The False Bay Express 6km Swim presents swimmers with a swim challenge and adventure like no other swim in Cape Town. The swim offers swimmers an Express experience of the scenic False Bay Coastline that is overflowing with wildlife and beauty. As the False Bay Express is taking place in June during World Oceans month and a few days after World Oceans Day there is a strong Ocean theme in our swim. Each km of the swim is dedicated to a marine animal that either calls the False Bay home or passes through its waters every year. Let’s see which ones our swimmers encounter on their swim adventure!

The swim route between Simon's Town and Fish Hoek will require that swimmers use elements of endurance, navigation, fortitude and speed to successfully complete the 6km swim course. The swim route is very spectator friendly with the coastal walkway between Simon’s Town and Fish Hoek providing family and friends the rare opportunity of closely following their swimmer from start to finish! The swim route from Simon’s Town to Fish Hoek follows the same coastal route taken by the Southern lIne of the South African Railway and Cape Town’s Main Road with its coastal walkway being a great way to take in the sights and sounds of the South. 

The swim starts on the beach at Simon’s Town Long Beach where swimmers will swim out into Simon’s Bay before heading North ‘hugging’ the coastline towards the halfway point at Glencairn Beach. Swimmers will pass by the South African Navy’s Lower North Battery (active cannon range) before passing the first marine marker of the Clan Stewart wreck at Mackeral Beach across from the Harbour Bay Mall. Swimmers continue on to the halfway safety check-in and the changeover for relay swimmers at Glencairn Beach (3km) before heading back out through the surf and onwards to Fish Hoek. The next 2.5km will take swimmers even closer to the nearby railway line and main road with its elevated position being the perfect place for spectators to continue to watch the swimmers and the swim race unfold. The coastline hug continues on turning with the coastline at Sunnycove to swim in alongside Jager’s Walk before swimmers will swim partially across Fish Hoek bay to finish on the beach at the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club.

IMPORTANT SWIM INFORMATION

- Swimmers must wear a bright coloured swim cap (orange, pink, yellow, green and red ONLY)

- Tow Floats are compulsory for this swim 

- There is a halfway safety check-in on Glencairn Beach

- There is a halfway swim cut-off of 1 h 30 at Glencairn Beach

- Swimmers may take part as Skins or Wetsuits for Solo and Relay

- The False Bay water temperatures during winter can range between 11 to 15C (so prepare yourself for a cold swim!)

With special thanks to The False Bay Express 6km Swim partners, Ocean Freedom, Number Thirteen, Fable Design and Fish Hoek Lifesaving Club.