THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO RECENT SEWAGE LEAKAGES IN THE DART, RESULTING IN POOR BATHING WATER QUALITY. THE ORGANISERS HOPE TO CONFIRM AN ALTERNATIVE DATE AND VENUE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WE APPOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

**You can find out all the informatiuon you should need on our event brochure here **

The Wild Dart Swim takes place on Saturday June 7th, 2025

This year, after conuslting with the harbourmaster and Friends of The Dart, we have decided to start both swims at Sharpham North Quay.

5k swim and 15k aquathlon 4pm 

5k swimmers and 15k aquathloners will start their swim by heading upstream for 1km before rounding a buoy and heading back towards Ashprington Point. 

The 2.5k swimmers start seperately at approximately 4.30pm (also at at Sharpham Point) and also exit at Ashprington Point Field. Aquathloners will start alomgside the 5km swimmers and exit at Ashprington Point Field, then move to a nearby transition area, before running a six miles circuit, which finishes back in Ashprington Point Field.

5km swimmers will swim alongside the reed beds, which line the Sharpham side of the river and the rolling hills on the right, before reaching a small inlet, where they will turn around a buoy and head back towards Ashprington Point. 

You will know you’re approaching the Sharpham North Quay when you  catch sight of the small pontoon on your right.

Key facts

• The course suits road shoes.
• All normal swim run kit will be permitted, including tow floats except for flippers. Hand Fins only are permitted but people using them will not qualify for podium prizes. 
• Swimmers will be permitted to swim in their running shoes, although we advise against this over such a long swim. 

• We will take your clearly labelled drop bags to the transition area at Ashprington Point from registration.

15k Aquathlon

The 15k aquathlon includes:

• The 5k swim to Ashprington Point 
• A 10k run run along the green lanes and quiet country lanes in Tuckenhay and Ashprington, finishing at Ashprington Point Field.
• All 5K swimmers will need to bring a drop back for the finish where changing cubicles will be erected in the finish field.

• You will have to walk the 2Km back to Ashprington, as there is no vehicular access to Ashprington Point Field. 

Key facts:

• All normal swim run kit will be permitted, including tow floats except for flippers.
• Only hand fins are permitted after speaking to our safety team, sorry. Not flippers (see above)
• A transition point will be provided at Ashprington Point and transition gear taken there from registration

How will it work?

• There will be two start waves for 5k/aquathloners and 2.5k swimmers 

Start times:

• The 2.5k wave is due to start at approximately 4.30pm after the arrival of aroud half of the 5k swimmers at the half way point.
• Normally the first 5k swimmers finished in just over 1 hour 15 mins in to a slight tide and back with it.  The slowest swimmer took just under 2 hours in 2024. 2.5k swimmers and aquathlon entrants will leave their clothes/shoes in a colour coded & numbered bin bag, which will be taken to the finish at Ashprington Point. 
• All 5K swimmers will need to bring a drop back for the finish, where a limited number of changing cubicles will be erected in the finish field.

• You may have to walk the 2Km back to Ashprington, as there is currently no vehicular access to Ashprington Point Field.

Safety measures

• There will be a team of safety kayakers, rescue boats and crews on hand throughout the swim.
• No one should be more than 200m from a safety vessel 
• We will be working closely with the safety team to ensure swimmers exit at ashprington Point, one at a time.
• 5k swimmers will not be permitted to exit at Sharpham, unless they are retiring.

• In the event of the water temperature falling below 11.9ºC, a reduced swim course will be considered.

Wetsuits

We will be allowing participants to swim without wetsuits, if the temperature is above 14 degrees. However you do so at your own risk.

If the water temperature is above 22 degrees Celsius, wetsuits will be banned. Competitors will be notified of this at registration and in advance of the event where possible.

The event crew will use manual timing to time each swimmer. Participants will be set off in two waves, which will be decided in conjunction with the harbourmaster’s office and the water safety team.

Registration, Post Swim and Kit

Registration will open at The Paddock Meadows behind the cow shed at Sharpham (left hand entrance upon arrival at Sharpham) at 3pm. All swimmers will be able to collect their swim packs containing race number, and swim cap. We will walk you down the grass slipway to the start.

All participants will be able to leave their kit at the start in an attended area. This year we will also encourage supporters to be on standby ready with warm garments.

For those of you who have built up an appetite, the Durant Arms in Ashprington does excellent food. 

What’s Included:

• Manual timing
• Swim caps
• Full water safety coverage
• Prizes where sufficient numbers allow
• Transport to start from Steamer Quay and back (for all entrants) post swim. (optional purchase)
• Change cubicles
• Finisher’s medals (optional- or a donation will be made to Friends Of The Dart)

Camping

Camping is available at Ashprington Point Field, which we have booked out for Friday and Saturday night  

**If the event has to be cancelled due to poor water quality, we can offer full credits to another date, either in the same year or the following year. If it has to be modified or rescheduled then we can not offer this, as our event resources will have been used up. No refunds can be given under any circumstances- sorry.**

Is it safe to swim in the River Dart?

The Harbour Master and Environment Agency currently advise against swimming on the Dart in the Totnes area, as the water is rated poor on the official bathing water assessment.  The detail of this can be found at https://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/profile.html?site=ukk4305-24640. 

As far as we are aware, the pollution sources affecting the river have not changed significantly over the last few years but we will be consulting with Friends of the Dart, the harbourmsater and other river users about the best course of action.

You must also assess river conditions and if they are sutable for your level of health. 

However each swimmer has a responsibility to self assess their own level of health and whether the conditions of the river are suitable for them to swim in. 

Swimmers are reminded of safety protocols in the water:

• Wear a wetsuit (min 2mm)
• Flush wetsuit before race start to acclimatise to temperatures
• Sighting every 7 strokes to aide direction
• Be alert to buoys and aware of other river users
• Avoid swallowing water
• Tow Floats are allowed

Swimmers will receive a full race briefing on how to alert the safety team in the event of getting in to difficulty.