Safety, Rules and Policies

The safety of swimmers, organizers and volunteers is our top priority. We want all participants to have a fun and safe day in the Ottawa River!

On the Water

Safety personnel – boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards – will patrol the course to secure the event and respond in the event of an emergency. Swimmers may stop and hold onto a boat for rest and recovery.
No individual escorts are allowed; the exception being assigned Swim Angels.
Swim caps are included in your registration package, and they must be marked with your swim number and worn during the race.
If you need to remove yourself from the swim, we will provide you with transport to the finish line.
Remember to return your timing chip if you leave the swim early.

On land & medical

Volunteer medical staff will be available at the finish line.
Swimmers requiring medical attention during the swim may be transported before reaching the finish line. Remember to return your timing chip if you leave the swim early.

Wetsuits

Any type of wetsuit is permitted. Bring on the Bay strongly encourages swimmers to choose an open water swimming / triathlon specific wetsuit over a general water sports wetsuit.
If you intend to wear a full OR partial wetsuits – e.g. long sleeve, sleeveless, short sleeve and legs, and bottoms/jammers) you should be registered in the wetsuit category.
Unlike triathlons and some other events, there are no temperature cut-offs for Bring on the Bay. The water temperature is almost always 23-24C which is on the warmer side for a wetsuit, but still comfortable for many swimmers. We typically have about a 50/50 split for wetsuit/non-wetsuit.
The choice to wear a wetsuit or not rests solely with the swimmer; if you wish to change categories before the event you must notify Bring on the Bay no later than race kit pick-up to adjust your registration.

Equipment

Swim buoys are permitted, e.g. MyFloat.
Fins, paddles, and other swim aids are not permitted.
Participants are not permitted to use Mp3 players, headphones (including bone conducting) or any device that could impede hearing while swimming or on the course at any time.

Time Limit

There is a time limit of 2 hours – after the last swimmers enter the water – to complete the swim. Any remaining swimmers on the course at this time may be picked up from the water for swimmer safety.

Age Limit

There are no age limits for the swim; the event is very popular with young swimmers in Ottawa!
However, all parents of children under 18 must sign a waiver for their child either before or at race kit pick-up.

Due to the nature of open water swimming events taking place outdoors, safety concerns, including inclement weather, can necessitate a change to the original event plan. We will make every attempt to run the event safely and on time.
In the unlikely case of severe weather (lightning, low visibility, strong northwest winds with resulting high waves or possibly air quality), the swim may be delayed or possibly canceled.
If safety concerns necessitate a change to the original event plan, Bring on the Bay will promptly notify participants via the event website, email and social media (Facebook and Instagram). Please follow us to ensure you get updates!
If the event is completely canceled, Easter Seals may be able to issue you a tax receipt for your donation. Unfortunately, there will be no refunds if the event is cancelled; we appreciate your understanding.

Registration fees are non-refundable. If an event is canceled for safety reasons or force majeure, all proceeds will still be granted to Easter Seals.
If you are unable to attend for any reason, you may either request to transfer your registration to another swimmer with a small fee, or to defer your registration to the following year’s event.
Please contact Bring on the Bay to request a transfer or deferral.