2014 Race Information
The 2014 First National Kimberley Lake Argyle Swim will be held on Saturday 3rd May 2014.
The race departs from a deep water start at the heart of Lake Argyle and finishes in the spectacular Bamboo Cove near the Lake Argyle Boat Ramp & Resort.
The distance of the race is 10 or 20 kilometres.
The event categories for competitors are:
Solo
Duo - teams of 2
Team - teams of 4
Situated 75 kilometres from the town of Kununurra, Western Australia, Lake Argyle is located 40 kilometres from the Northern Territory Border and covers 980 square kilometres at normal water levels. Twenty-one times greater in size than Sydney Harbour, Lake Argyle can increase to over 80 times the size of Sydney Harbour when in flood. Long since recognised as one of the most spectacular places to visit in Australia, the Lake Argyle Swim provides experienced swimmers with an unsurpassed outback adventure.
Clean freshwater awaits all solo, duo or quad teams, no sharks, bluebottles, ocean rips or chafing, just a very pleasant 22 - 26 degrees in 980 square kilometres of lake to enjoy.
Minimum Age
The age requirement for the 2014 Lake Argyle Swim is a minimum of 14 years of age on the day of the swim in accordance with the FINA rules for open water swimming (OWS 1.2).
Entries Open
Registration for the 2014 Lake Argyle Swim will open 0900 hours (WST) Friday 1st November, 2013.
Entries will close when the 180 swimmer capacity is filled.
Entry numbers are restricted for safety and logistical reasons.
Registration Payment
Payment must be made online at the time of registration for your entry to be received.
Swimmers Details
On entry you must complete the following information for each swimmer:
· First name
· Surname
· Date of birth
· Gender
· Address
· Telephone number
· Email address
· Emergency contact name
· Emergency contact telephone number
· Any known medical conditions that may impact on your ability to compete
Solos
First time solo swimmers, and previous solo swimmers who have not competed in the event in the last five years, may be required to provide a medical certificate. 2014 entry fee $160.
Duos and Teams
2014 Duo entry fee $300 per team. 2014 Quad entry fee $560 per team.
Entry fees includes race merchandise and a ticket to the gala presentation dinner Saturday night for each swimmer, one skipper and one paddler per team.
Briefing
Briefing material will be sent to all teams in 2014 and be available online closer to the event. There will be plenty of opportunity to have any final instructions issued and have any of your questions answered at the Gear Collection and Q&A Sessions.
Gear collection options will be in Kununurra Wednesday evening 30th April 2014, at Lake Argyle Resort on Friday evening 2nd May 2014 and a last minute gear collection for those flying in late on Saturday morning 3rd May (race day).
Support Boats
*New for 2014: 10km solo swimmers can compete without a motorised support boat - with a paddler only.
There will be inflatable kayaks available for hire for 20 entrants in the 10km solo category. This will allow 10km solo entrants to fly into town with their paddler without the need to transport a kayak or organise a support boat. (Local 10km solo competitors can still utilise a motorised support boat if you wish)
All duo and quad swimmers and 20km solo swimmers require a motorised support boat that is a minimum of 4m in length. This boat is required to get your team, paddler and paddle craft to the start line of your event.
The support boat information that is required to complete your entry and make payment is listed below:
· Boat registration number
· Make of boat
· Boat length, name (optional), colour
· Type of marine radio - 27Mhz or VHF
· Boat skipper name
· Boat skipper email
· Boat skipper Recreational Skipper's Ticket number - *Northern Territory Skippers note that you require a WA recreations ticket or the equivalent (all other Australian States have an equivalent skipper ticket/registration requirement in place).
Paddlers
All solo, duo and quad swimmers require a support paddler/kayaker.
It is compulsory that paddle craft be used to assist the swimmer/s and skipper on the day.
*As noted above, in 2014 there will be 20 places available for 10km solo entrants to hire a kayak for use, allowing competitors to fly into town with their paddler and enter the event without the need to transport water craft. These competitors and kayaks will be transported to the 10km start line by Lake Argyle Tours.
The paddler details required to complete your entry:
The race departs from a deep water start at the heart of Lake Argyle and finishes in the spectacular Bamboo Cove near the Lake Argyle Boat Ramp & Resort.
The distance of the race is 10 or 20 kilometres.
The event categories for competitors are:
Solo
Duo - teams of 2
Team - teams of 4
Situated 75 kilometres from the town of Kununurra, Western Australia, Lake Argyle is located 40 kilometres from the Northern Territory Border and covers 980 square kilometres at normal water levels. Twenty-one times greater in size than Sydney Harbour, Lake Argyle can increase to over 80 times the size of Sydney Harbour when in flood. Long since recognised as one of the most spectacular places to visit in Australia, the Lake Argyle Swim provides experienced swimmers with an unsurpassed outback adventure.
Clean freshwater awaits all solo, duo or quad teams, no sharks, bluebottles, ocean rips or chafing, just a very pleasant 22 - 26 degrees in 980 square kilometres of lake to enjoy.
Minimum Age
The age requirement for the 2014 Lake Argyle Swim is a minimum of 14 years of age on the day of the swim in accordance with the FINA rules for open water swimming (OWS 1.2).
Entries Open
Registration for the 2014 Lake Argyle Swim will open 0900 hours (WST) Friday 1st November, 2013.
Entries will close when the 180 swimmer capacity is filled.
Entry numbers are restricted for safety and logistical reasons.
Registration Payment
Payment must be made online at the time of registration for your entry to be received.
Swimmers Details
On entry you must complete the following information for each swimmer:
· First name
· Surname
· Date of birth
· Gender
· Address
· Telephone number
· Email address
· Emergency contact name
· Emergency contact telephone number
· Any known medical conditions that may impact on your ability to compete
Solos
First time solo swimmers, and previous solo swimmers who have not competed in the event in the last five years, may be required to provide a medical certificate. 2014 entry fee $160.
Duos and Teams
2014 Duo entry fee $300 per team. 2014 Quad entry fee $560 per team.
Entry fees includes race merchandise and a ticket to the gala presentation dinner Saturday night for each swimmer, one skipper and one paddler per team.
Briefing
Briefing material will be sent to all teams in 2014 and be available online closer to the event. There will be plenty of opportunity to have any final instructions issued and have any of your questions answered at the Gear Collection and Q&A Sessions.
Gear collection options will be in Kununurra Wednesday evening 30th April 2014, at Lake Argyle Resort on Friday evening 2nd May 2014 and a last minute gear collection for those flying in late on Saturday morning 3rd May (race day).
Support Boats
*New for 2014: 10km solo swimmers can compete without a motorised support boat - with a paddler only.
There will be inflatable kayaks available for hire for 20 entrants in the 10km solo category. This will allow 10km solo entrants to fly into town with their paddler without the need to transport a kayak or organise a support boat. (Local 10km solo competitors can still utilise a motorised support boat if you wish)
All duo and quad swimmers and 20km solo swimmers require a motorised support boat that is a minimum of 4m in length. This boat is required to get your team, paddler and paddle craft to the start line of your event.
The support boat information that is required to complete your entry and make payment is listed below:
· Boat registration number
· Make of boat
· Boat length, name (optional), colour
· Type of marine radio - 27Mhz or VHF
· Boat skipper name
· Boat skipper email
· Boat skipper Recreational Skipper's Ticket number - *Northern Territory Skippers note that you require a WA recreations ticket or the equivalent (all other Australian States have an equivalent skipper ticket/registration requirement in place).
Paddlers
All solo, duo and quad swimmers require a support paddler/kayaker.
It is compulsory that paddle craft be used to assist the swimmer/s and skipper on the day.
*As noted above, in 2014 there will be 20 places available for 10km solo entrants to hire a kayak for use, allowing competitors to fly into town with their paddler and enter the event without the need to transport water craft. These competitors and kayaks will be transported to the 10km start line by Lake Argyle Tours.
The paddler details required to complete your entry:
- Paddler's name,
- Paddler's email,
- Kayak make, colour and length.
Swim Suit Regulations
Any suit improving buoyancy or propulsion would exclude the wearer/team from winning prizes; anyone who wants to wear one is still able to participate.
Times
Race Start:
All swimmers, paddlers and skippers are required at the starting line 10 minutes before the scheduled race start.
Paddlers and Skippers will liaise with event staff regarding boat and paddle craft launching.
· 20km race starts 8:00 AM (Allow 60 minutes travel time from the boat ramp to the start line); and
· 10km race start 10:00 AM (Allow 40 minutes travel time from the boat ramp to the start line).
5:30 AM – 20km Race crews must be at Lake Argyle Resort
5:45 AM – Last gear issue conducted at Lake Argyle Resort (last chance to advise of any changes due to weather / unforeseen circumstances)
6:15 AM – Boat ramp coordinators commence organising boat launches
7:00 AM – Boats depart for 20km start line
7:01 AM – Boat Ramp Coordinator begins to launch 10km race boats
7:30-7:45 AM – Boats arrive at 20km start line
7:45 AM – 20km race start set up/warm up etc.
8:00 AM –Official 20km race start
9:00 AM – 10km race boats depart the boat ramp
9:30 AM – 10km race boats arrive at start
10:00 AM –Official 10km race start
3:30 PM – Sweeper boat instructs all remaining teams swimming to pick up their swimmer and return to the boat ramp
4:50 PM until late - Gala Dinner Party to celebrate, great music and dancing into the night!
Withdrawals
Applications to withdraw from the event made before 1st February 2014 will entitle the applicant to a 50% refund. All applications for withdrawals/refunds must be made in writing and emailed to mail@lakeargyleswim.com or posted to Lake Argyle Swim Inc., PO Box 1184, Kununurra, WA, 6743. Withdrawals after the 1st February 2014 can not be refunded.
Presentation
The presentation of prizes will be held at Lake Argyle Resort at 4:50 pm on race day.
Cash or voucher prizes will be awarded to first place getters in the Solo, Duo and Team categories.
All successful solo competitors, place getters and category winners are requested to assemble at the front of the presentation stage at least 10 minutes prior to presentations.
A photograph of all solo swimmers will be taken just before the start of the presentations.
Event Cancellation
An event of this nature is dependent upon weather conditions. The Lake Argyle Swim Inc. Committee has the right to cancel the event if adverse weather conditions prevail or are likely to occur. No swimmer or team is to disregard this decision.
Weather
The following outlines the average weather conditions found in Lake Argyle in the months of April and May:
Average daily temperatures
April
Average maximum – 35.4 degrees Celsius
Average minimum – 22.1 degrees Celsius
May
Average maximum – 32.9 degrees Celsius
Average minimum – 19 degrees Celsius
Average relative humidity
April
Morning – 42%
Afternoon – 31%
May
Morning – 34%
Afternoon – 26%
Average rainfall
April: 26.1 mm
May: 7.5 mm
Average wind speed
April
Morning – 12.5km/h
Afternoon – 13.3km/h
May
Morning – 15.5km/h
Afternoon – 12.9km/h
Lake Argyle expected water temperature
22 - 26 degrees Celsius
