Selkie Henley Classic

The course is a unique, straight line, point-to point-swim (ie no turns) and takes advantage of the boomed course of the Henley Royal Regatta. The swim is upstream, the strength of the stream varies from year-to-year, ensuring that no two events are the same.

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All swimmers will receive a comprehensive pre-event information pack with everything they need to know approx 6 weeks before the event. Race packs can be picked up the day before or early on the morning of the swim. All finishers will receive a medal.

• Unique and world famous course
• Dawn swim
• Finisher medal
• Breakfast available
• Saturday night camping available
• Achieve so much before breakfast!

The Selkie Henley Classic swim is a River Thames swimming event and has several wave options to choose from.

Swimming on the Henley Regatta course is a privilege and we are very grateful for the support we receive. In return we have to be clear of the river by 0630 so it is important that you select the correct wave based on your anticipated swim time.

Please remember that it is an upstream swim so be realistic with your time and err on the side of caution.

WAVE 1 (Juniors and Schools)
Juniors (age 14-17 on 29th June 2025) and School swimmers will automatically be put in this wave
Junior swimmers will be set off slightly in advance of the sporting wave.

WAVE 2 (Sporting)
Select this wave if you wish to swim at leisure or alongside friends.

WAVE 3
Select this wave if you comfortably average between 2 mins 15 secs and 2 mins 30 secs per 100m during a distance swim.

WAVE 4
Select this wave if you comfortably average between 2 mins and 2 mins 15 secs per 100m during a distance swim.

WAVE 5
Select this wave if you comfortably average between 1 min 45 secs and 2 mins per 100m during a distance swim.

WAVE 6 (Performance)
Select this wave if you wish to race hard (likely to be in the top 100 swimmers) and average below 1min 45 secs per 100m during a distance swim.

Teams – There is one team competition. A team can be made up of any combination of male or female swimmers and any number. The four fastest times will qualify for the competition. Create or join a team during the entry process

At the Selkie Henley Classic, elite adult swimmers participate in the Performance wave. All swimmers that are 17 or under on the day of the race will swim in the Junior wave.
Wetsuits are optional for all swimmers.

Full timings are given in the information pack. The general rule is to aim to arrive at the event venue around 75 minutes before your wave time.

Parking is available at the venue

Toilets and changing facilities will be provided

Hot & cold drinks & snacks will be available at the main event area

The venue will be open on Saturday afternoon for anyone who would like to give themselves a little longer in bed on Sunday, by collecting their race packs on Saturday afternoon.

There will be food and drink available to purchase on the Saturday afternoon and evening, for campers and for swimmers collecting their race packs.
The food vendors will also be open for breakfast from around 3am to the end of the event at around 9am.

Basic camping will be available on the Saturday night. The cost is £22.50 per person in either a tent, campervan or motorhome and can be pre-booked when registering for the event.

Well behaved dogs are allowed at the campsite as long as they are kept under control, on a lead, and are cleaned up after.

On-the-day camping may be available but will be more expensive.

The water temperature at the Classic depends upon both the outside temperature and the quantity of rainfall in the days and weeks running up to the event. It is therefore very difficult to predict.

Based on previous years, at the end of June, we would expect the water to be between 17 and 19 degrees centigrade

The venue will be open on Saturday afternoon for anyone who would like to give themselves a little longer in bed on Sunday, by collecting their race packs on Saturday afternoon.

There will be food and drink available to purchase on the Saturday afternoon and evening, for campers and for swimmers collecting their race packs.
The food vendors will also be open for breakfast from around 3am to the end of the event at around 9am.