The first ever South Coast Swim in Bournemouth, featuring open water swimming distances ranging from 250m to 10km for all skill levels.
The South Coast Swim makes its debut in Bournemouth on Saturday 19 September 2026, the first open water swimming event of its kind for the town. It's set up to work for a wide range of abilities, with six different distances to choose from on the day, so you can pick the one that fits where you're at. The shortest is 250m, and it goes all the way up to 10km, which is an official Olympic distance and comes with its own feed station. The organisers describe it as open to everyone from beginners getting their first taste of open water to high-performance swimmers looking for a proper challenge, and it's aimed at families and teams as well.
All the races happen on the same day, so if you're bringing a group, you can each pick your own distance and still be there for the same event. The 10km and the 2-mile start earliest at 12:00, followed by the 1-mile and 5km at 12:30, the half-mile at 13:00, and the 250m at 14:00. Each has its own cut-off time: 4 hours 30 minutes for the 10km, 2 hours 15 minutes for the 2-mile, 1 hour 30 minutes for the 1-mile, 2 hours 30 minutes for the 5km, 50 minutes for the half-mile, and 30 minutes for the 250m. Every entry includes chip timing, a swim cap, a finisher's t-shirt, and access to an Athlete Village with local food, music, and brands.
On the safety side, there are lifeguards and medical cover on hand throughout. Wetsuits are recommended but not mandatory; if you go without one, you'll just need to sign an extra risk acknowledgement. Safety tow floats are encouraged, too. The organisers do reserve the right to change the route or cancel if the weather turns or the water quality isn't right, and they won't offer refunds for force majeure. Final details go out a month before the event.
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It's a paid entry, and the price depends on the distance you choose: £29 for the 250m, £49 for the half-mile, £54 for the 1-mile, £64 for the 2-mile, £69 for the 5km, and £99 for the 10km. If you need to change your distance later, there's a £6 admin fee, and optional bag drop is £5 per item. Entries close a week before the event or once capacity is reached, and it's open to anyone 18 or over.
