The annual swim from Palm Beach to Whale Beach will be a celebration this year, as the event enters its 50th year.
It started as a challenge among a group of mates back in 1973 and now the Big Swim is set to welcome up to 2,000 participants this Australia Day weekend. Some of those original swimmers, like event director, Rob Berry, 83, are still involved in the event and are planning a trip down memory lane to celebrate on the 28 January.
“We’re having a very big outdoor screen showing 50 years of The Big Swim,” says Rob. “A lot of people will probably recognise themselves!”
The three kilometre swim has attracted some big names over the years, including Olympians Shane Gould and Graham Brewer, but Rob says the majority of entrants are recreational swimmers, looking to have a fun and comfortable swim around the headland.
“It’s such a happy atmosphere,” says Rob. “Afterwards, to see the joy of the people. You see the ladies hugging each other and shaking each other’s hands.”
There will also be a Big Little Swim of one kilometre held on the day for those looking for a shorter course. The Big Swim will raise funds for the Whale Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, of which Rob is a member.
Safety is paramount at the event, and Rob says there will be around 40 lifesavers and a flotilla of Marine Rescue craft monitoring the event with drones, jetskis and inshore rescue boats.
The Big Swim is the original event in the Pittwater Ocean Swim Series, which sees various surf lifesaving clubs in Newport, Bilgola, Mona Vale and Avalon hold event swims across weekends in January and March.
Participants who compete in three of the swim events will be eligible to enter the draw to win an Oceanfit ‘Swim The Whitsundays Tour,’ valued at $2,295.
For more information or to enter, visit thebigswim.org.au
PITTWATER OCEAN SWIM SERIES
7 January: Newport Pool to Peak Newport SLSC Events: 400m, 800m, 2km
14 January: Blackmores Billy Swim Bilgola SLSC Events: 500m, 1.5km
21 January: Warriewood to Mona Vale Swim Mona Vale SLSC Events: 1km, 2.26km
28 January: The Macquarie Bank Big Swim Whale Beach SLSC Events: 1km, 2.8km
17 March: Avalon Beach Surf Swims Avalon Beach SLSC Events: 1.2km, 2.5km
By Tamara Spray