Celebrating 10 years since its inception, Port to Pub founder Ceinwen Roberts says she envies those about to take part in the annual open water swimming event.
However, having the opportunity to stand at the finish line and watch competitors complete the event he started makes it all worthwhile for the avid swim coach.
“I’m so jealous I can’t swim,” Roberts said.
“I put on an event that I’d like to be in, but it’s a very emotional day.
“I stand at the finish line and greet everyone as they enter.
“I know for a lot of people it’s not just swimming – it’s changing people’s lives.”
This event differs from the Rottnest Channel Swim with a 25km ultramarathon event which sees competitors swim from Leighton Beach to Cottesloe Beach and back, before crossing the channel to the island.
Roberts said the popularity of the Rottnest Swim prompted him to start his own event with a difference.
“I love Rotto’s swimming but it got so popular that I missed it, and I remember we stood there in the pool and we were all upset, when someone said there should be another event,” he said.
“So I started preparing it and it took two years of planning – we needed risk management plans, we needed courses, we needed rules and things like that to apply to all stakeholders.
“Initially we were turned down, but I went to the Premier at the time, Colin Barnett, and I just told him about the benefits for health, for the community, for tourism and for the Rottnest community – and he approved.”
Roberts said he has been proud to see the event grow from just 500 competitors back in 2016 to 1800 swimmers at this year’s event.
“We have 75 people doing an ultramarathon and they can ring a loud transport bell when they cross the finish line, which can be heard throughout the bar,” he said.
“Then we have 160 swimmers and the rest consist of teams of two, four, six and this year for the 10th anniversary we are doing a special division for the 10th team.”
While the event promotes health and fitness, Roberts said it’s also an opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause.
“We have many teams raising money for various charities and we have found a charity partner in the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation,” he said.
“We have raised about 150,000 dollars for them so far and in the last 10 years, not including this year, we have collected half a million dollars.
“We also have our title sponsor Mader Group who have come along and helped a lot with the time and money involved in this event – they also have eight teams of their own staff taking part to get behind us.”
After this year’s Rottnest swim was canceled due to weather, Roberts said he felt a real sense of relief when he saw Saturday’s forecast.
“It’s always out of your control and always in the back of your mind,” he said.
“But I am very relieved. It will be flat and the water will be very clear.
“So once we start we’ll be able to see ripples in the sand all the way through.”
