Saturday 3 July 2027 – Start at Chadenas

The event team will be on site from 02:30.

All participants must be at Chadenas by 03:00, regardless of their allocated wave. This will give everyone enough time to collect equipment, reach the start area, prepare their kayak and organise food, drinks and personal kit before departure.

Toilets will be available in the car park and at the CNA (Club Nautique Alpin).

Please note that the campsite facilities, including its toilets, are not available for event participants. Dedicated facilities are being provided in the car park and at the CNA, so please use these and respect the campsite and its guests, particularly given the early hour.

Kayaks, paddles and buoyancy aids will be distributed at the final car park before the digue. Each Solo swimmer/support kayaker pair or Team Challenge team will then carry their kayak and equipment together to the Waiting Area on the digue.

Within the Waiting Area, participants will be organised into separate wave areas. These will be identified on site, and each pair or team should take their kayak and equipment to the area corresponding to their allocated wave.

Once there, you will have time to prepare the kayak, securely stow your food, drinks and kit, and make your final preparations before being called forward for your start.

Start procedure

The start will take place from the pontoon at Chadenas.

There will be no separate 12 km and 20 km starts and no mass start. Instead, Solo swimmers and Team Challenge teams will start in staggered waves of approximately 10 to 15 swimmers/teams. Each wave may include participants from both the 12 km and 20 km events.

For Team Challenge entries, the participant completing the first swimming section will start from the pontoon, accompanied by their teammate in the kayak.

The first wave is expected to start at approximately 03:30 (exact time to be confirmed closer to the event), with subsequent waves departing at short intervals. The objective is for all swimmers and teams to be underway by 04:00.

Once a wave has moved forward to the pontoon for its start, the following waves will move forward in order, keeping the next wave at the front of the Waiting Area.

Please stay with your swimmer/kayaker or teammate, keep your kayak and equipment together, and be ready to move forward when instructed by the event team.

Each Solo swimmer or Team Challenge team will be allocated a wave number and specific start time, which will be confirmed at registration on Friday afternoon.

Please keep noise to an absolute minimum throughout the start area out of respect for the nearby campsite and its guests.

Parking and access arrangements will be confirmed in the final participant instructions. Car-sharing is strongly encouraged.

Cut-off Times

The following cut-off times apply to all participants still on the course, regardless of their individual start time:

• 07:00 – Pont de Savines – approximately 6 km

• 10:00 – Baie Saint-Michel – approximately 12 km

• 12:00 – Les Hyvans – approximately 16 km

These cut-off times apply to both Solo swimmers and Team Challenge teams.

Participants who do not reach a checkpoint before the applicable cut-off may be stopped by the event safety team and required to leave the water.

Team Challenge Changeovers

Teams consist of two participants who alternate between swimming and kayaking.

Both team members must swim and kayak during the event, but teams are free to decide how they divide the distance between them.

12 km Team Challenge

The designated changeover point is at approximately:

• 7 km

20 km Team Challenge

Designated changeover points are at approximately:

• 7 km

• 12 km

• 17 km

20 km teams are not required to change at every designated point.

All changeovers must take place on land within the designated changeover area.

The required safety equipment must be transferred before the team continues:

• the new swimmer takes the Restube and swimmer safety equipment;

• the new kayaker takes the buoyancy aid, radio handset, whistle and kayak safety equipment.

Role changes outside the designated changeover areas are not permitted.

Solo 20 km – Optional Second Support Kayaker

Solo 20 km swimmers may use a second support kayaker.

This is strongly recommended where the main kayaker is not experienced in supporting a swimmer over a long-distance open-water event, but it is not compulsory.

Where two support kayakers are used, the planned changeover takes place at approximately 12 km.

The changeover must take place on land at the designated location.

Bags & Personal Kit

Each participant should bring suitable bags for their personal equipment.

Kit carried on the kayak

A small kit bag can be carried on the kayak for items needed during the event. We recommend using a waterproof dry bag for any kit carried on the kayak.

This may include:

• food and drinks;

• spare lighting;

• sun cream;

• sunglasses;

• warm layers;

• any personal medication;

• other items needed during the swim or kayak sections.

All equipment carried on the kayak must be secured so that it cannot fall into the lake.

End-of-swim bag

Each participant should also prepare a separate end-of-swim kit bag containing everything they will need when they finish. Bags must be securely closed and clearly labelled with the swimmer’s name, or team name, and the event distance: 12 km or 20 km.

Anything you may need during the event or at a Team Challenge changeover must travel with you on the kayak; only the end-of-swim bag will be transported to the finish.

This bag will be transported to the appropriate finish point:

• 12 km participants: Baie Saint-Michel;

• 20 km participants: the 20 km finish.

Your bag will be waiting for you when you finish.

We strongly recommend including:

• a full change of warm, dry clothes;

• a towel;

• a warm layer or jacket;

• footwear;

• food or snacks if required;

• any personal medication.

Additional Kit Advice for Kayakers

Kayakers may be exposed to cold, wind and sun for several hours and should be prepared for changing conditions.

Please bring:

• warm layers;

• waterproof or windproof clothing if appropriate;

• sun protection;

• sun cream;

• sunglasses;

• suitable food and drinks;

• any personal medication.

Additional Kit Advice for Team Challenge Participants

Team Challenge participants need to organise their kit carefully so that each person has what they need when changing between swimming and kayaking.

At each changeover:

• the participant moving from kayak to swimming needs their swim kit ready to put on;

• the participant coming out of the water and into the kayak should have warm, dry clothes ready to change into.

The Team Challenge uses a two-person kayak, so the second seat provides space for carrying the kit needed for changeovers.

If you are planning more than one changeover, think in advance about how you will manage wet and dry kit. You will need to decide whether you are comfortable putting wet swimwear or a wetsuit back on later in the event, or whether you prefer to carry additional dry swimwear or layers.

There is therefore a balance between comfort and the amount of kit carried on the kayak.

We recommend bringing:

• the swim kit needed for each participant’s planned swimming sections;

• warm, dry clothing for the kayak sections;

• food and drinks;

• sun protection, including sunglasses and sun cream;

• spare warm layers;

• a separate full change of clothes in your end-of-swim bag.

Participants should plan their kit around the number of changeovers they expect to make and make sure everything carried on the kayak is securely packed and protected from getting wet.

At each changeover, the participant coming out of the water should, where practical, remove wet swimwear or their wetsuit and change into warm, dry clothing before beginning the kayak section. This is particularly important during the early morning sections, when temperatures may still be low.

Finish & Return Transfers

12 km Finish – Baie Saint-Michel

The 12 km finish is at Baie Saint-Michel, where the event village and post-swim meal and activities will be based.

Minibus shuttles will operate from Baie Saint-Michel back to Chadenas every hour from 09:00 to 16:00 for participants who need to return to the start and collect their vehicle.

20 km Finish

After finishing the 20 km course, swimmers, support kayakers and Team Challenge participants will be transported back to Baie Saint-Michel by boat.

Transfers will operate in small groups of approximately 4 to 6 people.

Kayaks will be towed back  to Baie St Michel with the transfer boats.

Once back at Baie Saint-Michel, participants who need to recover a vehicle from Chadenas can use the scheduled minibus shuttle.

Post-Swim

A post-event meal is included for participants.

The event village at Baie Saint-Michel will remain the main gathering point after the swim.

Further details about the meal, timings and any additional activities will be confirmed closer to the event.

What to Bring – Summary

Participants should expect to provide their own:

• swimming equipment;

• wetsuit if they choose to use one;

• green waterproof safety light for the swimmer;

• spare swimmer light and/or spare attachment;

• suitable red light for the starting kayaker;

• any additional kayak lighting;

• food and drinks;

• warm and dry clothing;

• sun cream and sun protection;

• sunglasses;

• personal medication;

• small kit bag for the kayak;

• clearly identified end-of-swim bag;

• cheque and identity document required for the equipment deposit.

Team participants should also make sure they have suitable clothing and equipment for both their swimming and kayaking sections.

All lights and equipment attached to swimmers or kayaks must be securely fixed so that they cannot fall into the lake.

Final Instructions

Final participant instructions will be issued before the event once the route, safety arrangements, access, parking and any remaining administrative requirements have been fully confirmed.

Participants are responsible for reading the final instructions and attending the compulsory briefing on Friday 2 July 2027 at 17:00.