UPDATE: Channel Challenge rescheduled for March 11

BREAKING NEWS:
After meeting with officials, a new date has been set for the San Remo Channel Challenge. The event will now be held on March 11, at 4.15pm. More details in next week's paper.

Last Friday, organisers of the San Remo Channel Challenge made the difficult decision to cancel the event, due to the forecast for high winds and dangerous water conditions.

Ron Nicholson from the Channel Challenge committee said organisers met at the San Remo jetty on Friday morning and came to the unanimous decision that the conditions would not be safe for the race to go ahead.

“While the strongest swimmers would have been able to get across the Channel it is the least capable and least experienced 200 competitors that the concerns centred around and with them in mind, we had no option but to call the event off,” he said.

“We also knew the high winds would make it difficult for water safety personnel on the water to hold their positions, especially the board paddlers. With the eventual weather being pretty rough on the Saturday morning we are confident that the correct decision was reached.”

Although weather was more favourable on Sunday, the nominated back-up date, the required number of water safety people needed to run the event were not available.

Originally, the organisers advised he Channel Challenge would move to the first weekend in December, but have now advise it will run on the long weekend, Saturday, March 11, at 4.15pm

The Cowes Classic on February 18 will become the second leg of the Bass Coast Classic, with the Channel Challenge now the third  and final leg of the series.

The Race Centre opened at the San Remo Hotel from 9am - 12pm last Saturday morning to answer any queries and process any refund requests.

"It is a big disappointment," said Ron of the postponement due to weather conditions – only the second time in the event's history.

"We were heading for a record number of entries. We nearly had 600 already and if the weather had been good, we would have been well over the record.

“After 32 years of holding special events in the Bass Coast Shire from 1986 to 2017 without a hiccup, the organisers are feeling a bit like a punching bag after the events of the past six years,” Ron continued.

“It started in 2018 with Michael Gordon’s fatal heart attack in the Phillip Island Swim Classic and the subsequent postponement of the 2018 Cowes Classic.

“Then in 2019, with the US Triathlon team in town and lined up at the start of the Channel Challenge, the wind gusts peaked at nearly 60kms an hour and the 2019 Channel Challenge was postponed to a later date – minus the Americans.

“In 2020 all events at Cape Paterson, San Remo and Cowes were cancelled due to Covid lockdowns and then in 2021 Cape Paterson was again cancelled while the 2021 Cowes Classic had to be postponed and rescheduled."

He said the cancellation also impacted local traders and community groups like the Scouts and Guides, who had purchased food for the day, intending to sell bacon and egg rolls and hamburgers.

"It's an unfortunate outcome after such a good summer," Ron said. “This is quite tiring and draining for the organising teams involved from the Cape Paterson SLSC, Woolamai Beach SLSC and the Phillip Island Football Netball Club.

“The registrations for last weekend show that there is a strong demand for these events within our local community and we also know they bring many visitors to Bass Coast.

“The Shire officers and councillors have always been very supportive of the events and discussions are ongoing about how to reschedule the 2023 Channel Challenge and restructure the Bass Coast Series for 2023.”

The decision to rescheduled to Saturday March 11 has been welcomed by many of the athletes and also means the $10,000 worth of T-shirts and trophies with 2023 printed and engraved on them can still be used.

All entrants have been told their registrations can be rolled over into that new date or they can request a refund.

Organisers said about 100 requests for refunds have been received so far and are being processed by volunteers.

Cowes Classic

Organisers are hopeful that the rescheduled March date for the San Remo event will see competitors keen to compete in the final two events of the Bass Coast series, starting with the Cowes Classic Aquathon on Saturday, February 18.

The Little Penguin Dash for seven- to 14-year-olds will also be held on that morning at the Cowes foreshore. Enter online www.basscoastseries.com.au

The prizemoney allocated for the Bass Coast Series will be fully paid out at the completion of the three events – the Cape Paterson Aquathon (January 22) and Cowes Classic (February 18) and San Remo Channel Challenge (March 11).

The prize pool of $3400 will be allocated over 16 categories.: Open and Local; Male and Female – Junior, Senior, Over 40 and Over 50.

Points are awarded for competitors who finish each event with the top twenty home in each category receiving bonus points according to their finishing position.

“Thanks to all of our sponsors, donors and volunteers who have been involved so far this summer and let’s see if we can finish off with two big events at the Cowes Classic and then the Channel Challenge,” said Ron.