Rip swimmers gear up for bay crossing

HUNDREDS of swimmers are preparing to make the journey across the heads of Port Phillip Bay for the annual Rip Swim, with this year to be marked by two group crossing events in January and February.

All 20 entrants in this year’s January 10 event are taking on the 3.2km crossing for the first time.

Forty-eight-year-old entrant Jacqui Garnsworthy is swimming in a group of four, who she convinced to take on the challenge.

“I only heard of it after lockdown and thought that would be a good challenge instead of running, which kills your body.”

Ms Garnsworthy and an exercise partner ran considerably during the state’s lockdowns which resulted in injuries.

“So I decided to make us a new challenge, and then had to find three other people who thought it a good idea,” she said.

It will be longest open ocean swim she’s ever taken, but fear is not on her mind.

“I’m excited, not nervous, I am looking forward to it. You’d have to be otherwise you wouldn’t enjoy it.”

Organiser Grant Siedle said competitors must prove they are capable by passing an official qualifying event.

“I get them to do a 3km practice swim under my guidance, we can’t have just anyone rock up and swim,” he said.

The same goes for the February 11 crossing where at least 65 swimmers across 12 groups have signed up, and another 30 are registered to race including dual Olympic gold-medal swimmer Bronte Campbell.

“We’re raising money for Carer’s Australia, she’s got a brother with cerebral palsy,” Mr Siedle said of the larger February event.

“There’s around 2.5 million people who are carers in Australia, it touches everyone.

“A lot of these pool swimmers don’t like taking on open water because it’s too unpredictable, but she’s got the right attitude.”

The crossing and race is becoming “a bit of a pilgrimage” for some people according to Mr Siedle, who’s taken over 700 swimmers across the rip from Point Nepean to Point Lonsdale since 2014.

The last race was in 2018, the first in 2015.

“I sometimes say to people it’s like being somewhere you know you shouldn’t be.”

The running of this year’s events will be aided by Vic Ports giving swimmers dedicated windows to cross the channel free from ships and entrants to the February swims will be picked up from Queenscliff and taken to the start point off Point Nepean on the original Peninsula Princess ferry.

“I’ve had to let people know they’ll have to jump off the ferry, it’s a big moment,” Mr Siedle said.