Port Vila

Saturday 2011 dates TBA

There are not many harbours in the world that can boast the clear waters and reefs of those found in Port Vila, Vanuatu and Iririki Island, nestling in the Harbour just 350 metres offshore from Port Vila Town, provides a natural and inviting challenge for any swimmer, whether it be to swim across from the town to the Island’s Jetty, or to swim around the island.

The inaugural Vanuatu Ocean Swim, held in 2002 followed a 3.2Km diamond shaped course starting and finishing at the old Rossi Restaurant with a circumnavigation of Iririki Island. That first event attracted 38 swimmers and in recent years has grown to include over 200 swimmers annually.

The Vanuatu Ocean Swim has spawned an interest in swimming for fitness among Port Vila residents and most weekday lunchtimes and Saturday mornings will see the “Port Vila Masterbathers”, taking to the harbour waters just off Nambawan Café adjacent to the ‘Mamas Craft Market’. There are also several “Masterbathers” Swim competitions held throughout the year.

The Vanuatu Ocean Swim features a swim clinic with some of the world’s top swimmers, welcome functions, unique cultural entertainment and Awards Dinner.

Without the support of the following sponsors this event would not be possible, and Pacific Swims would like to thank: 

The Vanuatu Ocean Swim follows a rough diamond shaped 3.2Km course around the shore of Iririki Island, a beautiful wooded island nestling in picturesque Port Vila Harbour and home to Iririki Island Resort.

Starting at the sea wall adjacent to the Craft Market and Nambawan Cafe, the first 700m leg takes swimmers south acrotss Port Vila's inner harbour to Iririki Island and another 800m stretch hrough the deep water yacht moorings in the lee of Iririki to the South Iririki Turn Buoy which guides swimmers over the shallow reef at the Southern tip of the Island.

Here the course turns sharp right and follows the south-west shore of the Island for 1000m to the North Iririki Turn Buoy, then another 700m over the deep water channel to the finish back at the seawall.

The 1.5Km course follows the same start as the 3.2 to a marker off Iririki island and follows a triangular course back to the finish at the seawall.

Overall Prizes Specially commissioned Trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Overall in 3Km and 1.5 Km Races

Category Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the following categories:
Under 20, 20 – 29, 30 – 39, 40 – 49, 50 – 59, 60 – 69, 70 + Male & Female

1st Male & Female Resident finishers win 3 nights accommodation and entry to the Anse Vata Ilot Canard Swim in Noumea courtesy of Le Surf Resort.

All Finishers will receive a commemorative T-Shirt

For travel packages from Australia click here (A pdf document will open in a new window)

Alternatively, please contact our official travel advisors, Millennium Travel/Vanuatu Escapes. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.vanuatuescapes.com.au

Air Vanuatu flies from Sydney 6 days per week and from Brisbane 3 times per week.
Contact : Sarah Beeken
Vanuatu Escapes (a division of Millennium Travel)
Phone: 02 9211 0944
Email:

For Travel from New Zealand :

Contact Jeremy Shanahan United Travel Takapuna
Ph: 09 4861625 Toll Free 0800 336660
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For travel from New Caledonia
Air Vanuatu flies 5 times per week from Noumea

Fiji
Air Vanuatu & Air Pacific operate 2 flights per week from Nadi.

North America
Air Pacific to Nadi then Air Pacific or Air Vanuatu Nadi – Port Vila

Japan
Air Pacific to Nadi then Air Pacific or Air Vanuatu Nadi – Port Vila

Entry fees

Vanuatu Ocean Swim, 3.2km or 1.5km AUD180

Non-swimmer package (event functions, etc) AUD130

Includes:

Welcome Cocktail (Thursday evening)
Swim Clinic  and course tour (Friday morning)
Pasta Dinner (Friday evening)
Swim entry
Post-race Breakfast
Awards Dinner
Entertainment
T-Shirt

To download an entry form (pdf document) click here.