Thousands of people are preparing to take part in Western Australia’s most iconic open water swimming event, but a strong weather warning threatens to cancel it just 48 hours before it begins.
The Rottnest Channel Swim is scheduled to take place on Saturday, and swimmers and their logistics teams have been monitoring every gust of wind, every current and every announcement during months of preparation.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting strong winds of 30 knots, or about 55 kilometers per hour, on Saturday morning.
Winds of up to 55km/h are expected, causing concern for swimmers and support crews. (ABC News)
Officials are considering whether the swim can be carried out safely due to the bad weather, but it is unclear how late a decision will be made.
One of the world’s largest open water events, the swim spans approximately 20km, starting off the coast of Perth’s Cottesloe Beach and ending in Thomson Bay on Rottnest Island.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Jessica Lingard said the conditions were comparable to the bad weather that forced the cancellation of the 2024 swim after it began.
Event organizers said participants will be notified via text message by no later than 4:30 a.m. Saturday if the event does not take place. (ABC News: Eliza Lashon)
“I am not a member of that decision-making committee, but [I am] I thought that might be the direction,” she said.
Strong southwesterly winds were expected to have a negative impact on swimmers attempting to cross the Channel.
The deep-sea swim between Perth and Rottnest Island has been held every year since 1991, attracting thousands of swimmers accompanied by support crews on boats.
If the 2026 swim is canceled, it would be the third time in the event’s 34-year history, but the event would have continued despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Event organizers said participants will be notified via text message by no later than 4:30 a.m. Saturday if the event does not take place.
Safety first, swimming later
While swimmers are monitoring the skies, Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club is monitoring the sea in hopes of improving conditions by Saturday.
The club will be responsible for water safety for the first 1.5km of the swim.
A swimmer jumps off a boat to join the team during the Rottnest Channel Swim. (Provided by: Philipp Rechter)
The remaining distance depends on the confidence of the swimmer and the captain to overcome the swells.
Club chairman Julian Barry said there were many people who had already made the decision not to take the risk.
“And some people train for 12 months, put their lives on hold for this event, and keep doing tricks and tricks until they say they can’t do it.”
he said.
The first swimmers began their swim at 5:45 a.m., but weather conditions tend to worsen during the later hours of the swim.
Barry said the situation rarely starts out bad and then gets better.
“The safety of our swimmers, boats and kayakers is our top priority,” he said.
Meanwhile, the abalone fishery in WA has been postponed to this weekend due to “expected hazardous conditions.”
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