About Sea Swims

All competitors MUST REGISTER ONLINE the night before their first swim!
No on-the-night registration.

2023-2024 Rylock Windows & Doors  Summer Sea Swims

Swim Series History:

Sea swims have been held in Nelson over the summer on Thursday nights for 33 years, beginning in 1987. For the first 20 years, the swims were organised by Peter Owen of the Nelson company Eyebright, and were known as the Eyebright swims. That historical link remains, with the annual Eyebright Mile, actually a swim of 2km.

In 2007, organisation moved to a small group, working under the auspices of the Nelson Triathlon and Multisport Club. Rylock Windows & Doors became the naming rights sponsor for the Thursday series, which this season starts on November 16, 2023, with the final competition swim on March 14, 2024. Prizegiving , March 21, 2024.

Thursday Night Schedule:

  • 5:00 pm Check-in opens
  • 5:45 pm Check-in closes sharply (no late entries or check-ins)
  • 5:50 pm Race briefing ALL swimmers must be out of the water, on the ramp, ready for the swim and listen carefully to the race briefing.
  • 6:00 pm First wave starts followed by each wave approx. 1 minute apart

Location:

Nelson Yacht Club
Wakefield Quay
Nelson
7010
New Zealand
Map and Directions

Race Options & Wave Starts:

On each night there will be a short and a long course. The short swim will generally be 300m-800m, while the long swim will be 1000m-1500m. The exact distances will vary depending on conditions. Where possible, the short course swim will extend to longer distances in the new year.

    • Short course (orange caps).
    • Long course (3 separate waves)
      • Strong swimmers starting first (1-white caps)
      • Confident swimmers in wave two (2-green caps)
      • Recreational swimmers in wave three (3-red caps)

Less confident swimmers are asked to start at the rear of wave two or three. Kayakers will endeavour to keep a closer watch on these swimmers, who will also be in view of a shore official at all times. Choose these options if you enjoy the company and security of the series environment, but are not concerned about competition or times (times will be taken however as this is a check that all swimmers are accounted for).

Times will be adjusted to reflect the wave start, so you’ll receive your exact swim time. However, it’s important that you verify your wave start on registration and have the correct coloured cap.

*Swim caps -All swimmers must wear correct colour coded series swim cap. If you don’t already have a series swim cap you can purchase one for $5 and then use it again over the season.

Payment Options (Select one):

    • Pay online Full Series non-member ($125) -select this option to pay online (non-member).
    • Pay online Full Series Club member ($70) – must be Nelson Tri Member for race season 2023-2024.  -select this option to pay online as a club member. Note you must be a registered member to receive the discount. To become a member go to: Nelson Tri Club Membership for race season 2023/2024 You’ll need to confirm your club membership by entering in your club membership number.
    • School Student U18 non-member ($90) -select this option to pay online for school student U18 non-member.
    • School Student U18 Club member ($60) – must be Nelson Tri Member for race season 2023-2024. –select this option to pay online as a school student U18 club member. Note you must be a registered member to receive the discount. To become a member go to: Nelson Tri Club Membership for race season 2023/2024 You’ll need to confirm your club membership by entering in your club membership number.
    • Pay at Event (single swim) -bring cash on the night of swim. -select this option if you plan to do a one off swim or causal swimmer, cash only, on the night of each swim.
      • Nelson Club member $15 +$5 for *swim cap (1st swim total $20) (must be a Nelson Tri Club member for race season 2023/2024)
      • Non-member $20 +$5 for *swim cap (1st swim total $25)

Swimmers are asked to register online in advance of their first swim. Please check-in before 5:45pm each night of your swim and be on the ramp at 5:50pm for the race briefing (ALL swimmers MUST attend the race briefing!).

Click here to register

Note: Nelson Triathlon Club has a NO REFUND policy on club events.

Given the nature of the event and the challenges of tide and wave conditions, it is important that all athletes feel comfortable and confident swimming 500m front crawl in open water, whilst making significant forward progress at all times. Adherence to this requirement will be at the sole discretion of the race director.

How the series works:

The top female and male swimmer for the year will be determined by awarding points to the first ten male and female swimmers (regardless of age) in the long swim each night. 

The top non-wetsuit competitors will also be awarded points to determine the best non-wetsuit swimmers in male and female divisions. You will be asked to choose wetsuit or non-wetsuit when you enter. Buoyancy shorts, flotation shorts or core shorts may not be worn in the non-wetsuit division.  You must notify officials if you change between wetsuit and non-wetsuit during the season

As well, to determine the best swimmers in each age group, season points will accumulate in the following categories:

  • Short swim male under-16 
    Short swim female under-16 
    Short swim male 16+  
    Short swim female 16+  
    Long swim males under-16, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+  
    Long swim females under-16, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

As even the keenest swimmers can’t make every swim, season points will be taken on a competitor’s best swims taken over 66% of the season’s swims (if there are 18 or more swims, this will be the best 12 – if fewer than 18 swims are held, it will be over the best 11, etc). The age groups are decided on the swimmer’s age on December 1, 2023.

Things you should know and remember

Please register online. If you plan to do just a few races, choose the Pay at Event option and pay $tbc when you check in each night ($tbc on the first night to include a cap). By registering online, we have your emergency contact information, check-in is quicker and you’ll be on our mailing list for notifications in the future. If you wish to add other race options (such as Rylock Endurance swims) later you’ll need to complete a new online registration.

Swimmers will be allocated a race number, which will be written on the back of their left hand each night. Swimmers retain the same number for the entire season.

Each night’s course will be displayed on a whiteboard at the top of the ramp. It’s your responsibility to know the course, whether you’re swimming the short or the long swim.

The finish zone will be marked by two cones on the ramp at the waterline. The finish line is in knee-deep water in this zone, ie, the last place you can swim too – we recommend swimming as long as you can. Time will be taken when swimmers cross this line. Do not attempt to stand up to get a better place, this can be dangerous as conditions are often slippery It’s important to know the finish procedure – to see how this works, click here

Proceed between the cones in the order you finished. Your numbers will be taken then. If you need assistance, raise your hand and call out.

If you do not finish the race, be sure to notify the timekeepers that you have pulled out, otherwise we have no way of knowing that you’re not still in the water.

Results will be posted on this website as soon as possible after each race.

Sponsors:

Rylock Windows & Doors