2021 Dock2Dock

DOCK2DOCK 

SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2021 

Following a sell-out event in 2020, the Dock2Dock is back!  Love Open Water will once again be hosting this unique and challenging event in London’s Royal Docks on Saturday  4th September, 2021 with the addition of a new distance – the 15k! 

This huge body of water covers an area the size of central London and swimmers will get to experience the old and the new of the area as they head east from Royal Victoria Dock, with Canary Wharf and the O2 looming in the background, towards London City airport, passing the imposing cranes that line the docks. 

Love Sports Events, together with Love Open Water hosted a Covid-Safe event in 2020 for over 500 swimmers who were blessed with good weather and warm smiles from our small army of masked volunteers and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back in 2021. 

Don’t miss your chance to experience swimming in the heart of one of the worlds’ great cities!

EVENT SCHEDULE

DISTANCES ON OFFER 

1.5km Junior (12-20 years) 

1.5km 

5km 

10km 

15km (NEW FOR 2021!!) (Entry conditions apply) 

TEAM CHALLENGE - NEW!!

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS  

The Dock2Dock is a NOWCA member only event.  All swimmers must have a current NOWCA membership on the day of the event.  NOWCA membership is £15.00 per year and gives you access to over 30 NOWCA affiliated venues throughout the UK along with discounts on courses and access to other events at NOWCA venues.   

For more about NOWCA and how to register, visit www.nowca.org 

** Participants are able to complete their race registration without a NOWCA membership, but NOWCA registration must be completed at least 14 days prior to race day. 


TEAM CHALLENGE


Teams of 3 will swim 1.5km (each). Swimmers will start together and must finish within 60 seconds of each other (time is determined by the final swimmer across the finish line). Each team has a fundraising target of £300.00

*Swimmers must be over the age of 12 on the day of the event to participate in the team challenge

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
 

15k  

The 15k is new to the events program in 2021 and is open to any swimmer who completed the Dock2Dock 10k in 2019 or 2020 in under 4 hours.

There will also be a limited amount of 'wildcard' entries available to swimmers who have completed another 10k event in 2019 or 2020 in under 4 hours.  Official results must be provided to the event organiser for validation.

If you cannot meet the criteria above, please submit a request detailing your long distance swimming experience for consideration for a wildcard entry.

Official results / channel swim records must be provided in the form of links, for verification. Training records will also be taken into account.

Please email your submission to [email protected] 

If you wish to swim skins for the 15k, you must provide evidence of completing a similar or longer distance without a wetsuit.

 

ENTRY FEES 

1.5k Junior (20 years and under on day of event) 

Xmas Cracker Price (until 31 December, 2020)    £25.00 + booking fees 

Early Bird Price (1 Jan to 31 January, 2021)         £27.50 + booking fees 

Regular Price                                                         £30.00 + booking fees 

1.5k 

Xmas Cracker Price (until 31 December, 2020)    £27.50 + booking fees 

Early Bird Price (1 Jan to 31 January, 2021)         £30.00 + booking fees 

Regular Price                                                         £35.00 + booking fees 

5k 

Xmas Cracker Price (until 31 December, 2020)    £50.00 + booking fees 

Early Bird Price (1 Jan to 31 January, 2021)         £55.00 + booking fees 

Regular Price                                                         £60.00 + booking fees 

10k 

Xmas Cracker Price (until 31 December, 2020)    £70.00 + booking fees 

Early Bird Price (1 Jan to 31 January, 2021)         £75.00 + booking fees 

Regular Price                                                         £85.00 + booking fees 

15k 

Xmas Cracker Price (until 31 December, 2020)     £90.00 + booking fees 

Early Bird Price (1 Jan to 31 January, 2021)         £95.00 + booking fees 

Regular Price                                                         £100.00 + booking fees 

Team Challenge

Regular Price                                                         £75.00 per team + booking fees

AGE RESTRICTIONS 

15k / 10k / 5k

All swimmers must be aged 16 years and over on the day of the event 

1.5k Junior (12-20)

Swimmers must be 12 years and older on the day of the event. Swimmers under the age of 18 will require parent / guardian consent  

Swimmers aged 12-16 must wear a wetsuit and use a tow float 

EQUIPMENT 

Tow Floats 

It is a condition of entry that all swimmers in the 5k, 10k and 15k event use a tow float.  Tow floats are optional for those swimming in the 1.5k event unless the swimmer is 16 years or younger. 

You may use your own brightly coloured tow float if you have one or you can purchase one when you complete your race entry (or afterwards from the Merch page).  If you haven’t used a tow float before, it’s important you train with this before the race.   

Tow Floats ordered with your race entry or on the merchandise site will not be posted out.  They can be collected on race morning or arrangements can be made to collect from Love Open Water London Royal Docks in the 4 weeks prior to the event by emailing [email protected] 

Wetsuits 

Wetsuits are OPTIONAL in the 1.5k (over 16 years), 5k, 10k & 15k distances. 

Swimmers aged 12-16 in the 1.5k must wear a full length wetsuit and use a tow float.  

SWIM START PROCEDURE 

The 15km race will start first and will be a mass wave start  

Other distances will start in a rolling fashion with 2-3 swimmers entering the water at a time (time trial format) 

 

CUT-OFF TIMES 

All swimmers must have exited the water by 1430.

COURSE 

All swimmers will swim in a clockwise direction on an ‘out and back’ course 

1.5k          This will be a one loop course held in Royal Victoria Dock 

5k             This will be a one loop course, starting in Royal Victoria Dock, with the turnaround in Royal Albert Dock 

10k           10k swimmers will swim the 5k course twice 

15k            15k swimmers will swim the 5k course three times 

** There will be feed stations available on the course, with water and bananas (at a minimum).  Final feeds station options will be announced closer to the event in line with Covid-19 protocols. 

 

EVENT SCHEDULE 

Registration and start windows will be staggered throughout the morning for other distances with all swimmers in the water by approx. 11am 

MERCHANDISE 

Event merchandise will be available for purchase in 2021 

WATER QUALITY 

The water at London Royal Docks is regularly tested in accordance with the Bathing Water Quality Sampling and Testing Program and is consistently rated as excellent.  The Docks are fed by the Estuary and as it is quite deep, doesn’t suffer from algae blooms in the summer. 

COVID-19 

The Dock2Dock ran successfully in 2020 under strict Covid-Safe protocols.  It is too early to tell if the same or stricter measures will be introduced but all entrants will be updated regularly in the lead up to the event.  Should the event be cancelled in 2021, due to Covid-19 regulations, entries will roll over to the 2022 event.

DEFERRALS FROM 2020 T0 2021 EVENT

Swimmers who deferred entries from the 2020 event to the 2021 event will be contacted directly regarding their entry transfers.

REFUNDS

The Dock2Dock does not offer refunds. Deferrals are allowed as per the terms & conditions of entry.

 

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDING FAQ’S, PARTNER PROMOTIONS & TRAINING,  PLEASE VISIT THE EVENT WEBSITE www.dock2dock.co.uk