The Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim (incorporating all swim courses available on the day, hereafter called the "Event") has a team of volunteers and paid personnel who assist with the preparation and running of the swim. There is a committee of key personnel who meet to decide on how the Event should be run based on industry best practice and risk management protocols. Bronte Surf Life Saving Club (BSLSC) obtains Event insurance for this Event under the umbrella of Surf Life Saving New South Wales, and as such must meet their requirements for conducting Events. BSLSC must also meet the requirements of local council and Maritime, with all three entities providing approval to conduct this Event.
BSLSC risk management practices cover the many activities which occur on the day, with planning to manage identified, potential risks. These activities include but are not limited to:
The Event committee are responsible for ensuring each activity on the day is conducted in accordance with our planned operations. Ultimately BSLSC want all persons involved in the Event have a great experience without harm or injury occurring.
On the day of the Event, there will be a water safety briefing for all water safety personnel involved. This water safety briefing includes swimmer drop off, incident management and communications.
Based on water safety ratio requirements set out by Surf Life Saving Australia, the Event meets these guidelines and exceeds the recommended water safety numbers. The Event is known for its water safety personnel as many swimmers provide wonderful reviews stating their thanks for the water safety team.
On the day, we will have the following water safety in place:
If any swimmer is struggling and requires assistance, we ask that an arm is raised and the swimmer remains calm as we respond to the request.
If another swimmer identifies a person in need of assistance, we ask that each swimmer makes themselves available to signal for assistance in an attempt to help us identify any persons in need of help.
The water safety team will identify any request for assistance as quickly as we can and we will get assistance to that person as soon as practical.
It is a requirement that all swimmers follow the direction of water safety as we conduct this event with everyone's best interest in mind.
Surf boats, surf ski paddlers and other support craft will be patrolling the course for the duration of the Event). If a swimmer feels unable to go on, they should attract the attention of the water safety personnel. REMAIN CALM, stay stationary, raise your arm and wait for assistance. A swimmer deemed incapable of completing the course will be brought onto one of the support vessels by the water safety team and transported to shore. However, please note that your safety cannot be guaranteed.
Warning is given to all entrants that this is a demanding ocean swim Event. Obvious risks include and are not limited to the following: injury and/or drowning, due to being hit by other persons, objects, boats or vessels. Other obvious risks include, cold weather and water, entry and exit injuries, stings, sandbars, medical conditions and marine life.
Swimmers enter at their own risk and are responsible for their own physical condition. Any swimmer who has not passed the halfway point off South Bondi Headland within 45 minutes of the last age category wave will be removed from the Event and transported to shore.
This is not only for the safety of all swimmers but it is also for the safety of our water safety team.
Any swimmer who does pull out of the Event must notify Event officials immediately and return the ankle strap timing chip. Failure to return the timing bracelet will result in a fee of $50. If you withdraw from the Event and need transport to Bronte Beach, the Event organisers have supplied a shuttle bus which is located at the security bag drop location behind the Bondi Pavilion.
Prior to starting your swim, you must cross over the timing mats which are located on the beach. Failure to cross these mats will result in your swim not being timed. The mats are located between the barriers on the beach, at the starting area, identified by the flags on the beach.
While in the water, all swimmers must comply with the directions of lifeguards and/or the water safety team. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the Event.
It is the responsibility of the swimmer to inform themselves of the beach and water conditions on the day, prior to participating in the Event.
The event organiser requires proof of eligibility which may be provided as either of the following:
On the day, to ensure the safety of all participants and water safety:
Please read and understand our Wetsuit Policy
The Event adopts the following policy in regards to swimwear for all competitors in the Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim 2km and 5km courses:
For water temperature =18°C and above on race day, swimmers shall wear either standard swimming jammers, briefs or standard one or two piece swimmers if they wish to qualify for placings and prizes.
Swimsuits for men shall not extend above the navel nor below the knee, and for women, shall not cover the neck, or extend past the shoulder, nor below the knee.
The swimsuits shall be made from textile materials and no neoprene.
Participants may elect to wear a race suit however they will not be eligible for any placing or prizes.
As noted in our wetsuit policy:
If a participant choses to wear a wetsuit they will be required to swim in the wetsuit wearers wave category. An overall first and second prize is allocated to the 1st and 2nd placed male and female wetsuit wearer regardless of age category. (Prizes are not allocated for each age category for wetsuit wearers).
For water temperature less than 18°C on race day, wetsuits are permitted and strongly encouraged for all participants.
The Event will ensure that all competitors have access to a fair and equitable process in dealing with grievance and provide an avenue for competitors to affect their final position.
The policies and procedures to raise a complaint and dispute must be completed as follows:
The Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim respects your ability to make informed choices about the collection and use of your personal information. The Event respects your right to privacy and we are bound by National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act. We use personal information collected from competitors to inform them of competition details or advance notice of competitions. We consider that information provided by you to us is sensitive and deserves to be handled with the utmost care. For this reason, all files are strictly confidential and all information is classified.
Bronte Surf Life Saving Club Inc. is covered by its own public liability insurance. This does not include personal accident insurance. It is strongly recommended that you take out your own personal accident and ambulance cover for the Event. Your private health insurance policy may include this, however you will need to check this specifically with your private health insurer.
