Chillswim Windermere 2023 will take place on Saturday 2nd September. It’s the longest swim in England and a unique chance to swim the full 11 mile length with all of your swimming friends whilst knowing you are safe in the hands of the highly experienced management team at Chillswim.

There will be 7 x Start Waves at staggered times throughout the morning based on average mile pace to give you the best experience possible swimming along with other swimmers at a similar pace in the early stages, as the event progresses the waves will start to merge meaning swimmers can swim freely and unhindered at their own pace if they feel able to swim beyond the pace of their start wave. As with all Chillswim events this will be a wetsuit optional swim.

General entries are now SOLD OUT but there are a limited number of discounted charity places available – just click on the image below from our Charity Partners Level Water for further info and to grab your place;

2023 COMPETITOR INFORMATION & START LISTS

2023 Competitor Information Document is available HERE (coming soon)

2023 Start Lists with Wave Allocation are available HERE (pdf) HERE (excel) (coming soon)

Entry Fee and what’s included:

Standard entry fee is £195 per person, which includes:

• Transport from the Event Car Park to the Start in the South at the National Trust’s Fell Foot Park
• Transport from the Finish in the North at Waterhead back to the Event Car Park in Ambleside
• Professional Water Safety team provided by the UK’s leading Water Safety Specialists (Swim Safety) supporting you throughout the 11 Mile End to End swim 
• Feed stations at 1 mile intervals along the route providing water, energy drinks & jelly babies!
• Chillswim Windermere high quality silicone Event Swim Cap
• Chillswim Windermere Event Medal for each participant
• Chillswim Windermere Event Hoody for each participant
• Age Group Prizes for Wetsuit & non-wetsuit categories 
• Free Parking on race day for all participants

Route:

The route starts at Fell Foot Park at the Southern end of the Lake and after 11 miles finishes at Waterhead at the Northern end.

After the start from Fell Foot swimmers will then follow relatively close to the Eastern shore for the first 2 miles before being guided across towards the Western shore and then continue to swim relatively close to the Western Shore, passed the Ferry Crossing and to the west of the islands around Bowness including the largest island Belle Isle and continue North until crossing back over to the complete the swim at the traditional Windermere End to End Finish at Waterhead.

Swimmers will keep within approximately 50 metres of the shore for the vast majority of the route guided by the Numbered Event Mile Marker Buoys, the Feed Station Boats at the half way point between the Mile Markers and of course by the Support Paddlers and Watercraft provided by our professional Swim Safety Team who will be directing swimmers throughout.

Mandatory swim-float Use:

You must wear a swim tow-float/dry bag for this event.  Please note that the entry fee does not include a tow-float, you can purchase one at point of entry or if you require one after entering please CLICK HERE

Feed stations:

There will be boat-based feed stations along the route near to the shore approximately halfway between every mile marker of the swim with water, energy drink and jelly babies.

How does the event work?

Here are a few tips on how the event flows and what to expect:

• Arrive at Event Registration either the evening before or the morning of the swim and we’ll give you your race pack with swim hat, timing chip, tow float sticker and wrist band for your allocated start time.  
• Wetsuit swimmers can get changed at Event HQ with baggage storage available. 
• Non wetsuit swimmers take their bag with them to the start, with baggage transport to the finish.
• You board the bus according to your event start time (based on your predicted mile pace).
• We have a large marquee at the start for shade (!) or rain and a relaxed atmosphere to prepare you for your full length of England’s longest lake 11 mile swim. A full event briefing is given to you at the start of the swim.
• As you set off, water safety kayakers and support boats are there to look out for, and support, you.  
• Mile markers are positioned to help guide you down the lake with feed stations starting at mile 1.5
• You can stop for a drink at the feed stations or swim past and continue on your swim for the 11 miles. 
• At the finish, your medal is placed around your neck, a warm drink awaits and buses are on hand to shuttle you back to the Event Car Park.  
• Non wetsuit swimmers can change at the Finish Area.
• Although this really event is about taking part and completing the journey, we do have prizes for the fastest in each age group for both wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimmers. 

What Mile Swim Pace should I submit when I enter? 

The entry system asks for your Mile Swim Pace, if you don’t know, then please go to the swimming pool and time yourself swimming for 1 Mile (1 Mile = 1600 metres or 64 lengths in a standard 25 metre pool or 32 lengths in a 50 meter pool) this will then give you a good indication of what pace you will be able to sustain over the entire swim but please bear in mind the maximum pace that we require for swimmers to be capable of over the full 11 mile swim is 52mins per mile.

Many people tend to underestimate their Mile Swim Pace or add a slower Mile Pace to ‘play it safe’ which creates problems in the first half of the event, as you will start your swim in a wave and the water safety team cannot move away from the wave for individual swimmers who are swimming faster than the others. In simple terms, if you add a time which is too slow for your ability, it is likely that you will be asked by the water safety team to slow down in the early part of the race and your finish time will be affected. The event is designed in a way that the waves start to merge once swimmers get passed halfway and it is then less of an issue but please try to submit an accurate Mile Pace for the best swim experience on the day.

If you need to change your Mile Time before the event then simply log back into the entry system at https://www.resultsbase.net the go to ‘My Area’ and ‘ Tickets’ then find the relevant Ticket and go to ‘Changes’ and ‘ Edit Questions’ and the first question you will see is for your Mile Time – you can change your Mile Time up to one month before the event. 

On the day the more relaxed pace swimmers (52 min/Mile Pace) start first and approximately every 20-30 mins a slightly faster paced group will enter the water. 

You will have a much better experience during the swim if you submit an accurate Mile Pace Time and you are grouped correctly. 

What time does the event finish?

Swimmers will arrive at the finish between approximately 1400hrs and 1715hrs and prize giving will be held as soon as possible after the last swimmer is out of the water, back at the Event HQ

Is there an age limit?

Competitors must be a minimum of 17 years old on the day of the event. There is no upper age limit.

Is there a cut off time?

We have a maximum estimated mile time of 52 minutes per mile for all entrants, bearing this in mind and for the safety of the swimmers and the water safety team there will be a cut off at the halfway point just over the maximum Mile Swim Pace to allow for swimmers to swim at a comfortable speed and also at 8miles and 10miles where swimmers that have drifted significantly behind the cut off will be transported to the nearest evac point and then to the finish by the safety teams.

With the staggered swim starts we expect the final swimmers to be out of the water by approximately 1715hrs with the cut off times at 5.5miles at 1315hrs, 8 miles at 1445hrs and 10 miles at 1615hrs with the sweep boat ensuring that no-one is left behind in the water after this time!

When does registration open?

Swimmer Registration on event weekend will open on Friday evening from 1600 – 2000hrs, and on Saturday morning from 0530hrs, to allow the early swimmers chance to register on either day.

Can I swim with a friend?

If you and your friend swim at the same pace and you have added the same estimated pace into the registration system, then you will be placed in the same start group. However, we recommend that you don’t try to compromise your own pace to swim with a friend. We have found that inevitably one person is faster than the other, which can be frustrating for you and cause the faster swimmer to get cold waiting for the other swimmer.

Charity Entries with Level Water

Level Water use the power of swimming to improve lives for children with disabilities.
Get a charity place, raise money and use the power of your swimming to help fund specialist, 1-1 lessons for children with disabilities across the UK.
Because we believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn to swim and fall in love with the water.