All competitors MUST REGISTER ONLINE the night before their first swim!
No on-the-night registration.
2025-2026 Rylock Windows & Doors Summer Sea Swim
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
Location:
Nelson Yacht Club
Wakefield Quay, Nelson, 7010
Map and Directions
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 listening carefully to the briefing)
- 6:00 pm First wave starts, followed by each subsequent wave approximately 1 min. apart
Race Options & Wave Starts:
-
- Short course: orange caps
- Long course (3 separate waves)
- Wave 1: Strong swimmers (white caps)
- Wave 2: Confident swimmers (green caps)
- Wave 3: Recreational swimmers (red caps)
Each night will feature a short and a long course. The short course will generally range from 300m to 800m, while the long course will be 1000m to 1500m. Exact distances may vary depending on conditions. Where possible, the short course will extend to longer distances in the new year.
Less confident swimmers are encouraged to start at the rear of wave two or three. Kayakers will keep a close watch on these swimmers, who will also be monitored by 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 (though times will be recorded as a check to ensure all swimmers are accounted for).
Times will be adjusted to reflect the wave start, so you’ll receive your exact swim time. It’s important to verify your wave start during registration and ensure you have the correct coloured cap.
Payment Options
Select one:
- Pay Online Full Series (Non-Member): $135
- Select this option to pay online as a non-member.
- Pay Online Full Series (Club Member): $70
- Must be a Nelson Tri Member. Select this option to pay online as a club member. You must be a registered member to receive the discount. To become a member, visit Nelson Tri Club Membership. You’ll need to confirm your membership by entering your club membership number.
- School Student U18 (Non-Member): $100
- Select this option to pay online for school students under 18 who are non-members.
- School Student U18 (Club Member): $60
- Must be a Nelson Tri Member. Select this option to pay online as a school student U18 club member. You must be a registered member to receive the discount. To become a member, visit Nelson Tri Club Membership. You’ll need to confirm your membership by entering your club membership number.
- #Pay at Event (Single Swim):
- Bring cash on the night of your swim. Select this option if you plan to do a one-off swim or are a casual 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)
- Non-Member: $20 + $5 for *swim cap (1st swim total $25)
*Swim caps -All swimmers must wear the correct colour-coded series swim cap. If you don’t already have a series swim cap, you can purchase one for $5 and use it throughout the season.
All swimmers must register online no later than the night before their first swim!
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, 70-79, 80+
Long swim females under-16, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
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: