TOWSA Magnetic Island to Townsville Open Water Swim - 15 August

Townsville Amateur Radio Club provided volunteer communications support for the Townsville Open Water Swimming Association’s 2026 Magnetic Island to Townsville Open Water Swim, sponsored by Sealink, held in Cleveland Bay on Saturday 15th August.

It was a big turnout for the club’s premier annual swim — 73 solo swimmers, 15 duo teams and 4 relay teams (119 entrants in total), backed by a huge fleet of sea kayaks, support boats, SLSC IRBs from the Arcadian and Picnic Bay clubs, and two Police IRBs. Liam Drake supplied the Officials Boat, Sealink ferried swimmers, paddlers and officials to and from Magnetic Island, and Rhino Dive ran two work barges across to the island under Iain VK4IGM’s watch.

Iain, Lyndall and Gavin were on deck from 5:30am and Ashley from 6:30am, with solo swimmers away from Picnic Bay just after 8:30am and duo/relay swimmers five minutes later. The water stayed smooth out to the 1km buoy before chopping up for the rest of the crossing — every swimmer completed the 8km journey, though conditions got the better of several paddlers, who were ferried back to Strand Beach by the Police IRBs while spares filled their positions on course.

8kmBay Crossing

119Swimmers Entered

4Radio Positions

On the Radios

Gregory St Headland
Ashley VK4FUU — Public Address & Officials Liaison
Safety Barge & Magnetic Island Start
Iain VK4IGM — Officials Liaison
Strand Beach Finish Line
Lyndall VK4ZM — Officials & Timing Liaison
Officials Boat
Gavin VK4ZZ — Comms & Event Director Liaison

Race Director John Barrett worked SurfComm on a loaned handheld to keep the SLSC IRBs directed and stay ahead of any safety issues, while Liam and John spotted the lead swimmers’ numbers for Gavin to relay to Ashley at the PA Base on 146.550MHz — no easy task once the headland speakers started drowning out Ashley’s hearing, a problem that eased once they were moved down to the beach (leaving Lyndall with the tricky job of catching finish line calls instead). Iain wrapped up early for a community music event, Ashley finished around 11:30am, and Gavin and Lyndall closed things out around 11:40am.

Pre-dawn at the Strand with the illuminated jellyfish sculpture across the water

Dawn over the Strand rockpool and jetty, with Magnetic Island in the distance

Operators setting up communications gear in the pre-dawn dark

Setting up the communications table near the Gregory Street Headland at sunrise

A Rhino Dive work barge beached at dawn, used to ferry sea skiffs to the island

Carrying the inflatable finish arch onto the beach at dawn, Magnetic Island beyond

Swimmers and kayaks gathering on Picnic Bay beach ahead of the start

Swimmers mid-crossing with a kayak escort, Picnic Bay jetty in the background

Swimmers crossing the bay with a kayak escort and support boat alongside

Safety fleet of rescue jet skis and a Police IRB out on the bay

A TOWSA official aboard a rescue boat logging details on a clipboard

Ashley on the PA microphone at the headland base with the officials team

The TOWSA finish arch on Strand beach with kayaks lined up ready

The TOWSA finish arch and Sealink banner on a sunny Strand beach, timing table alongside

Race Director John presented the comms team with four monogrammed event towels in thanks, and TOWSA has since made a donation to TARC in recognition of the club’s support. The Committee is hoping TARCadians will be back on board for 2027, already shaping up to be bigger again. See the Communications Support page for more on the club’s volunteer program.

TOWSA Magnetic Island to Townsville Open Water Swim — 15 August