Queenscliff frost-bitten by inaugural swim event

RESIDENTS and visitors from across the region are being challenged to embrace the icy waters of Port Phillip Bay tomorrow (Saturday, June 22) as part of the opening of the Nightide Festival.

Searoad Ferries manager Dwight Harrison said tomorrow’s inaugural Frostbite Solstice Swim from 3.30pm to 4.30pm start proceedings for this year’s festival, taking place in Queenscliff for a second year.

Co-ordinated by Mr Harrison and The Rip Swim founder and director Grant Seidel, participants can take on the 500m swim as a race or arrive to the swim in their wackiest outfits for a dip in the Fancy Dress Float.

“It’s super-exciting for us to host this event for the first time,” Mr Harrison said.

“We’re hoping year-round swimmers and winter swimmers will get down for the event, which we hope will attract close to 200 swimmers.

“We expect close to 100 people to attend the non-competitive Fancy Dress Float, but the whole event is open to everyone, where we hope many have a fun experience and go away with a memory to cherish.”

All proceeds from this year’s Frostbite Solstice Swim entry fees will be donated to Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, but Searoad Ferries will look at donating proceeds for swims in future years.

The best-dressed participant or group participating in the Fancy Dress Float will also win a $1,000 donation towards a community group or charity of their choice.

Mr Harrison said the community aspect of the new swim event was at the forefront of its planning.

“A lot of our forward strategies are about our community base and giving back to the community.

“We’re looking at other events to get the community involved in and other water events as well, but swim events are big around the state, and we think the region here has a lot to offer for those swim event.

“So if this takes off popularity-wise, who knows how big it can get?”

Swimmers can attend a ticketed event after the swim inside Searoad Ferries’ new ferry terminal or visit the Nightide Festival site between 5pm and 9pm outside the building.

To register for the first Frostbite Solstice Swim event, head to nightide.com.au/frostbite