EACH year since 2002 over 400 people jump into the crystal blue water of Tathra from the historic Tathra Wharf and swim the 600m or 1200m course to the beach in front of the surf club.
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The highly anticipated Tathra Wharf to Waves is a premier event on the Far South Coast calendar and is on this Saturday and Sunday.
The Bermagui Blue Balls winter swimming club is sending a contingent to swim in the event, while Narooma Numnutz swimmer Dawn Henderson also plans to join them.
The swim claims centre stage of a weekend of fun and fitness which includes a 2km Beach Fun Run and a 25km Bega to the Beach Mountain Bike Ride on Saturday, followed by swim events and a market day on Sunday.
Saturday will kick off with the Coastlife Tathra Beach 2km Fun Run at 2.30pm. All members of the family can enter this run which starts on the beach just north of the Tathra Beach Country Club and finishes in front of the Tathra Surf Lifesaving Club. This year lots of great prizes will be on offer for serious and not-so-serious competitors in age categories from infants, school-aged children to over 40s.
At 5pm a bike ride for mountain biking enthusiasts, leaves Tarraganda Fire Shed in Bega and travels over Dr George Mountain to Tathra through some of the most breathtaking bushland scenery the Sapphire Coast has to offer. The event finishes at the Tathra Surf Club with major random draw prizes to be won including a mountain bike and snowy mountain getaways. Transport for you and your bike is available from the Tathra Surf Club into Tarraganda Fire Shed, but you need to book a place – go to www.tathrawharf2waves.com.au and click on Bike Ride to enter and book your seat.
The ocean events start from 8.30am on Sunday and there are a number of ocean swims: the Finns Pest Control 1200 metre ‘Splash for Cash’ open race (12+ years) and a series of 600metre age races from the historic Tathra Wharf where a specially designed platform is set up so swimmers can safely enter the water.
Competitors swim around a course and finish on the beach in front of the surf lifesaving club. The first male and female in the 1200m race will receive $500 cash and a unique medallion made by local goldsmiths Martin and Dorte Planert. Annie Franklin, a local artist, will also present an original trophy piece for the male and female winners of the ‘Splash for Cash’.
Every swimmer wins a prize in their division through a random draw made of great prizes.
Thinking of doing an Ocean Swim for the first time? For those who are not swimming in the 600m or 1200m events, this event is tailored for all those over 12-years old - adults and children - who would like to give it a try. Swimmers will be sent off in one wave, aided by flippers and/or snorkelling gear. You will start from the wharf and swim directly to the beach. Tathra Surf Lifesaving Club water safety will be on hand to guide and assist you if needed.
All entrants will receive an event briefing at the wharf prior to the start of the swim.
For those who prefer terra-firma, a market day will be held on the lawns behind the surf club on Sunday. Tathra School P&C will run the market day from 8am to 2pm. There will be plenty of stalls selling a variety of home grown and produced items. If you are interested in taking part as a stallholder, please contact Chris Gowing at chrisgowing2009@hotmail.com
The weekend wouldn’t be complete without the talented Truck Brothers performing at the end. Doors will open at 5pm on Sunday– a great finale to the weekend. Refreshments and Mal’s Pizza will be available. So make sure you take part in at least one or why not all of the activities on the Tathra Wharf to Waves Weekend.
To enter all events, find times for events, or to find out more about the weekend, visit www.tathrawharf2waves.com.au or email info@tathrawharf2waves.com.au