start at 10:30 outside the yacht club with a mandatory safety briefing taking place just up the steps at the harbour mouth at 12.00 hours. The swimmers can change at the yacht club, and will enter the water for a start at 12.30 hours. Participant Safety 1. All skins swimmers will have their swim number displayed on their shoulder with permanent marker pen 2. All wetsuit swimmers to have their swim number written on their hands. 3. There will be a number of canoeists present and these canoeists will form a Cordon around the swimmers for the duration of the swim 4. A safety boat will patrol around the cordon for the duration of the event. 5. The RNLI will be in attendance at the event, with a PWC, to support any swimmers in difficulty. 6. If a swimmer has not completed the swim in 75mins they will be removed from the water. There will be no exceptions to this, unless the swimmer has entered the harbour, and has only the final few metres to swim. Spectators Safety Spectators have very good viewing opportunities. It is anticipated that the risk to spectators will be low, as spectators from the shore will only access areas of the V 1.0 Page 2!
harbour which are open to the public at all times. Therefore the safety coordinators will not monitor these individuals and hence they will not be discussed below. The safety boat will warn off any possible visiting boats who are not involved in the swim. Briefing 1. Swimmers will be told to enter the water and to form a straight line. 2. Once in the water they will then be asked on their condition and to confirm that they can continue. 3. Once the swim is underway the swimmers will head directly through the harbour mouth, sighting towards the first buoy as the Point of Reference (POR) for keeping on track, The first buoy will be at the Black Rocks towards the southeast. 4. Swimmers will be required to turn around the buoy and head towards the second buoy at the Blackrocks towards the northwest 5. They will be instructed to swim through the harbour mouth and then head for the wall adjacent to the slipway. 6. Swimmers will turn around the second buoy, sighting towards the large cream coloured apartment building on the hill directly behind the harbour as their POR. 7. They will be instructed to swim through the harbour mouth and then head for the wall adjacent to the slipway. 8. Once they touch the wall their time will be taken and they will exit the water via the slipway. They can then have a hot shower and get changed in the yacht club. 9. If for any reason during the swim they feel that they can t continue then they will be instructed to raise their arm and canoe and safety boat cover will be on hand immediately. Weather Conditions. 1. The event can only be run in safe conditions. The crossing will not take place in the event of small craft advisory. If there is any doubt, the event will be cancelled. 2. An alternative course may be permitted dependant upon conditions. Rules 1. For skins class swimmers: standard textile swimming costumes, latex or silicone cap and goggles permitted; wetsuits and technical suits will not be permitted. 2. For wetsuit class swimmers: neoprene caps, boots and gloves are permitted. A bright coloured silicone or latex cap must be worn above neoprene cap for visibility. 3. Instructions from race officials & safety crew must be adhered to all times, and all swimmers must attend the pre-swim safety briefing or they will not be allowed to swim. 4. For junior swimmers (14-16 on the day of the event.) V 1.0 Page 3!
4.1.If a junior swimmer expresses an interest, then their parent must be present at the swim, and sign a waiver. 4.2.Before a junior swimmer is permitted to enter, they will be required to confirm competency and ability. 5. Swimmers who do not attend the briefing will not be allowed to swim. 6. Swim aids are not permitted, ie fins/paddles/pull buoys. Water safety floats, which offer no buoyancy advantage to the swimmer may be used. 7. If in the opinion of the race organisers, an action of a swimmer is deemed to be unsporting the swimmer concerned will be disqualified immediately. 8. Swimmers must complete the whole course, respecting all designated turning buoys and course boundaries. 9. Start: The race will start at 12.30. It is the swimmers responsibility to be lined up in time for the race start. There will be a 5 minute, 2 minute and 1 minute warning. Any swimmers crossing the line before the start will be subject to a 5 minute time penalty, or disqualification. V 1.0 Page 4!
Appendix A: Race Course Plan V 1.0 Page 5!
Appendix B Alternative Route If conditions on the West Bay are unsuitable for a safe swim, then we will consider other options. Dependant on conditions, we would transfer the swim to the East Bay, which can be much more sheltered, and run a loop swim. Swimmers will enter the water at the west end of the beach, swim out to a buoy in line with the rocks to the north of the small bay at Arcadia, then turn East to another buoy, approx 400m, swimming parallel to the shore. Swimmers will turn south at this buoy to another buoy approximately 50m towards the beach, turning west to head back to the first buoy. The swimmers will complete two laps, finishing at the start point. The loop swim is designed to keep all swimmers and water safety crew within sight of the beach. An additional alternative is a loop swim within the harbour. This will only be undertaken if the conditions elsewhere are unsafe, and the harbour has been closed. This will only run in agreement with the Harbour Master on the day. Contact Name Contact Telephone email Jeff McCormick: 07793045754 info@portrushswims.com V 1.0 Page 6!