Rottnest Channel Swim organizers have been forced to cancel the prestigious Western Australian event due to dangerous weather conditions. Today we will discuss about Rottnest Swim: Cancelled| Update| Tracker| Record.
Rottnest Swim: Cancelled| Update| Tracker| Record
The Rottnest Channel Swim is an annual open water swimming event that takes place from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island via Gauge Roads off the coast of Western Australia, near Perth.
Cancelled
Thousands of swimmers taking part in the Rottnest Channel Swim have been evacuated from the water after organizers were forced to abandon the race due to dangerous weather conditions.
When the call was made on Saturday morning, the contestants had been at sea for about three to four hours.
“Following advice from the Bureau of Meteorology, Surf Life Saving WA and Marine Rescue Fremantle, the association made the difficult decision to cancel the event to protect the safety of its participants,” organizers said.
“Due to unsafe weather conditions all participants are asked to leave the water at 10am.”
It is believed that many people had to be rescued from the water as the program began, compromising medical resources.
“The RSCA is devastated for all of our participants,” organizers said.
“Unfortunately, the weather has now been classified as extreme risk.”
Organizers of the event said it was the second time in its 34-year history that the swim had been canceled due to bad weather, the other incident occurring in 2007.
Usually swimmers start arriving at Rottnest Island, 19.7 kilometers from Cottesloe Beach, after about three and a half to four hours, although this year no one made it there.
Update
Two 15-year-old boys and two women in their 20s were pulled from the water at the start of the incident and taken to Fremantle’s Fiona Stanley Hospital.
All four have been discharged.
While some managed to complete the swim, participants who did not reach the 14 kilometer mark were asked to exit immediately.
“Following advice from the Bureau of Meteorology, Surf Life Saving WA and Marine Rescue Fremantle, the association has made the difficult decision to cancel the event to protect the safety of its participants,” a statement from organizers said.
“The RCSA [Rottnest Channel Swim Association] is devastated for all our participants. Unfortunately, the weather has now been classed as extreme risk.”
This is the second time in the event’s 34-year history that the swim has been canceled due to bad weather.
Tracker
The Roto Swim app is here! This app allows you to track your position on the Roto Swim race course on the day of the event, plot your position on your desired route using the phone GPS, upload your personal/customized route, view all major event announcements (usually only Listened to) VHF radio) as well as broadcast your position to track loved ones.
Dashboard – a quick display of your position on the race course, the route you are following, as well as your distance from the start and finish
Map – A visual map of the race course including approximate buoy locations to see your position as well as the positions of other swimmers
Routes – You can choose from the given route options or upload your custom route
Radio Log – to see all event updates as they are announced
Record
The South32 Rottnest Channel Swim is a 19.7 km open water long distance swim starting from Cottesloe Beach (Mudurup) to Rottnest Island (Wadjemup), Perth, Western Australia.
