Entrants are committing to Coffs Coast Ocean Swims on 22 March

THE 30th anniversary of the Coffs Coast Ocean Swims is in six weeks and entrants are jumping in.

Held at Jetty Beach Coffs Harbour on Sunday 22 March there are three distance swims.

The organisers are pleased to see local participants committing to the event as well as some prepared to travel from places in Queensland, Armidale, Inverell and Port Macquarie.

A regular early entrant is Abbie Yourell from Evans Head who has said, “I love the Coffs Coast Ocean Swims.

“It is a great bay to swim in, and I enjoy the challenge of competing in both distances”.

The two swims Abbie refers to are the Andersens Flooring 600m swim and the Quality Hotels-City Centre 2000m swim.

The youngster’s race is the John Mills/Coffs & Sawtell swim squad 300m swim.

A first-time swimmer for the Coffs Coast Ocean Swims from the central coast Nic Morrison said, “I have only participated in the Toowoon Bay swim but have been wanting to do more”.

The Armidale school will again be sending down a large number of swimmers, and the organisers are hopeful that participants enrolled in the Coffs Kids in Motion program will again have swimmers.

The family of Coffs’ legendary surf lifesaver and swim coach, the late John Mills, remains associated with the event.

His granddaughter, Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson OLY OAM, has been event Ambassador for some years.

However, with a busy swimming and yachting program the organisers were forced to choose a date which clashed with Brooke’s participation in the 2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, known as The Aussies.

“I’m racing at The Aussies March 21-29, so my folks are bringing my two youngest down for the Coffs Swims.

“Both my dad Ian Hanson (72) and my son Billy Clarke (12) and potentially my daughter Matilda Clarke (10) will be swimming.

“It’s an important part of our family tradition and although it clashes with The Aussies, it’s great to see them making the effort in the memory of my grandfather.”

For information, visit Coffs Coast Ocean Swims at oceanswims.com/event/coffs-ocean-swim/.

Brooke is also encouraging people to get into training by plunging into the Starlight Super Swim during February.

“I’m urging everyone to be a Super Swim Hero and swim for sick kids this February.

“Get your kilometres done in the pool, ocean, creek or at Coffs Jetty and make a difference for Starlight Kids.”

Visit superswim.org.au/about/the-challenge for details.

By Andrea FERRARI