Swimming Events 2024
The Summer of 2023 saw some of the most unstettled coastal conditions in a long time! It played havoc with our swimming events. The swim series and all individual swims for Solva, Abereiddy and Whitesands were postponed to 2024. If you are booked on any of these, you should have recieved numerous emails as to what is happening. If you have not recieved any emails, please check Spam/Junk folders
No New bookings will not be taken till we have confirmation of all deferals.
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The Swim to the Edge Series 2024
The Swim to the Edge Series, will see the competitors taking on our 3 major open water swimming challenges over a long weekend in July.
The Big 3 comprise of
- The Great White – Whitesands Swim 2.4 Miles (new swim) – Fri 19th July
- The Green Monster – Solva Swim approx 2miles (Black Run 1mile) – Sat 20th July
- The Blue Monster – Abereiddy Swim 2.2 miles (1k option) – Sun 21st July
Each of these swims are in iconic spots and each present their own unique challenge. Each swim can also be entered as a standalone event, For more details please see each swim’s section.
If you enter all 3 swims you will obtain points for your position in each swim and the overall winners will obtain a special prize! Those who complete all 3 swims will also receive a Swim to the Edge Big 3 medal. This will be on top of the individual medals they have for each event.
To read more about the Swim to The Edge Series Click Here
Important Things to Note / Consider
- Swimming in the sea, deserves respect and you should train in the sea prior to entering any of our swimming events.
- Swimming events can be held in force 3 to 4 conditions, this create a fair amount of chop, wind and swell for the swimmers. So ensure you experience similar conditions prior to entry.
- There will be safety cover on the swims that will attend to you if needs be and to put you back on course if you stray off it. However this cover is not there to guide individuals around, you should be competent at sighting and composing yourself in deep water.
- Floats are optional as they are those that prefer them and those that don’t, plus floats are not always the best option in certain conditions such as stiff winds.
Skin Swimmers
- Skin swimmers are welcome in our events under the following criteria
- That you are a regular skin swimmer (once a week minimum)
- That you have swam (skin swimming) a similar distance to the event you are entering in UK waters within the past 12 months
- That you have made appropriate arrangements for rewarming immediately after coming out of the water.
- Floats are strongly recommended unless your proven and genuine experience and ability overrides the necessity to use one. This is subjective and for you to honestly decide on.
Bad Weather!
- Please read and agree to the terms and conditions on the booking page as to what the options are in case of bad weather.
- We are at the mercy of the sea and conditions can be volatile at any time of the year, We will be monitoring this in the build up to the event and will make our best decision asap and relay this to you. Unfortunately with the nature of the sea, this is sometimes an extremely late call.
- If the sea is to rough for the safety teams to safely operate in, or visibility so poor, the event will not be held.
- The T&C’s are on the booking page and we will do all we can to relay this to you and do the best we can in the event of a swim being postponed.
Green Monster and Black Run – Solva
Saturday 20th July 2024.
Both the Green Monster and Black run are the original in the Swim to the edge series, They are both held on the same day with a 5 minute difference in starting times. The swims are set in the idyllic harbour village of Solva, which lies in the middle of the Pembrokeshire coast national park.
The Green Monster Swim, Approximately 2 miles.
It’s not marked out with buoys, it’s about swimming out of the harbour and around the Imposing Green Scar Island. The swim has a number of challenging points. Mainly The exit out of the harbour past black rock, the mental challenge of the deep water and swell of St Brides Bay, The Navigation and combating the swell as you round Green Scar and finally the sighting as you head back to the harbour. All of this makes the swim one of the most scenic and challenging open water swims in the UK. It’s a real Swimming Challenge.
The Black Run, Approximately 1 mile
The Black run is approximately 1 mile and like the Green Monster, you will have the challenges of coming out of the harbour into the deep water, before rounding buoys and getting your sighting right to get back into the harbour.
Overview
Both swims are proper sea swimming challenges and should only be attempted by persons who are experienced sea swimmers. Do not let these swims be your first sea swim.
Skin Swimmers
We welcome skin swimmers at our events, But we ask that any skin swimmers are experienced in swimming a similar distance, in UK waters within the past 12 months and have trained for this event as a skin swimmer. If there are enough skin swimmers awards will be issued.
Due to the postponements of 2023 – No new entries are being taken at the moment. But we anticpate a small number of places will be opened up.
Event Entrance Include
- T-shirt
- Hat
- Medal
- Safety cover
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Do Not Let This Be Your First Sea Swim!
Both swims are challenging. Once you come out of the shelter of the harbour you can/will be faced by wind and swell. And as you go around Green Scar you may be faced with strong currents. You will need to be a competent and confident open water swimmer to take on this challenge.
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The Black Run 1m
The Swim Logistics for 2024
Will be published nearer the time and email details to those registered. But in the meantime we would like to remind everyone
This is a tough Swim and requires a good level of swim fitness and confidence in the open water. We also expect anyone that registers to view the route map and research the route, there are a lot of photos and maps on google that will help you visualise it. And any questions please email us well in advance as the day of the event might be too late to ask.
The Great White – Whitesands, Approximately 2.4 miles
Date – Friday 19th July 2024
The Great White is based in and around Whitesands Bay.
The Great White swim is approximately 2.4 miles, The swim is a similar set up to Ironman events as it will be broken up into two sections with an Aussie Exit. The location, is at one of Pembrokeshires most famous beaches, with it’s golden sands and great views, please be mindful that there may be a surf entrance or finish.
This will be a challenging yet rewarding swim.
Overview
The Great White Swim is a proper sea swimming challenge and should only be attempted by persons who are experienced sea swimmers. Do not let these swims be your first sea swim.
Skin Swimmers
We welcome skin swimmers at our events, But we ask that any skin swimmers are experienced in swimming a similar distance, in UK waters within the past 12 months and have trained for this event as a skin swimmer. If there are enough skin swimmers awards will be issued.
Due to the postponements of 2023 – No new entries are being taken at the moment.
Event Entrance Include
- T-shirt
- Hat
- Medal
- Safety cover
Please Note
- In the event of adverse weather, the route may be changed and or shortened
- This swim may have surf and swell, so please be a competent open water swimmer before entering – you need to have trained in the sea!
Refunds / Deferrals / Transfers Policy
Organising events relies on pre bookings, to establish what our outlays will be and how much of everything there is to order. Therefore, so that we are not left at a loss by ordering unnecessary items the following policy is in place.
• You can obtain a refund of 80% up until a month before the event
• No refunds will be issued after 1 month before the start of the event
• You can transfer your place to another athlete up until 5 days before the start of the event.
• You can defer your place to the following years event up until 2 weeks before the start of the event. Only one deferred entry is allowed.
• You can transfer your entry to another event of the same value, up until 2 weeks before the event (assuming there is space on the other event) (not available on deferred places)
Our events are held in the outdoors in wonderful places and that is what makes them challenging and spectacular. Unfortunately, from time-to-time extreme weather conditions can cause serious disruption to the areas of the event or make the running of the event unsafe or irresponsible. On such occasions we may have to postpone the event. If this is done, we will look for the nearest possible date to reschedule the event. If a rescheduled date proves to be unsuccessful or one cannot be found entries will be deferred to the following years event.
What this means is
If an event is cancelled due to adverse weather, or an unforeseen incident, emergency or such matter that is totally out of our control.
• No refunds will be given
• You will be deferred to the new date
• If the New date does not suit you, you will be transferred to the following years event.
• Throughout this process you will have the opportunity to transfer your place to another person or swap to another of our events of the same value.
We hope you appreciate the reasons behind such a policy and understand the work and financial commitment that goes into an event and the lead up, such as staff hours, merchandise buying and marketing. And having to cancel or having a large number of requests for refunds can make future events unsustainable. We also very much appreciate the time and financial commitment you have put into training and preparing for an event and the frustration you have at it being postponed. That is why we try to be as fair as possible in dealing with these matters.
Our insurance does not cover cancelations; However, I know there are companies that cover individual competitors for entry fees on cancelled events. If you do a large number of events and ones of high value this may be something to look into.
We would also like to thank our many customers from present and over the years for their support.
The Blue Monster – Abereiddy, Approximately 2 miles
Date Sunday 21st July 2024
The Blue Monster is based in and around Abereiddy Bay and the Blue Lagoon, the site of the Welsh leg of the RedBull World Cliff diving championships and many other adventure sports.
The Blue Monster swim is approximately 2 miles, The actual route will change year on year. We will endeavor to either start or finish in the Lagoon and to meander our way around the bay. The swim will have your open water navigation tested to the full and please be mindful that there may be a surf entrance or finish.
This will be a challenging yet rewarding swim.
Overview
The Blue Monster Swim is a proper sea swimming challenge and should only be attempted by persons who are experienced sea swimmers. Do not let these swims be your first sea swim.
Skin Swimmers
We welcome skin swimmers at our events, But we ask that any skin swimmers are experienced in swimming a similar distance, in UK waters within the past 12 months and have trained for this event as a skin swimmer. If there are enough skin swimmers awards will be issued.
Due to the postponements of 2023 – No new entries are being taken at the moment.
Event Entrance Include
- T-shirt
- Hat
- Medal
- Safety cover
Swimmers Category – The Full list of awards will be finalised 2 weeks prior to the event and depend on numbers. But these will be included
- First Male – First Female – First Male O50, First Female O5o.
- First Male Skin Swimmer – First Female Skin Swimmer
- Points will also be allocated for the Swim to the Edge Series
Skin Swimmers – Please note
If you are going to swim the event without a wetsuit (skin Swimmers) you will have to agree to our T&C’s and confirm that you have swam similar distance in UK waters (sea) without a wetsuit and have trained for this event without a wetsuit.
The Blue Monster Swim – 2.2 Miles approx.
This really is a monster of an open water swim. A swim where you will have to navigate your way out of the blue lagoon, around Abereiddy Bay and back into the Lagoon. It’s an exciting one!
The start and finish are in one of Wales’s most iconic coastal spots, the Blue Lagoon, host of the RedBull World Cliff diving championships and many more events over the years. The Lagoon is like an amphitheater and worth a visit to the area alone. Once you leave the Lagoon, you will be out into open water and making your way across Abereiddy Bay to Pwll Deri inlet, before heading back to the beach, where you will do a little Aussie Exit and jump back into the water before swimming back into the Lagoon. Quite a trip!!
PLEASE NOTE
- This has the potential of being a Surf Entrance into the Water (after the Aussie Exit)
- The swim route, involves good sea swimming ability and confidence
- The Swim in general may well involve rolling sea swell
- You will have to navigate yourself around rocks
THIS IS A TOUGH SWIM AND SHOULD ONLY BE ATTEMPTED BY COMPETANT SEA SWIMMER.
There will be a smaller 1K swim at the same time, details for this to follow.
Tour Reviews
I’ve completed a few Man Up events, all have been highly organised and the swim to the edge doesn’t disappoint. It’s a stunning event set in the picturesque village of Solva. You get chance to acclimatise to the crystal clear blue water as you swim through the harbour towards the start line. Your then heading out past black scar rock and onto Green scar for the 2.5 mile out and back. On the return leg is when your glad you payed attention to the race briefing as it covers sighting the harbour for the finish line, however there are plenty of safety craft out with you to point you in the right direction. This is a truly stunning event that will now be a yearly tradition. In fact the wife and daughter are both signed up for 2017. Highly recommended.
Awesome event. I used this as preparation for Ironman Wales and being a beginner at the open water swimming game found this to be a great challenge with the comfort of knowing there is help (if needed) close at hand.
We stayed on for the Edge festival. Cracking fun weekend that everybody should try.
Did the inaugural Solva Swim (Black Scar that yeat) which was great especially as there was no need to wear a wet-suit so the Blue Monster caught my eye. However, in reading more, I now see wet-suits are compulsory so instead of a swim its a bouyant neoprene float and paddle. Thought it was a Man-Up event rather than a wet-suit up and man-down. Any chance of relaxing rules for real-swimmers to join in?! That would be awesome if health & safety will permit.
Hi Justin, you can do the 1k Blue lagoon swim without a wetsuit but for this year the Blue Monster will be a wetsuit swim, we will review this for next years event – sorry to disappoint cheers
In relation to Justin’s query, could competent swimmers go without a wetsuit of they were to use a tow float? Just a thought, if it would cover the floatation safety aspect?
Only just found out about this swim, not sure if I can make it but will try. Love all your events.
Cheers,
Batman ?
Hi Batman!!!
What distance are you thinking of?
Cheers
Fintan
Recently swam the Blue Monster event on the weekend. Quite challenging with swell on the way back and an aussie exit/return on the pebbled beach was a nice touch. We also finished up with some tombstoning in the Blue Lagoon post swim (not part of the event). Yet again another great event organised by Fintan and the team. I will hopefully be back again in 2019 for both Solva and Aberieddy swims. Thank you.
Very friendly event. The Black Run mile was enough for a fairly competent swimmer with very little training, although the swell was a little daunting at first. Thank you to all the 2019 organisers.
The Green Monster. My first organised sea swim, and what a swim! Amazing atmosphere down at Solva and a testing choppy swim. Really enjoyed it, hope to do the Blue Monster next year! Thanks for a great event Fintan and team.
Today I completed the 2021 Green Monster Swim. It was by far the roughest run of the event that I’ve done but did not dissapoint. I’ve done this swim every year, ba last year for obvious reasons.
The wildlife was interesting, suprised sea birds at the back of Green Scar and the indiferent jellyfish throughout the swim, at least four different species. This really is a super event and I hope to continue it for the forseable future.
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