HARBOUR CROSSING
AUCKLAND – SUN 17 NOVEMBER 2013
NEWSFLASH: We have the confirmed date for the State Harbour Crossing event – so you can get planning for next season! Note that only the event date and key timings have been updated so far. All other event information and timings will be updated ready for entries to go live in July.
This year sees us clocking up the 10th year of the popular State Harbour Crossing, giving swimmers their annual fix of stopping marine traffic and being able to say, ‘I’ve swum across Auckland Harbour’!
From its inauguration in 2004 where the swim kicked off from Stanley Bay to the Viaduct’s Market Square, to the now improved course from Bayswater’s Quinton Park to Karanga Plaza in the Viaduct Harbour, this has become one of the largest and most iconic ocean swims in New Zealand.
Catch the optional competitor transfer ferry from the Viaduct to Bayswater for the 7.00am race start and have your friends and family make the most of the spectator vantage points around Viaduct Harbour to watch you enter the Harbour and cross the finish line. They can then join you afterwards for the prize giving and spot prizes.
The State Harbour Crossing on Sunday 17 November 2013 is a 2.9km ‘I’m going Long’ swim split into 6 waves, putting swimmers with similar abilities together in waves, seeded by their anticipated times. It is for individuals with swimming experience who have trained to complete this event.
Race Start Time
The ‘I’m Going Long’ 2.9km swim starts at Quinton Park at 7.00AM, with the compulsory safety briefing taking place at 6.30AM. The Competitor Information Sheet with all your key event information will be uploaded to here closer to the event date.
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Swim pack pick up / registration details
The pre-event registration / race pack pick up event details will be listed on here when entries go live in July.
All entrants will receive:
- A timing chip which is loaned to you for the event
- A swim cap that you must wear for the duration of the event
- A swim-related gift from our principal sponsor State insurance
- A personalised certificate that you can download and print at no charge from the results page
- Other sponsor goodies
- State bag transfer service for ‘I’m Going Long’ competitors
- State bag tent at main event site for competitors
Race Pack Courier
We now offer a pre-paid courier service that will courier your race pack including your swim cap and timing chip to you the week leading up to the event. In the interest in keeping your costs down, couriers are now split into two zones at different prices. Please check here for more information about couriers and to see which zone and price your courier will be. Please note that Race Pack courier orders for the State Harbour Crossing close at 5pm Wednesday 6 November 2013, so please purchase couriers before this date if you would like your Race Pack sent through to you.
You can book and pay for this courier service when entering online or purchase from the ocean swim store.
Important dates:
5:00PM – Saturday 21 September 2013 – Online Early-bird pricing finishes
5:00PM – Wednesday 6 November 2013 – race pack courier orders close
11:59PM – Saturday 9 November 2013 – $5 late entry fee applies
11.59PM – Friday 15 November 2013 – Online registrations close
ALL DAY – Sunday 17 November 2013 – Late entries accepted (additional $10) at the registration venue (if entries do not sell out prior as there is an entry limit to the State Harbour Crossing for safety reasons).
The minimum age for the State Harbour Crossing is 14 years old. For swimmers under this age that are with a Swimming NZ affiliated club please email info@oceanswim.co.nz for entry instructions.
Race Day Transport
We have chartered one-way ferries for ‘I’m Going Long’ swim competitors only from Auckland Central Ferry Terminal to Bayswater wharf. Ferry times will be confirmed before entries go live. Swimmers bags will be transported back to the finish area at Karanga Plaza during the race.
If you need another way to get to Quinton Park, you can either taxi or catch a bus (click here for a suitable public bus from downtown Auckland). Or check www.maxx.co.nz for buses from your Auckland location. If you don’t want to taxi or bus, you can also drive to Bayswater, park on the street nearby and then get a public ferry back to Bayswater after the event (check out Fullers website for times and prices).
Bag Transfer Service and Bag Tent
State provide a Free Bag Transport service for ‘I’m Going Long’ competitors from the Bayswater start line to the Karanga Plaza finish line in the Viaduct. Bags will be left in the State Bag Tent at Karanga Plaza event site for competitors. This tent is also available for other swim competitors. This is on an all care and no responsibility basis.
Finish Area
The State Harbour Crossing finishes at Karanga Plaza part of the new Viaduct Events Centre and North Wharf area. Swimmers will step out of the water up the steps and across the finish line.
Spectators
The State Harbour Crossing starts in the water at Quinton Park, Bayswater and follows the line of the Marina breakwater before the course leads swimmers across the Harbour and finish at Karanga Plaza next to the Viaduct Events Centre. The Bayswater Marina pathway provides a great view for spectators to cheer and watch the action in the water.
The Karanga Plaza is the location of our finish line with plenty of space for spectators to watch and cheer for friends and family literally stepping out of the water and completing their personal challenges.
Prize Giving
Details of the prize giving will be uploaded shortly.
Public Transport
Citylink
Citylink runs from the newly developed Wynyard Quarter, along Queen St, up to K-Rd and then back down Queen Street (Return). On the Sunday of the State Harbour Crossing the CityLink will run every 20mins from 7:00am to 11:00pm
Bus
The closest stop to the Karanga Plaza is 185 Fanshawe Street. From here Karanga Plaza is a 5 minute walk down Halsey Street. For information about Buses to surrounding areas visit Maxx www.maxx.co.nz
From Britomart, Karanga Plaza is a short 5 minute walk down Quay Street, on to Te Wero Island and across the new Te Wero bridge.
Driving
From Fanshawe Street take either Halsey or Beaumont Street onto Jellicoe Street.
Parking
If you’re coming from Downtown Auckland, Viaduct Harbour or Te Wero Island, Downtown car park is the most convenient.
- Downtown Carpark, 31 Customs Street West
- Wynyard Quarter Carpark, entrance off Beaumont Street and Madden Street. First hour free – $2 hour following that.
Accommodation
Check out the Millennium Hotels’ page for great accommodation deals at the Copthorne Hotel HarbourCity – right on the doorstep of the State Harbour Crossing event! This offer is especially for State New Zealand Ocean Swimmers, friends and families. Get in quick though as rooms are limited.
Cut off times
The cut off time for the 2.9km State Harbour Crossing swim is 1 hour and 50minutes from your wave/group start.
Contingency Plan
In the event of weather that prevents the State Harbour Crossing from being able to cross the Harbour safely the swim will move to the contingency course starting behind the Maritime Museum next to Princes Wharf (see below map). All swimmers will be briefed at the event finish site in Karanga Plaza at 10.20am. Swimmers will be advised prior by email, text message, on the State NZ Ocean Swim Series Facebook page and website.
If conditions change significantly on event day morning, a text message will be sent out to all swimmers and we will have event crew stationed in Bayswater sending swimmers back to the Viaduct on our chartered ferries. The event will start 1 hour later at 8:30AM.
Safe Swimming Tip from Water Safety NZ
Know your limits and stay within them.
Inspirational Story
“First time ocean racer; infact, this was the first competitive sporting thing I had done in 25 years!” Jeff Whiting
Read more inspirational swimming stories
Proudly supported by:
The State Harbour Crossing is proudly supported by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).
