Fremantle to Rottnest Big Splash

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• Fremantle to Rottnest Big Splash
• Race Briefing
• 11th March 2008

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General Information

• On Saturday 15th March 2008, the 5th annual
  Fremantle to Rottnest Swim will take place.
• This fun and friendly charity event is made up of
  a number of different categories, catering for
  various fitness levels or degrees of
  participation. These categories include
• ? Solo Swimmers (aided or unaided by use of
  wetsuit/fins)
• ? Competitive teams of 4 swimmers
• ? Participative teams of up to 10 swimmers
  (aided or unaided by use
  of swim fins)
• ? Individual or team paddlers (single or double
  skis, sea kayaks and board paddles)
• ? Corporate teams
• Each category is further divided into age groups
  including groups for seniors and school kids.

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2008 Map
PARTICIPANTS MUST PASS TO THE NORTH OF THE BUOYS
AT 5, 10 15 KM
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Event Rules

• FINA Rules for open water swimming apply to teams
  of four and solo swim only.
• One team representative must present themself at
  the registration desk 30 mins prior to their
  allocated start time. Each swimmer and paddler at
  the start shall have their number written on both
  arms before starting.
• The minimum age for all swimmers including those
  in teams at the date of the swim is 13 years.

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Event Rules continued

• Each participant must indemnify the Minister and
  respective Officers of the Department for
  Planning and Infrastructure, Fremantle Port
  Authority, Rottnest Island Authority, and race
  swim officials against any claim for damages or
  injury arising as a result of the swim.
• Swimmers and escort craft shall give way to
  commercial shipping. Race Officials will advise
  swimmer escort craft paddlers of shipping
  movements for that day prior to the start of the
  event.
• Participation in these events is voluntary and
  the organisations, officials or volunteers can
  accept no liability on the day of the Freo to
  Rotto Big Splash.
• Exemptions from carriage of mandatory safety
  equipment has been granted for participants in
  the paddle event (participants to wear a PFD Type
  2 or equivalent and carry 2 x hand distress
  flares). Paddlers escorting swimmers are exempted
  totally.
• This exemption applies for the duration of the
  event

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Race Start
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Race Start Procedure

• Holding Area
• Support craft do not need to arrive at the
  holding area more then 15mins prior to the time
  their swimmers wave will leave the start line.
• Support craft moving from the holding area to the
  start channel should head close to shore to avoid
  mixing with craft leaving from the swim lane
  area.
• Once you have identified your swimmer, proceed
  along the course.

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Race Start Procedure continued

• A safety vessel will be moored at the 1500m mark.
  Swimmers who have not joined their support boat
  by this point will remain at the safety vessel
  until joined by their support boat.
• No team changes are to take place inside first
  1000m.
• It is the responsibility of the swimmer to ensure
  their boat is on time. If a swimmer I
  unaccompanied by their boat at 1500m they
• are instructed to swim to the safety boat.
  Support boats should use this point to locate
  their swimmer.

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The Race Course

• A coloured buoy will be placed at the 5km, 10km
  and 15km distances of the swim. Swimmers must
  swim to the north of these buoys. GPS positions
  for the buoys are as follows
• Fremantle Beach - Leighton
• 5 km 33.01.10S 115.41.90E
• 10km 32.00.56S 115.38.73E
• 15km 32.00.07S 115.35.68E
• These points are in line with a compass
  bearing (280o True) from Fremantle Beach. (see
  diagram on the reverse side of the Boat
  Information Chart)

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The Race Course continued

• On reaching Philip Rock, the swim continues on
  the Northern side into the line of red buoys with
  flags on top which will put the swimmers on the
  Northern side of the ferry channel, then taking
  them to the Eastern end of the ferry jetty at
  which time they will swim down the Northern side
  of the ferry jetty to the beach and the finish
  line
• Boats/Swimmers are not permitted to enter the
  ferry channel on the south side of the line of
  marker / flagged buoys nor are boats / swimmers
  to enter between Phillip Rock and Rottnest Island
  (Refer to Finish Map)

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During the Race

• Icon Craft and visible markers
• Prominent markers will be in position for
  swimmers and paddlers to identify the 1500 metre,
  5km, 10km and 15km marks
• After Cut-off Deadline
• All competitors who have been in the water longer
  than the allocated cut-off time are required to
  leave the water, as official vessels no longer
  provide support and insurance no longer covers
  the activity. Competitors will be allowed to
  travel to the next marker and re enter the race
  thus allowing them to finish the race in the
  allocated time.

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During the Race continued

• There will be no set swim time or order for the
  swimmers. At each changeover, swimmers shall tag
  a least 10metres from the escort craft in a
  visible manner.
• Boat engines shall be in neutral when taking a
  swimmer on board and boats shall not back up to
  pick up a swimmer (The swimmer should be on the
  windward/weather-side of the boat).
• If your swimmer is not visible OUT OF GEAR
• Swimmers shall swim between the marked buoys at
  the start, Phillip Rock and finish (refer to
  Maps)

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Entrance to Thompson Bay

• All craft must enter Thompson bay north of
  Phillip Rock
• All craft must move to the south side of the
  swimmer.
• Once reaching the 400m swim lane, all craft must
  turn to the south and
• a) Move off to berth, mooring or anchorage
• b) Keep clear of through traffic
• c) Vessels wishing to cross the race course must
  do
• so EAST of the EAST CORDINAL

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During the Race

• The channel from the two buoys at the East
  Cardinal is clearly marked by flagged buoys.
  Support boats are to remain south of the flagged
  buoys and should avoid entering the swim channel.
  
• Swimmers shall swim between the marked buoys for
  the last 400m. To the south side of the swim
  channel is the ferry jetty.
• The cut off time for the finish is 5.00pm. The
  event officially finishes at this time and all
  event services will therefore cease to operate.

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Important Information for SKIPPERS

• Escort Boat Details
• Team Escort boats must be a minimum of 6 metres.
  Life Jackets must be provided for each person on
  board plus an extra one for each swimmer and
  paddler. The vessel and equipment must comply
  with the WA Navigable Waters Regulations 1958 (as
  amended). SEE RST Logbook Third edition.
• It is the responsibility of the entrants to
  organise their own escort craft
• If the boat fails a Marine Safety (Department for
  Planning and Infrastructure) inspection, the team
  or individual will be withdrawn from the race.
• PWCs (JETSKIS) ARE NOT PERMITTED
• Boats operating sunset sunrise must display the
  
• correct navigation lights (see RST Logbook 3rd
  Ed)

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Important Information for SKIPPERS

• Preparation of Support craft
• All support vessels must be equipped with the
  minimum mandatory safety equipment for operating
  more than 5 nautical miles from mainland.
• Go to www.dpi.wa.gov.au/imarine/rec_boating/index
  .
• This information available in the RST Logbook
  3rd Edition
• Support Boats
• Fremantle to Rottnest Big Splash encourages all
  Support boat Skippers to hold a Recreational
  Skippers Ticket. Prior to 01 April 2008, Skippers
  of vessels who are 25 years of age or less must
  hold an RST where the horsepower of the vessel is
  in excess of 6 HP

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• The support boat skipper is responsible for the
  safety and well-being of the swimmers crew AT
  ALL TIMES. Extreme care must be taken when
  launching or recovering swimmers.

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Important Information for Boat Drivers

• Radio Communication
• There will be a dedicated VHF and 27 MHZ radio
  channel for broadcasts by the Race Controller.
• This channel is for use by the Race Controller
  and should not be used by any other traffic.
• All instructions given by the race controller
  must be complied with.
• RACE CONTROLLER CHANNEL 94 (27meg) 77(VHF)
• INCIDENT/WITHDRAWALS CHANNEL 86(27meg) 74(VHF)
• MAYDAY EMERGENCY CHANNEL 88 (27meg) 16(VHF)
• For event safety, all withdrawals must notify
  the Race Controller immediately by radio on the
  VHF 74 or 27.86 MHz and report to the Race
  Recorders at the finish line.

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Emergency Notes

• Check your marine radio is functioning correctly
  If you turn the volume down remember to turn
  it back up.
• Clearly display your race number.
• Be prepared for seasickness. Treatment of both
  swimmers and crew members.
• Pack basic first aid supplies for minor
  afflictions including sunburn, dehydration, mild
  hypothermia, marine stingers etc.
• Carry adequate food and fluids for the event and
  post event.

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Summary of Emergency Procedures.

• Shark Attack
• Emergency Control Centre to be advised and will
  coordinate response under Shark Response
  Management Plan.
• Event cancelled all swimmers and paddlers out of
  the water and into boats.
• Safety Officers boats patrol course to alert
  others of attack, order swimmers and paddlers out
  of water.

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Summary of Emergency Procedures

• Shark Sighting
• Emergency Control Centre to be advised and will
  coordinate response under Shark Hazard Management
  Plan.
• Safety Officers boats patrol course to alert
  others of direction of the sighting, and attempt
  to move/ shepherd the shark out of the area.
• If a swimmer/team gets into boat, he/she or team
  is/are NOT disqualified.
• Safety Officer advises Race Control as to action
  taken.

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Summary of Emergency Procedures

• Injury/Trauma
• Closest boat with doctor on board heads for
  victim.
• Doctor assesses injury and takes necessary
  action.
• Swimmers boat evacuates injured person as
  directed by the Doctor.
• Safety advises Race Control of swimmers plight
  and withdrawal
• Hypothermia
• Or similar illness eg server seasickness, stings,
  etc.
• Closest boat with Doctor on board head for
  victim.
• Doctor assesses injury and takes necessary
  action.
• Swimmers boat evacuates injured person as
  directed by the Doctor.
• Safety advises Race Control of swimmers plight
  and withdrawal.

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Sponsors Thank you Esplanade Hotel Fremantle
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Thank you Sponsors!
Corporate Cup
Knee Deep Winery
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Supported Charities and Groups

• The Esplanade Hotel FremantleFreo to Rotto Big
  Splash is a fun charity event. After the costs of
  running the event are met, the balance of funds
  are donated with pride to the following
  organizations

Holyoak The Australian Institute on Alcohol
Drug Addiction Resolutions http//www.holyoake.org
.au
Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue http//www.freosear
escue.org.au
Fremantle Surf Lifesaving Club http//fremantlesur
fclub.com.au