Wild Dart Swim and Aquathlon (4k swim and 15k aquathlon)
The event stages a new downstream river swim on the River Dart, finishing at Dolphin Boatyard in Galmpton. Registration is at The Shack in Stoke Gabriel and labelled drop bags will be taken to the transition area at the boatyard. Catering is available at the finish and transport to the start can be provided for participants who have purchased it.
The swim takes place along a section reported as clean bathing water quality. Safety coverage includes kayakers, rescue boats and crews so that no swimmer should be more than 200 m from a safety vessel. Swimmers will be guided to exit the jetty one at a time and will receive a full race briefing on water‑safety procedures. If water temperature falls below 11.9 degrees Celsius a reduced swim course may be considered. Wetsuit rules are temperature dependent; wetsuits are permitted or banned according to published temperature thresholds. Hand fins are allowed but users will not qualify for podium prizes. Flippers are not permitted.
Timing is manual and swim packs include race number and swim cap. The organiser provides safety coverage, optional transport, prizes where numbers allow and optional finisher medals or a donation to Friends Of The Dart. If cancelled for poor water quality full credit for another date is offered; refunds are not available. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Event Details
The Wild Dart Swim takes place on Sunday June 21st, 2026
We have a great new swim which we believe will be a better version of the Wild Dart Swim. This year, swimmers will swim a completely new section of the Dart (in clean bathing water quality) and finish at the Dolphin Boatyard in Galmpton, which is approximately 4km downstream from Stoke Gabriel. There will be catering at the finish and registration will be at the Shed in Stoke Gabriel. Transport will be provided for all those who have paid for it.
4k swim and 15k aquathlon
Aquathloners will start alongside the 4km swimmers and exit at Dolphin Boatyard, then move to a nearby transition area, before running a six miles circuit through Greenway Woods via public footpaths, which finishes back at the boatyard.
Transport
The bus will leave the Dolphin Boatyard in the Creek for Stoke Gabriel at 11am.
Key facts
- The aquathlon course suits road shoes.
- All normal swim run kit will be permitted, including tow floats except for flippers. Hand Fins only are permitted but people using them will not qualify for podium prizes.
- We will take your clearly labelled drop bags to the transition area at Dolphin Boatyard from registration.
15k Aquathlon
The 15k aquathlon includes:
- The 4k swim to Dolphin Boatyard
- A 10k run along wooded footpath at Greenway and quiet country lanes in Galmpton, finishing in the Boatyard.
- All 4K swimmers will need to bring a drop back for the finish.
How will it work?
- There will be one start wave for 4k swimmers and aquathloners
Start times:
- The start time for the 4k swim will be close to High Tide at 11.45am.
- Aquathlon entrants will leave their clothes/shoes in a colour coded & numbered bin bag, which will be taken to the finish.
- All 4K swimmers will need to bring a drop back for the finish.
- Catering will be provided at the finish at Galmpton.
Safety measures
- There will be a team of safety kayakers, rescue boats and crews on hand throughout the swim.
- No one should be more than 200m from a safety vessel.
- We will be working closely with the safety team to ensure swimmers exit at the Dolphin Boatyard jetty one at a time.
- In the event of the water temperature falling below 11.9ºC, a reduced swim course will be considered.
Wetsuits
We will be allowing participants to swim without wetsuits, if the temperature is above 14 degrees. However you do so at your own risk.
If the water temperature is above 22 degrees Celsius, wetsuits will be banned. Competitors will be notified of this at registration and in advance of the event where possible.
The event crew will use manual timing to time each swimmer. Participants will be set off in two waves, which will be decided in conjunction with the harbourmaster’s office and the water safety team.
Registration, Post Swim and Kit
Registration will be held beside The Shack in Stoke Gabriel from 11.00am. All swimmers will be able to collect their swim packs containing race number, and swim cap. All participants will be able to leave their kit at the start in an attended area. We will also encourage supporters to be on standby ready with warm garments.