Start Times

Start times are strict.

• 20km swimmers: 03:50
• 12km swimmers: 04:00

Please make sure you are fully prepared and ready to depart on time.

Bags and Post-Swim Kit

Before the swim, please prepare:

• your feeds and liquids for the swim;
• your warm kit and change of clothes for after the swim.

You will be able to leave your post-swim kit in a closed, clearly labelled bag with your name and swim distance.

Please leave this bag on the beach at Chadenas. The event team will collect the bags and take them to the relevant finish points, so they are waiting for you when you arrive.

Swim Lights and Visibility

Swimmers must bring green swim lights that can be attached to their goggle straps or swim cap. See example here

We strongly recommend bringing a spare pair, as these lights can sometimes fail. It is essential that swimmers are clearly visible in the water.

Kayakers should bring a head torch, ideally with a red light option.

Feeding During the Swim

You may organise your feeds as you wish.

We recommend feeding approximately every 30 minutes, but this is your choice depending on your own swim plan and experience.

Kayaker Kit Recommendations

It will be cold in the morning, especially for kayakers. We strongly recommend that kayakers wear very warm clothing, including:

• warm layers;
• waterproof coat;
• warm hat;
• gloves, ideally waterproof;
• head torch, ideally with a red light option.

As the sun comes out, kayakers may be able to strip down to shorts and a T-shirt, so please bring a waterproof bag for warm clothing.

Kayakers should also bring:

• sun cream;
• sun hat;
• sunglasses;
• waterproof bag;
• waterproof cushion;
• kayak back rest, if you have one and it can be attached securely to the kayak.

The kayaks are standard two-person sit-on-top hard plastic kayaks.

Swim Safety and Cut-Off Times

Please check the final route with cut-off times and details before the event.

Once the swim has started, there will be:

• a safety boat at the front, ahead of the first swimmer;
• a sweeper boat at the back, behind the final swimmer;
• a mobile safety boat moving between the first and last swimmers.

Cut-off 1: Savines Bridge

Swimmers must reach the Savines bridge before 07:00.

Any swimmer arriving at the bridge after 07:00 will be picked up by boat and dropped off at Baie Saint-Michel.

Cut-off 2: Baie Saint-Michel

Swimmers must reach Baie Saint-Michel, the 12km point, by 10:00.

For 12km swimmers, this is the finish.

For 20km swimmers, this is the kayak changeover point. Any 20km swimmer arriving after 10:00 will finish here.

Cut-off 3: Baie de Chanteloube / Écrins du Lac

The third cut-off point is just after the Baie de Chanteloube, in front of Écrins du Lac, at approximately 16km.

Swimmers must reach this point by 12:00.

Baie Saint-Michel: 12km Finish and 20km Kayak Changeover

12km swimmers

Baie Saint-Michel is the finish for 12km swimmers.

You will be guided in, collect your kit bag, receive your meal and be able to enjoy the atmosphere at the event village.

Your kayak should be left at the end of the old access road near the event village.

20km swimmers

For 20km swimmers, Baie Saint-Michel is the kayak changeover point.

The swimmer should swim towards the shore but remain in the water. The first kayaker will land and change over with the second kayaker, who will then join the swimmer for the second half of the swim.

20km Finish and Transfers

At the end of the 20km swim, your kayak will be collected by the safety boat and taken to Bois Vieux beach for the kayak transporter to collect.

Your kit bag will be waiting for you at the finish.

A minibus will circulate regularly to take 20km swimmers back to Baie Saint-Michel. This is approximately a one-hour round trip, so the longest wait should be around one hour.

Please make sure you have enough warm clothing and anything else you may need in your kit bag in case you have to wait.

At Baie Saint-Michel, you will hand back your security equipment and paddle, have your meal and enjoy the atmosphere at the beach.

You can then take one of the minibus transfers back to Chadenas to collect your car.

Equipment Notes

If the water temperature is below 16°C, wetsuits will be compulsory.

Otherwise, wearing a wetsuit is a personal choice. You may start in a wetsuit and remove it during the swim if you wish.

Flippers, snorkels and other swimming equipment are permitted. This event is about enjoying the swim and completing the distance. It is not a race.

Final Checklist

Please make sure you:

• attend registration at Baie Saint-Michel from 15:00 on Friday 3 July;
• attend the compulsory safety briefing at 17:00;
• bring your security deposit or passport guarantee;
• prepare your swim feeds and liquids;
• label your post-swim kit bag clearly with your name and swim distance;
• bring your swim lights and spares;
• arrive at Chadenas by 03:30 on Saturday 4 July;
• bring warm clothing for before and after the swim;
• ensure your kayaker has the recommended kit.

We look forward to welcoming you to Serre-Ponçon for this special challenge.