ABOUT THE RIP RACE
Swimming across “The Rip” is spectacular enough but racing it is even more exciting. With no fixed marks and an unpredictable tide, swimmers must draw on all their experience and cunning to do well.
The race is held every 2nd year so our next event is in 2025.
The next summer crossing will take place on February the 1st, 2025. Go here for more.
RESULTS from our 2023 race are below.
NEW KING AND QUEEN OF “THE RIP”:
Robbe Dillisen & Mackenzie Hunter
Congratulations to Robbe Dilissen and Mackenzie Hunter for taking out the male and female divisions of the 3rd Rip Race. This was a tough event given a strong wind and choppy seas, but they both navigated well and swum fast! The full results are below.
There were 18 swimmers who took on the race and with absolutely no fixed marks, crossed the stretch successfully! Each and every one of them have earned their place on our honour board. We had a range of ages from 16 - 61 and all swimmers competed without wetsuits to ensure a level playing field.
Robbe Dilissen
Male winner: 40.59
Mackenzie Hunter
First female: 43.29
RIP RACE RUN AND WON - Saturday February the 11th, 2023
NEW KING AND QUEEN OF “THE RIP”:
Robbe Dillisen & Mackenzie Hunter
Congratulations to Robbe Dilissen and Mackenzie Hunter for taking out the male and female divisions of the 3rd Rip Race. This was a tough event given a strong wind and choppy seas, but they both navigated well and swum fast! The full results are below.
There were 18 swimmers whop took on the race and with absolutely no fixed marks cross the stretch, each and every one of them have earned their place on our honour board. We had a range of ages from 16 - 61 and all swimmers competed without wetsuits to ensure a level playing field.
Robbe Dilissen 40.59
Mackie Hunter 43.29
Brenton Ford 44.12
Cam Tregaskis 45.15
Bronte Campbell 45.16
Brianna Bond 49.42
Lisandra de Carvalho 52.39
Rod Watkins 53.39
Ben Dubberley 54.12
Anton Stanitzki 54.32
Ben Morrison 54.45
Justin Rodda 55.26
Vanessa Palmer 59.10
Jordan Berry 59.38
Ian Douglas 1.01.30
James Hicks 1.02.30
Ryan Leet 1.18.40
Abby Bolwell 1.18.41
Place-getters for the Rip Race, 2023. left to right: Grant Siedle (director), Brenton Ford (2nd) Robbe Dilissen (1st) Barry (Doc) Easthoe (prize presenter, 2nd ever to swim “The Rip”) Mackenzie Hunter - (1st female), Cam Tregaskis (3rd male) Bronte Campbell (3rd female), Brianna Bond (2nd female).
THE COURSE - 3.5km
The race will commence in deep water, from a boat, near Point Nepean, and finish at the main beach at Point Lonsdale.
There will be no fixed marks but we will have 2 boats that you must swim between as you cross the 500m commercial shipping lane. This will keep you safe and may help you navigate a better line to the finish.
COST
$550 per swimmer
Includes race cap, T-shirt and other unique merchandise
RACE CATEGORIES
Open male - 14+ (age as of February 11)
no wetsuit *
Fina approved bathers
Silicone cap supplied by us
Open female - 14+ (age as of February 11)
no wetsuit *
Fina approved bathers
Silicone cap supplied by us
*To ensure a ‘level playing field’ we have chosen a non-wetsuit race. If you usually swim with a wetsuit or in warmer water, we highly recommend that you do some acclimatisation work.
The water is likely to be approximately 18 degrees Celsius on the day of the swim but could vary approximately 1 degree either way.
Below are some images from our first event in 2015. e will add the photos from the 2023 event very soon.
2018 RACE DAY
If you are curious and want to get a feel fro the event, take a look at the race day video from 2018. We will have our new event video here soon!!
LOGISTICS
On the day of your crossing, you will be taken from the Queenscliff Harbour to the start (deep water near Point Nepean) by boat. From there you will swim to Point Lonsdale main beach.
SAFETY
Our organisation has escorted over 700 swimmers across this stretch safely. We have an unblemished safety record. We will have plenty of boats on the water to keep you safe. These will include RHIB’s and larger boats. Our ‘mothership’ will have a paramedic on board in case you have any issues.
We will also have plenty of kayakers on the water both to keep an eye on you and to guide you a little should you feel ‘lost’. Our crew will be on contact via VHF radio and to ensure world-class communication throughout the race.
A substantial land-based team will be there to greet you and this will include a paramedic.
TIDES EXPLAINED
The tide changes every 6 hours. Given the narrow entrance to Port Phillip, the movement of water both in and out can be very strong. Swimming The Rip is not possible if you do not understand how to work with the tide. This our job and we pick the best time to deliver the event.