The Avalon Beach Surf Swim has reached a new milestone with the commemoration of its 30th anniversary.

To celebrate, the Avalon Beach Surf Swim and Around the Bends (Newport to Avalon Beach) Swim went off almost without a hitch on Sunday 12 March 2023.

Club president Bernie McKay, said:  “It was a great day, and everything went smoothly with jelly blubber incidents managed by water safety (who were also stung) and then treated by club members on the beach.”

Over 360 swimmers in total entered the 2.5 km Newport to Avalon Beach swim, and the 1.2 km Avalon Beach swim.

The first event occurred 30 years ago, on Sunday 17 January in 1993, getting the participation of 511 swimmers. Over the years the numbers have varied, reaching the popular swim peak in 2010 when they attracted 1038 competitors.

Over its 30 years, the swim has received more than 26,879 swimmers, with only one event cancelled during Covid pandemic, making them unable to stage the events during the past 3 years.