Rottnest Channel Swim Opportunities in Australia Grow With Return of Out of Event Crossings; First One This Weekend

Open water swimming in Australia is getting a big boost as the more opportunities for the Rottnest Channel crossings will resume.

The Rottnest Channel swim is a swim from Perth to Rottnest Island on the western coast of Australia.

The added opportunities are led by Out of Event Crossings, which collaborates with the Rottnest Channel Swim Association and Fremantle Ports.

Out of Event Crossings were paused in 2021 while Fremantle Ports and the Rottnest Channel Swim Association reviewed the practice.

“It was pivotal we took the time to find a solution that would provide the utmost safety to both our swimmers and the Port,” Rottnest Channel Swim Association President Kirsty Bellombra said. “A part of what makes swimming the Rottnest Channel so iconic is the fact that you’re swimming in some of the world’s most pristine waters, which also happen to be a shipping channel.”

Fremantle Ports is Western Australia’s largest and busiest general cargo port, handling $3.6 million of trade every hour. Swimmers undertaking a crossing between the mainland and Rottnest Island must swim across the Gage Roads shipping channel.

While hundreds of swimmers from around the world have continued to swim the channel at the annual Rottnest Channel Swim, the lack of opportunity outside the single day has been a pain point for the swimming community.

“The return of Out of Event Crossings sees an additional 80 spots for swimmers to undertake the 19.7km solo swim between Rottnest Island and the mainland between December and April,” Bellombra said. “This crossing can also qualify swimmers for other significant swims such as the English Channel, Catalina Channel, and the 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan Island, and we are excited to be providing that opportunity.”

The first person to undertake the newly formatted Rottnest Channel Swim Out of Event Crossing will be 2021 Rottnest Channel Swim winner and world record holder Andrew Donaldson, who is aiming to raise $33,000 for Telethon.

Donaldson is a triple world record holding open water swimmer from Perth. According to Out of Event Crossing, he is the only individual to have finished the Oceans Seven (seven of the world toughest open water swims) in less than one year.

On Oct. 22, Donaldson plans to swim the 19.7km from Rottnest Island to the mainland, run 3kms from Leighton Beach to Mosman Bay before jumping in the Swan River to swim another 10km to Elizabeth Quay. All fundraising proceeds from his Swim for Telethon will support the Perron Institute in improving outcomes for youth mental health.

“I’m so excited for Andy’s swim. This is a huge moment for the global swimming community and to see Out of Event Crossing return in this way will be incredible,” Bellombra said.

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