Welcome to the 2008 Open Sea Swim Race Season!

Congratulations to those of you who are regular all year round swimmers and welcome back to the summer visitors.

This year promises to be as full and fulfilling as its predecessors with two new swims in Salthill: one in Salthill, Galway hosted by Corrib WPC, and the other in Salthill, Dun Laoghaire hosted by Templeogue SC. Both are qualifiers for the Harbour and the Liffey. I encourage you all to swim as many races as possible… and bring your friends! It is after all, the swimmers who make this the great sport it is.

I am delighted to welcome Dublin Port Company as our new sponsor for The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Swim, and of course welcome back to Dublin City Council as title sponsors of the Liffey Swim. Last year's innovations of online entry and overseas categories for both the Harbour and the Liffey will continue this year. As always, the Open Sea Committee are working on making the season as safe and enjoyable for as many swimmers as possible.

I would once again like to thank the Dublin Civil Defence for their committment and contribution to the safe running of the open sea swims.

I wish you all the best for a safe and successful 2008 season.

Jane Reid
Chairman
Open Sea Committee

We have just published the Open Sea Calendar for 2008. See the link opposite.

Organising Clubs
At the Open Sea committee's Safety meeting in May 2007 the Safety Guidelines were revised and agreed for the 2007 season with the help of the RNLI. [These notes remain here for 2008 pending any changes].

The RNLI guidelines cover planning and running a race, under what circumstances a race should be cancelled and provide sample forms for, Risk Assessment, Rescue, and an Emergency Action Plan.

The Open Sea Committee requires clubs to provide a designated Safety Officer for each race who will liaise with the Open Sea Safety Officer on the day. Clubs must also provide an Equipment Officer to ensure all equipment, - buoys, anchors, weights, radios are used and returned safely and in good order.

Under sixteen swimmers must have a parental consent form signed and present this to the safety officer on race day. Only one form per season is required.

It is also perhaps worth pointing out that whilst the committee and the race organisers take all possible safety measures into consideration, Open Water swimming is an extreme sport and swimmers compete at their own discretion and within the limits of their own ability. Any swimmer who does not like the conditions on any race day should not swim.

Open Sea Safety Guidelines
Click here to download/view a copy of the RNLI-approved Open Sea Safety Guidelines.

Safety Management Plan
Click here to download/view a sample Event Safety Management Plan.

Sea Swim Race Day Checklist
Click here to download/view the Sea Swim Race Day Checklist.

Under 16 Competitor's Parental Consent Form
Click here to download/view the Under 16 Competitor's Parental Consent Form.

We wish you all an enjoyable and successful season.