Solo Swimmer Brief

Saturday 22 August 2026 · Rindoon to Athlone · 13.5km
--Days
--Hrs
--Min
Friday 21 August · the night before
Swim

Check all your equipment

  • Wetsuit, if you are using one on the day
  • Tow float · mandatory
  • Two pairs of goggles
  • Spare hats, to wear under the event hat if required
  • Body Glide or Vaseline
  • Garmin or sports watch
Phone

Charge your phone for the tracker

Fully charged mobile phone for the event tracker. Tracker details to follow. Share tracker.castletocastleswim.ie with your family and friends.

Warm

Clothing

Towels, and warm clothing for after the swim.

Fuel

Prepare and pack for your kayaker

Nutrition and hydration. Your kayaker carries it for you.

Saturday 22 August · event day
Park

Parking

  • Pre-booked free parking in Custume Barracks. You must have submitted your car reg on 17 August. Map
  • Otherwise check Parkopedia for parking in Athlone
7.15
–7.45

Registration · Athlone Boat Club

Grace Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 T384. Map

  • Complete the waiver form. Swimmers aged 16 or 17 must have the form signed by a parent or guardian
  • Any outstanding monies or donations are collected by Denise, Head of Registration. Cash, card and cheque accepted, made out to Pieta
  • You are issued with an orange swim cap which is mandatory to wear, a t-shirt in the size you confirmed at sign-up, a swim number written on your hand, a bag sticker, and a dry bag for your phone
Change

Change at the Club House

Changing rooms are available at Athlone Boat Club. There are no indoor changing facilities at the start in Judy's Harbour, so change before you get on the bus.

Bags

Pack one bag for the bus

  • All clothes packed in a bag and brought on the bus to the start
  • Keep it compact, everything secured, with the sticker attached showing your name and swim number
  • Leave it at the Drop-off Point at Judy's Harbour
  • Bags are transported back to the finish at Athlone Castle for collection
  • All items are left at your own risk. The organisers are not responsible for lost items
7.50am

Group photo outside the Boat Club

8.00am

Bus departs · sharp

From the Boat Club to Judy's Harbour, Rindoon. Roughly 30 minutes.

8.30am

Arrive at Judy's Harbour

Portaloo toilets and drinking water are in place. Map

Prep

Before you swim

  • It is a long swim. Grease up well with Body Glide, lanolin or Vaseline on the back of your neck and under your arms to avoid friction burns
  • Pass your food and drink pack to your kayaker
  • Pass your phone to your kayaker · turned on, tracking app open, in the dry bag
9.00am

Safety briefing · mandatory

At Judy's Harbour, before the start.

9.30am

Wave 1 · rolling start

9.36am

Wave 2 · rolling start

1.15
–4.15

Expected finish · Athlone Castle

7.30pm

After party · The Snug Bar, Fry Place

Until late.

Rolling start

For safety reasons the event begins with a rolling start, with swimmers starting between 20 and 30 seconds apart, depending on weather conditions. This allows for a relaxed, safe start with no congestion.

Timekeeping

The Castle to Castle Swim is a charity swim event rather than a race. Swim times are recorded and made available after the event, based on your individual start and finish time. There are no timing chips. Record your own swim time where you can.

Spectators

Spectators are welcome at the swim start at Judy's Harbour, Rindoon, Co. Roscommon, along the banks of the Shannon, and at the finish line by Athlone Castle.

The two rules that matter

🔺Yellow on your LEFT Every yellow buoy, the whole way
🔴Red on your RIGHT Red markers show shallow water. Stay inside the route

And one more

After Buoy C, you must swim within 20 metres of every yellow buoy. Buoys are 500m apart and lettered A to T.

A tall yellow triangular buoy lettered R
This is what you are looking for. Tall, yellow, triangular, lettered.

Judy's Harbour to Buoy C

C
Roughly 2.5km, direct Take the most direct route to Buoy C
Buoys A and B are for the relay course. Solo swimmers go direct to Buoy C. Two small yellow buoys are placed along the way, and the Command Vessel is moored close to Buoy C as a guide for your kayaker.
↓
Enter the water slowly Swimmers enter from shore at Judy's Harbour
Exercise caution. The terrain is uneven underfoot.
Map of the start at Rindoon showing the direct line to Buoy C
Take the direct line. A and B sit off to the side and are not on your route.

Down the lake · C to T

From Buoy C, each tall triangular yellow buoy is positioned 500m apart and lettered C to T. Swim within 20m of each one, keeping them on your left. Along the route you will see red navigational markers indicating shallow water. Keep the red markers on your right and stay within the navigational route.

Map of Lough Ree showing buoys A to T with red danger posts
The full run down the lake. Red dots are the red navigation markers.

At Buoy T you leave the lake

Buoy T is where you leave Lough Ree and start the 3km final stretch through the Shannon.

Into the Shannon · the three gates

Shift your focus to the small yellow buoys and red posts. Keep the yellow buoys to your left and the red navigational markers to your right.

There are three points on the river section where the navigational gap is quite narrow and caution is advised. Your kayaker will move ahead of you through these gates. Any boats on the course will hold to let swimmers through.

1
Between Buoys S and T Approaching the river
Your kayaker leads. Swim in the centre, between the red marker and the white marker. The yellow line is your path.
Map of the S to T transition into the River Shannon
Gate 1. Down the centre, between the red and the white marker.
2
After the Motorway Bridge Narrow green and red gates
Your kayaker leads you through. Any relay support boats will hold to give way to swimmers.
Map of the narrow green and red navigation gates after the N6 bridge
Gate 2. Relay boats hold here to let swimmers through.
3
The white railway bridge Then the home straight, final 500m
Your kayaker leads you under again. Relay support boats veer left to the marina. Your kayaker stays with you for a photo at the swim finish.
Map of the white railway bridge and the channel down to the marina
The last narrow point. Relay support boats veer off left to the marina.

The last 500m

After passing the railway bridge you must keep to the right of the channel, where you pass under the new pedestrian bridge. Pass through the square arch under the main town bridge and keep tight to the quay wall to prepare to exit.

Leave the course via the slipway immediately at Athlone Castle. Volunteers are on hand to help you on the slipway. Take care if you are dizzy or unsteady.

Map of the finish at Athlone Castle
Swim finish at the castle. Exit at the slipway.

Working with your kayaker

A kayaker alongside a swimmer with an orange tow float
Stay parallel to the kayak, except at the narrow points.

Constant communication with your kayaker is key to having the best experience. Contact them in advance and agree a plan.

  • Agree which side you would prefer your kayaker to paddle on
  • Agree how often you will stop for drinks and food
  • Agree a signal for food stops
  • Stay parallel to the kayak, except at the narrow points above
  • Aim to swim at an all day pace. Put into place what you practised in training
  • Review and familiarise yourself with the course ahead of time

General rules

  • Respect the environment and local inhabitants. Do not litter anywhere
  • Respect and help your fellow swimmers
  • Listen to our marshals and safety teams. They are there for your safety
If you are in trouble
ROLL ONTO
YOUR BACK
hold your tow float
and raise your hand
Signal immediately if you feel unwell or are in distress. Safety kayakers, boats and divers are stationed throughout the course.

In severe distress

The RNLI or an alternative rescue boat, and on-site divers, can extract you from the water. There are also ambulances at locations along the course.

Medical assistance

Should you require medical attention, a doctor is centrally located on the Command Control Boat.

If you retire

If you retire during the swim, your kayaker will inform the Swim Coordinator and you will be extracted from the water by a safety team. You must not go on land at any time during the swim.

Cut-off times

K
Buoy K within 3 hours6.5km
S
Buoy S within 5 hours10.5km
7
Finish within 7 hoursTotal cut-off at Athlone Castle
Any remaining swimmers who have not completed the course within the 7 hour safety limit will be instructed to stop and return by boat to Athlone Marina.

What your kayaker is watching for

Throughout the swim your kayaker will assess your physical and mental condition, and asking you simple questions is a good way to do this. They are watching for hypothermia and exhaustion.

Symptoms of hypothermia

  • Exhaustion, or feeling very tired
  • Confusion
  • Memory loss
  • Slurred speech

Your kayaker will also aim to keep you on course. Even slightly choppy water can make it difficult for swimmers to see where they are going.

Mandatory

  • The bright orange swim cap provided at registration must be worn and visible throughout
  • All swimmers must use a tow float
  • Swimmers who registered to swim in a wetsuit, or completed the time trial in a wetsuit, must wear a wetsuit during the swim

Not allowed

  • No fins, paddles, boards or pull buoys
  • You must not go on land at any time during the swim

Pack the night before

Weather on the day

  • If it is hot and sunny, protect exposed areas with sunscreen, particularly if you are swimming in skins
  • If it is a cold day, or the water temperature drops, wearing a second cap under the event cap is recommended

Hydration and nutrition

Pre-hydrate, and consider your pre-swim, during-swim and post-swim nutrition.

Environmental awareness

Adjust your swim strategy based on water conditions. Watch out for indications of changing water velocity or incoming weather disturbances.

Exit at the slipway

Leave the course via the slipway immediately at Athlone Castle. Volunteers are on hand to help you. Take care if you are dizzy or unsteady.

After you exit

1
Finisher medal and photo Under the "13.5k Finish Line" arch
2
Collect your bag From the Collection Van. Remember your swim number
Do not forget to retrieve your phone from your kayaker.
3
Changing tentGet warmed up
4
Pieta Marquee Personalised Certificate of Participation and goody bag
5
Swimmers and Volunteers Hospitality Tent Sandwiches and wraps, buns, fruit and water
6
The Bounty Coffee Dock Free tea and coffee for swimmers and volunteers

For families, friends and supporters

  • From 1.00pm, DJ and MC Ray Reilly will introduce the homecoming swimmers and play the tunes
  • Tea, coffee and treats at The Bounty Coffee Dock, with all proceeds going to Pieta
  • Simon's Street Kitchen and the River View Bistro will also be open for hungry supporters

After party

From 7.30pm · The Snug Bar, Fry Place

  • Finger food available for swimmers, support crew and volunteers
  • Share stories and pics, catch up with your kayaker, let the hair down and have a great night. You have earned it

Remember above all, your health and safety are paramount. We have a dedicated team to ensure your well-being throughout the swim. Stay aware, stay safe, do not hesitate to signal for assistance, and enjoy your swim from Castle to Castle.

Thank you for taking part, and for your much appreciated success in reaching the fundraising target for Pieta.

The Organising Committee