The Fish Hoek Mile

The Fish Hoek Mile, proudly presented by Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club serves as an important annual fundraiser for the club. Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club has a proud history of community service as well as competitive surf lifesaving with Fish Hoek Surf being the reigning 2026 South African Lifesaving Club Champions. Fish Hoek Surf serves the local Fish Hoek and surrounding communities through their volunteer based Lifeguard programme as well as providing a very active Nipper programme with over 300 children, aged between 5 and 14 years old, learning the basics of lifesaving, sea skills and beach safety, every week during the Lifesaving Season (October to April).

The Fish Hoek Mile swim dates back to the 1980's and was one of the largest Ocean participation swims in South Africa. After an absence from the Open Water Swimming calendar in the late 2000s The Fish Hoek Mile swim returned in 2023 and has quickly reestablished itself as the biggest Ocean Swim in Cape Town. The swim retains its original swim route starting with a surf entry from Clovelly Beach before swimming back across Fish Hoek Bay to finish on the beach in front of Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club.

On the day swimmers will walk down the beach from the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club to the start of the race at Clovelly. Swimmers are encouraged to bring along a warm top and/or blanket on the day that can be used on the way to the start and thereafter donated at the drop off point at Clovelly Beach. All clothing and blankets collected at The Fish Hoek Mile will be donated to charities and organisations in the local communities.

Race schedule

7am        Registration opens at Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club

8:40am    Swimmers leave Fish Hoek Surf for Clovelly

9am        General Batch Swim Start - start from Clovelly at 9am

10am        Elite Batch Swim Start - start from Clovelly at 10am

11am        Prizegiving OR 30 minutes after the last finisher

Swimmer information for race day

- THERE WILL BE NO SUBTISTUTIONS OR ENTRIES ON RACE DAY

- Registration and check in is at Fish Hoek Surf LIfesaving Club from 7am to 8am

- Swimmer check in at Fish Hoek Surf LIfesaving Club from 7am to 8am

- The General batch swim race starts in batches from Clovelly at 9am

- First finisher expected at Fish Hoek Surf from 9:25am

- The Elite batch swim race starts at 10am

- Swimmers may choose to swim in either skins (costume) or the wetsuit categories

- Any changes to swim category i.e. Skins OR Wetsuits must be communicated at swimmer check in on race day. Any change not verified with the Event’s timing team will result in the swimmer's result not being officially recognised

- All swimmers will be marked on their hands with their race number at check in

- All swimmers must wear a brightly coloured swim cap, ONLY PINK, RED, LIGHT GREEN, ORANGE OR YELLOW will be accepted on the day.

- Previous Fish Hoek Mile Champions may wear their Gold Fish Hoek Mile caps on the day

- Tow floats are NOT compulsory on the day but swimmers may choose to use them. Please be sure to hold onto your tow floats through the SURF!

- Swimmers are not permitted to use fins, flippers or snorkels unless by prior arrangement in writing via email with the Event Organiser ([email protected])

NOTE: Swimmers Under 12 may enter ONLY IF they hold a Lifesaving South Africa Level 2 Nipper (Under 11 and Under 12) OR can provide results from an Open Water Swimming event in the OCEAN ONLY.

Swim Categories & Race Rules

The Fish Hoek Mile swim recognises the following categories on race day. Only those that are seeded into the Elite Batch (25 mins and under) according to their provided Mile time and Under 25 mins) will be eligible for the Overall, Open and Lifesaving Club Category Prizes.

Juniors (Male and Female 18 and under on race day)

Open Skins (Male and Female 19 and over on race day)

Open Wetsuits (Male and Female 19 and over on race day)

Lifesaving Club Trophy (first placed Male and Female Lifesaver from a Lifesaving Club) 

Overall Men            Overall Women

1st    R 1000            1st    R 1000

2nd    R 500             2nd    R 500

3rd    R 300              3rd    R 300

4th    R 200              4th    R 200

5th    R 100              5th    R 100

Only those that are seeded into the Elite Batch (25 mins and under) according to their provided Mile time and Under 25 mins) will be eligible for the Overall, Open and Lifesaving Club Category Prizes.

Skins Category - Swimmers may wear more than one swim cap (no neoprene allowed) and swim costumes may not extend beyond the shoulders onto the arms. Swimskins/Speedsuits are permitted but must not be made of neoprene and may not extend beyond the shoulders.

Wetsuit Category - Swimmers may wear a wetsuit up to 5mm in thickness. Wetsuit swimmers may wear more than one swim cap including a neoprene cap BUT must wear a brightly coloured swim cap over any neoprene cap that is worn. No booties or gloves may be worn!

Note: No refunds will be offered should the swim be adjusted, postponed or cancelled due to factors out of the organiser’s control. All decisions made in this regard will be based upon the safety of the swimmers.

With special thanks to The Fish Hoek Mile 2026 race partners Ocean Freedom, Maurten, Sailfish, Mad Wave, Button Wear and Shorebreak Cafe. All event enquiries and communication can be directed to the Event Organiser, Scott Tait from Swim Cape Town on 076 156 2619 and [email protected]