Solo Swims
Swimming to Rotto a Basic Guide by Barb Pellick
Solo entries open for 2017 Rottnest Channel Swim from 24th to 30th October 2016. All solo’s entered within these dates will be accepted.
Teams and Duo entries open 2nd to 6th November 2016 on a first come first served basis.
What this means is that you MUST get your entries in AS SOON AS ENTRIES OPEN to ensure a spot for your team. See the Rottnest Channel Swim website closer to the date to make sure you know what time entries will open.
Regular, consistent, effective and targeted training will make the journey across the Rottnest Channel an enjoyable experience. The best way to achieve this is within a squad with like-minded swimmers so you can develop the camaraderie to help keep your motivation high. A lot of swimming will need to be done in the lead up to the event, this makes good technique vital to reduce the risk of injury.
Whether you are swimming in a team, duo or solo; preparation is the key to an enjoyable day:
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Do you get seasick?
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Do you get cold?
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Does your paddler and skipper know your stroke?
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How are you going to meet up with your paddler and boat after the start?
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Have you got a plan for the morning of the swim?
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Have you organised to be dropped off at Cottesloe?
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How are you getting your gear into the boat/finish?
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Have you got a tried and tested feeding plan for the day?
The logistics can be quite daunting in themselves, but if you get your plan organised and in place early you will be more relaxed on the morning of the swim.
Remember on the day that things may not go as planned and you need to just ‘go with the flow’. Don’t let things outside your control effect your focus and make sure you have a good plan for things in your control…
During the swim it will appear that the island is closer than it is, but remember it isn’t that close!! The best approach to this is to just not look at the island, you will get there when the swimming has been done.
The water changes when you start getting closer to the island, you enter ‘Rotto water’. It becomes shallower, clearer and a beautiful turquoise colour; however, it also gets rougher.
I have named the water at about the 15k mark ‘the washing machine’. Currents, swell and the shallower water combine to pick up the wave action. This can be very tough to swim through (and paddle through). Just remember as long as you are moving forward you will get there; this is not the time to give up.
Once inside Phillip Rock the water starts to settle down, the boat traffic can get quite hectic and you are nearly there. Dig in, keep going and use that adrenaline to get you to the line.
Once you get there really cherish the feeling you get when your feet touch the sand.