WOW 2026
SUNDAY 1 MARCH @ 8am
williamstown beach
A brief history of the wow
A brief history of the wow
The Williamstown Open Water Championship is Victoria’s world class, championship distance, open water swim event.
it’s open to everyone – champions, weekend warriors, kids, multiclass, fast, slow, young and old!
Past winners at Williamstown include 2015 World Champion Jordan Wilimovsky, Team USA’s Katy Campbell, Australian Dolphin Sam Sheppard and Brazilian Olympian Lisandra De Carvalho.
proudly run by the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club, swimmers can choose from a range of swim distances, and all funds raised are donated to not-for-profit organisations.
KEY INFO
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UPON arriving at the beach, please proceed directly to the Registration desk. Here you will be issued with your cap, and an event t-shirt (for early bird entrants only), and then your timing band.
• REGISTRATIONS FROM 7am
• Marshalling from 8.15am -
If you would like to leave items with us on race day for the duration of your swim, you can do so at registration. We will take all measures to ensure the safety of your belongings, but please be aware that the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club are not liable for loss of property left in bag drop.
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FROM 8:30AM: 1.2KM
ORDER: MALE/JUNIOR, FEMALE/JUNIOR, MASS STARTS.5KM: FROM 9:00AM
ROLLING STARTS: MIXED GENDER, ALL AGE GROUPS2.5KM: FROM 10.00AM
ROLLING STARTS: MIXED GENDER, ALL AGE GROUPS -
It is important to observe your allocated start window. Every effort will be made to get everyone into the water punctually.
5km and 2.5km starts will be in groups of 5 at 10 second intervals. 1.2km events will be in mass starts.
Start times will be taken from the supplied timing band as you cross the electronic start line. This event is a beach start only. Exceptions may be requested in writing to registrations@williamstownslsc.org.au
A safety briefing will be available on the WOW Challenge website from 5pm on Wednesday February 22. It is your responsibility to view this briefing and familiarise yourself with the course. Live briefings will not be available on the day.
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A feeding platform will be in place in the water for those requiring mid-swim nutrition. It will be supervised only – no official feeding assistance will be offered to competitors.
Please secure your nutrition to the platform in a mesh bag, clearly marked with your name. Anyone observed interfering with, moving, or removing articles belonging to another competitor, will be requested to leave the water immediately. A DSQ or DNF may be recorded.
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You must pass under the FINISH arch on the beach to obtain a race time. Please then remove your timing band and place it in one of the bins supplied.
COURSE MAPS
START & FINISH MAPS
course briefing video
6 minute video SAVED on GOOGLE DRIVE
WAVE TIMES
7.00AM: REGISTRATION OPENS
8.15AM: MARSHALLING OPENS
FROM 8.30AM: 1.2KM EVENT BEGINS
ORDER: MALE/JUNIOR, FEMALE/JUNIOR, MASS STARTS.
FROM 9:00AM: 5KM EVENT BEGINS
ROLLING STARTS:MIXED GENDER, ALL AGE GROUPS
FROM 10.00AM: 2.5KM EVENT BEGINS
ROLLING STARTS:MIXED GENDER, ALL AGE GROUPS