Wreck2Reef celebrates its biggest and most successful swim to date

WRECK2REEF organisers have crowned this summer’s annual open water swim at Indented Head Yacht Club as its biggest and most successful event.

Up to 350 participants took part across the 2.5km and 1.2km open water swims and 300m Dash and 800m Novice events on Saturday.

Calm and pleasant conditions and warm weather greeted enthusiastic competitors who travelled from as far as Northern Territory, New South Wales and across Victoria to participate.

Wreck2Reef race director Andrew Dix was thrilled after easterly winds marred last year’s event while the 2021 race was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.

Mr Dix confirmed registrations surged in the lead up to the event with a positive weather forecast.

The first Wreck2Reef was held in 2010, and Mr Dix said Saturday was “the biggest (event) we have had,” he said.

“We had a lot of registrations in the last two or three days (before the event) once the weather forecast came in and settled and we put on a beautiful day.”

Melbourne-based Owen Leggett, who defended his 2.5km crown after victory last summer, crossed the finish line in first place in 30 minutes and 26 seconds, while Bob Willis (31:19) came second and Mark Stone (31:47) finished third.

Leggett won the 1.2km event (16:28) ahead of Stone (16:33) and Willis (16:45).

Bethany Forster, who won the 2.5km women’s event last year, retained her title to win in 35:21, while Lauren Fleetwood (35:39) came second and Anita Weber (36:02) finished in third.

Nearly 200 male and female participants competed in the 1.2km event.

Danielle Tulloch (17:20) won the 1.2km women’s race ahead of Meisha Nicholson (17:53) and Sue Cox (18:06).

Lukas Weber (04:32) won the 300m Dash junior event followed by Tobias Weber (04:39) in second, while Primose Hyde (05:16) was the first female home.

Morrison White-Gould (14:00) triumphed in the 800m Novice event, while Allegra Bombagi (15:27) won the female race.

About 50 club volunteers helped out throughout the day, and Bellarine MP Alison Marchant presented medallions to winners and placegetters.