F.A.Q's
You can select different categories of FAQ by clicking across the headings
All ages are your age on the day of the race, not at time of booking.
Ages 8 to 12 are in the Nippers Race - parents need to be on the Island, or can be on the water chaperoning their child. However they must not offer any physical assistance.
Ages 13 to 15 are in the Youth Race - parents must be on the island, but cannot 'follow' their child, the child needs to be sea confident and happy swimming the full 300m without needing to stop.
Anyone ages 16 or 17 can join into the full Burgh Island Swim, with the presence of a parent in the water swimming along side, and they must always remain together.
The Mass Start for the Race Entry, all swimmers will head out into a line/group along the causeway, when the whistle is sounded everyone starts at the same time.
The Trickle Start for the Charity Entry is more relaxed, swimmers head down the slipway in single file, across the timing mat, and enter the water and start a few at a time.
BURGH ISLAND
We start and finish on the slipway on Burgh Island - meaning you will need to be on the island to start. You swim around, and finish on the Island again before enjoying a BBQ, trophy ceremony etc THURLESTONE ARCH
We start on Leas Foot Sand, on the right hand side (when looking out to sea). The finish is on the same beach.
BURGH ISLAND
Yes, the best place to watch from is the Pilchard Pub, enjoy a pint and watch everyone set off. Once people are swimming you can walk around, or to the top of the island to get a better view of swimmers. You can catch the sea tractor across to the island, paddle or swim across. At mid and low tide you can walk across via the sandy causeway that connects to the mainland.
THURLESTONE ARCH
Spectators can watch the race from Leas Foot Sand, or walk the coast path South towards South Milton Sands, across the footbridge and closer to the Arch itself. The best place to be will be high up on the cliffs, being able to look down at the swimmers crossing the bay.
BURGH ISLAND 2026 TBC
THURLESTONE ARCH 2025 (Sun 28th Sept)
Registration Opens for all - 7.30am
Nippers and Youth Race Start - 8am
Prize giving (Nippers and Youth) - 8.30pm
3, 2 and 1 mile Swimmers (Mass Start) - 9am
1 Mile Prize Giving's - 10.15am
2 Mile Prize Giving's - 11.15pm
3 Mile Prize Giving's - 12.15pm
Sweep of the course - 12.30pm
Sun down - 7.30pm
Yes, there will be a short 5 minutes brief before the first wave of swimmers starts. You need to be at the start area 10 mins before the start of your race. All of the important information from the briefing will be in the race pack for you to download.
BOTH RACES We do not have a pace you need to swim, however the cut off for completing the Burgh Island swim is around 8.30pm, 30 mins before we start losing light. At Thurlestone Arch swimmers have around 3 hours to complete 3 miles, unless they are making steady and happy progress to the finish line. After this swimmers will be picked up and escorted back to the start. This is a pace of 7min per 100m (4 lengths of a standard pool) or 1 min 45 seconds per length which we feel is achievable by most.
Any forward facing stroke you like...doggy paddle, breaststroke, side stroke, freestyle, butterfly...you choose!
The races are timed right around a high water, meaning that we are swimming in the slackest water. Depending on the swell and wind direction, will determine the way which we swim - most likely it will be anti-clockwise at Burgh Island, however this may change so please be vigilant. At Thurlestone Arch we will also be swimming anti clockwise unless we have unusual swim conditions.
The Nippers (aged 8-11) and Youth (age 12-15) races are held just in front of the slipway on Burgh Island or on Leas Foot Sand, they will swim a triangular course, which is marked with buoys/markers and fully safety covered. Your children need to be able to swim unassisted. You can swim along side them for moral support if you need with the Nippers, but you cannot assist them in any way. If you do not wish to swim with your child, then you need to be on slipway area while your child is swimming. Children must be in the age group, for the age they are on race day - not age at time of booking. The Kids races are not chip timed, but each child will receive a medal, and a swim hat. There will be trophies for the kids who come 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Nippers, and then again in the Youth races. Your child does not have to race, they can swim for pure pleasure and will still receive their finishers medal. We do aim for the children's races to take no more than 30 minutes.
We have a series of qualified lifeguards and water rescue people around the courses at roughly 200m intervals. There will be a safety power boat on patrol. To get the attention of the safety crew, you need to shout, raise a hand, or use your whistle.
This is very dependent on the type of disability, it's best to get in touch with us on a case by case basis. We would love to help you conquer either of our races and are happy to help you accomplish this. You do however need to be able to swim the distance completely by yourself without the need for buoyancy help (e.g - You need a life jacket or buoyancy aid to help you float), though you can use a helper for guidance, and extra safety measures such as a tow float for added protection.
At Burgh Island the entry, and exit is a slipway, which is fairly steep and is also uneven at points. Accessing the Island by tractor involves climbing up and down very steep steps onto the platform. At Thurlestone Arch there is soft sand to access the water, but parking disabled bays with 200m of the water.
For example we can help with:
- A vision impairment, we are happy for you and friend/guide to swim together
- If you need a walking aid, we can store this for you while you swim