U24 Safety to Sorrento

It’s been a hot summer in Melbourne! In early February, we saw the hottest three-day period in a decade, peaking at 40°C (104°F). Just after the cool down, Tom and I geared up for another weekend away.

We headed down to the Mornington Peninsula after work on Friday. It's a 1 hour and 40-minute drive to Point Nepean National Park, located at the very tip of the peninsula. After spending a day there last year, I was excited to camp at the park's pre-pitched Discovery Tents. Settling in for the night, Tom and I rested up for what would be an exciting and physically demanding Saturday.

U24 Safety to Sorrento is a 24km ultra marathon swim course stretching from Safety Beach to Sorrento. Originally organized by the SwimWell coaches in 2022, the event was created for Victorian swimmers who couldn’t travel to Western Australia during COVID-19 for the iconic Rottnest Channel Swim. Many  events take place around Melbourne, but this one stood out to me for its scenic coastline swim.

Solo swimmers can choose to swim either the second half (12km / 7.5mi) or the full course (24km / 14.9mi). Alternatively, you can participate as part of a 4-person relay team, with each swimmer covering 6km (3.7mi). Each swimmer is paired with a paddler for safety and support. Most swimmers maintain an average pace of 3km per hour (20 minutes per km), meaning the full 24km course takes around 8 hours to complete.

I was matched with a non-assisted relay team (no wetsuits) alongside Lisa, Sally, and Tim. Our team had two dedicated kayakers: Gilles paddled the first half, and Terry took over for the second. Tom and Lisa’s partner, Michael, served as our ground crew.

Gilles, Sally, Tim, Lisa

After a stunning stunning sunrise over the bay, the first swimmers hit the water around 7am under very windy conditions. 

As the most experienced swimmer on our team, Sally powered through the choppy water to McCrae.

Then it was my turn to carry the torch to Capel Sound. The wind and waves made for a tough swim, but my nerves faded to joy as I settled into a rhythm. The water temperature was mild, and I spotted plenty of wildlife—including banjo sharks (which are actually rays, not sharks) and stingrays. 

My open water training with the bay squad paid off. Gilles told me I was really strong for the first 5km, but I started fading in the last stretch. Nutrition is key!

Tim, the youngest of our group, took on the third leg to Tyrone Beach.

Lisa, a returning relay participant, swam the final 6km to the finish line in Sorrento, bringing us home strong. I really enjoyed getting to know Lisa, who happens to live in our neighborhood.

I was so impressed by everyone, especially the long-distance swimmers. Swimming is one of my favorite physical activities, and I am curious to see how far I can go—though I’ll need to consider my fueling strategy. Staying hydrated and fueled while swimming is definitely trickier than on bike or foot, but I'm willing to figure it out!

Tom and I spent another night camping before heading home on Sunday. I had hoped to squeeze in some exploring, but the weekend turned out to be all about the swim.