Wild Running
The River Shack Mill Hill Stoke Gabriel TQ9 6RD
The River Shack Mill Hill Stoke Gabriel TQ9 6RD
*Please note: Tow floats are voluntary but they must be quick release.*
**You can find out all the information you should need on our event brochure here **
The Wild Dart Swim and Aquathlon takes place on Sunday June 21st, 2026
WILD DART SWIM AND AQUATHLON
Last year, swimmers swam a completely new section of the Dart (in clean bathing water quality) and finished at the Dolphin Boatyard in Galmpton, which is approximately 4km downstream from Stoke Gabriel. The feedback was that the new route was better and cleaner, so we're sticking with it.
Registration will be at the Shed in Stoke Gabriel. Transport from the car park near the finish at Dolphin Boatyard will be provided for all those who have paid for it, leaving at 11am.
4k swimmers and 15k aquathloners will start their swim by heading downstream, from Stoke Gabriel.
Aquathloners will start alongside the 4km swimmers and exit at Dolphin Boatyard, then move to a nearby transition area next to the slipway, before running a six miles circuit through Greenway Woods via public footpaths, which finishes back at the boatyard.
Transport
Only those who have purchased a ticket for transport will be permitted on the bus. We've been working closely with Friends of The Dart to publish the most reliable and up-to-date data on water quality and South West Water and are reliably informed tat the new pontoon has a good record for quality bathing water.
Key facts
- The aquathlon 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.
- We will take your clearly labelled drop bags to the transition area at Dolphin Boatyard from registration. TQ5 OEH
15k Aquathlon
The 15k aquathlon includes:
- The 4k swim to Dolphin Boatyard
- A 10k run run along wooded footpath at Greenway and quiet country lanes in Galmpton, finishing in the Boatyard.
- All 4K swimmers will need to bring a drop back for the finish.
How will it work?
- There will be one start wave for 4k/aquathloners and aquathloners
Start times:
- The start time for the 4k swim will be close to High Tide at 11.45am.
- We expect the first 4k swimmers to finish in just over 1 hour as they will be with the tide for some of the way. Aquathlon entrants will leave their clothes/shoes in a colour coded & numbered bin bag, which will be taken to the finish.
- All 4K swimmers will need to bring a drop back for the finish.
- Catering is available at the finish at Galmpton.
Safety measures
- There will be a team of safety kayakers and/or paddle boarders/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 the Dolphin Boatyard jetty one at a time.
- 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. However you do so at your own risk.
It is mandatory to swim with a swim hat which we will provide. This is for our safety team to identify swimmers.
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.
Registration will be held beside The Shack in Stoke Gabriel TQ1 1BX from 10.30am.
All swimmers will be able to collect their swim packs containing race number, and swim cap. All participants will be able to leave their kit at the start in an attended area. We will also encourage supporters to be on standby at the finish jetty, ready with warm garments.
What’s Included:
- Manual timing
- Swim caps
- Full water safety coverage
- Prizes (first three male and female overall in each event)
- Transport to start from finish (optional purchase)
- Finisher’s medals (optional- or a donation will be made to Friends Of The Dart)
**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.**
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.
Catering is available at the finish in the cafe but bring some money!
4k swim and 15k aquathlon 11.45am
4k swimmers and 15k aquathloners will start their swim by heading downstream, from Stoke Gabriel.
Aquathloners will start alongside the 4km swimmers and exit at Dolphin Boatyard, then move to a nearby transition area, before running a six miles circuit through Greenway Woods via public footpaths, which finishes back at the boatyard.
Transport
The bus will leave the Dolphin Boatyard in the Creek for Stoke Gabriel at 11am. TQ5 OEH
https://w3w.co/trouble.
Key facts
15k Aquathlon
The 15k aquathlon includes:
How will it work?
Start times:
Safety measures
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 be held beside The Shack in Stoke Gabriel from 10.30am. All swimmers will be able to collect their swim packs containing race number, and swim cap. All participants will be able to leave their kit at the start in an attended area. We will also encourage supporters to be on standby ready with warm garments.
What’s Included:
**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.**
Swimmers are reminded of safety protocols in the water:
Swimmers will receive a full race briefing on how to alert the safety team in the event of getting in to difficulty.
The Shack, DStoke gabriel TQ1 1BX