Broulee Bay to Breakers | PHOTOS

Broulee’s Wendy Dunn, second in the over 70s, described the swim as “mesmorising – that wonderful feeling of moving in the water and knowing you’re not alone”.  There was, for instance, a lazy seal floating on its back near the start and, according to Helen Okey of Rosedale, fish were easy to see in the crystal clear water.

Swim Coordinator Gary Pettigrove said the event has grown every year.

“We started with 171 swimmers in the first year,” he said. “Last year we had 292, and this year we’re looking at 340 people.”

The swim is becoming an important date on the Broulee calendar, and not only for the athletic feats of those that participate.

“The community spirit is fantastic,” Mr Pettigrove said. “The Broulee-Mossy Point Community Association joins in with the Broulee Surf Club.

“Normally they’re doing two different things, but they all come and pitch in to help.

“Everyone talkes about the swim and coming down to help. Doesn’t matter who they are in town, they all want to be part of it.”

Pettigrove has organised the event throughout its history, and does it for one main reason.

“I do this for love,” he said. “My whole thing is about returning myself back to the community, make it a better place to be.”

While some 35 water safety volunteers were on hand to care for the swimmers, Pia and Lucy Bain took extra measures to safeguard granddad Andrew – they zinc creamed his name in large letters on his back to guide helicopter assistance if needed.  It wasn’t.  

A sometimes frisky break on the outer sandbank and an inconvenient gutter close to shore reminded swimmers that it was a fair dinkum ocean swim.

Some 12 records were broken, a reflection of  “either close to perfect conditions or overtraining” according Gary Pettigrove. 

He thought the swims of Callum Elliott (18 min 41 sec) and Katie Drydan (18 min 55 sec) to win their open divisions were particularly impressive.

Many travelled to swim – there were 112 from Canberra and others came from Melbourne, Tamworth, Sydney, Goulbourn and Wagga Wagga.

Hotondo Homes has been sponsoring the swim for six years, an easy decision for Darren Phillips.

“I’m a long service lifesave, so it’s a good organisation for me to support,” he said.

“It’s a good community event, and it promotes healthy living.”

The swim raised more than $10,000 which will be split between the Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club and the Broulee Mossy Point Community Association.

Bay to Breakers continues to grow every year, but Mr Pettigrove has one big target in mind.

“I’ve modeled it off Lorne’s Pier to Pub swim,” he said. “They get four or five thousand competitors.”

“I don’t think it’ll get that big, but that’s my ambition and aim.”