How big is your boat?

It is solo or team swim?

I would suggest minimum 7mtr boat depnding on how many swimmers. You will also need to allow for brigning back swimmers and ski paddler with ski. Can get rough in the afternoon if the seabreeze comes in.

If solo swimmer can be a long/slow day and you need plenty of fuel.

also need good GPS to ensure you stay within the course.

depends on the weather, and if you have good swimmers and crew!

a few years ago, it was an absolute glasss orf, and i was kinda spewin that i wasnt fishing (in those conditions), instead of driving the boat! the days where its windy, the skipper can make or break the race. you honestly need a good decky, to assist with retrieving the swimmers, telling the skipper when the swimmer is clear of the prop, etc. not having the above can add literally hours to an already long day.

in my opinion, i wouldnt be doing it unless they are very good mates, but i will be driving it this year.

All comments above are true,

ive done it a few time both swimming in it and driving/ deckie.

every time has been great and a lot of laughs - just need to have a good crew, adjust your course for the wind and tide, and have plenty of food and drink on board.

but the conditions on the day will make or break it. Unfortunately you cant wait until the last week to decide.

all in all, I would say do it just for the experience.

need a good boarding ladder, some good shade, good seating for the skipper plus at least 5 others, a ski rope to throw to the swimmer finishing their leg, plenty of fuel, good plotter or GPS and a lot of patience.

good luck.

By the sound of it, my boat won't be big enough. It is only a 5.5m and a team swim. Do you think that is a no go?

I think it is 4 girls which makes things a bit more palatable!

Saved by the regs!

6m boat minimum

 haha yep was just gong to say 5.5 is probably too small for 4 person team, i swam in a team of four one year in a 5 metre rib which was fairly unpleasant!

Hi guys yes , we NAUTICAL KNOW HOW TRAINING were support boat last year for a solo swimmer, as the others have said , yes it can be very dedious, especially for solos as there the first swimmers away at 5.30am and in our case the last to arrive on the island. Which means all the other competitors  (aprox 1500) there  kayakers and support boats, are going to overtake you, sounds fine if there going in a straight line, problem is they dont, wind , waves and other support boats and there teams will cut across your path,  swimmers will cross in front of you, boats will collide with yours, sum miner language will occur.... But all said and done im doing it again, wouldnt want to miss out on the fun and fantastic atmosphere that is the Rotto swim ..The greatest ocean swim in the world...

 I have done it for a few years and would not miss it for the world. Some years better than others as regards to weather but one thing remains constant. It is a lot of fun, a lot of work, a bit of stress and and it,s piss funny when a fairly worn out swimmer gets zapped by a stinger, it's amazing how things go from ho hum dawdling along to holy shit quick do this do that and it brings out the best of the crew. Your attitude and that of the other boaties around you will make for a brilliant day. It's not uncommon to have to work closely alongside another boat taking turns retrieving swimmers and mostly no words are needed.

Pas with anything you have your share of Wally's that don't or won't abide by some simple rules. Best to concentrate on your own game and have fun,plenty of sleep the night before (and Crays for the skipper) plenty of fluids some more fun and it's all good. 

We have always planned to hit the pub afterwards, never made it yet. It funny how swimming 20 odd k's wears a bloke down. 

P.s always as a skipper, I couldn't,t swim that far,and always a team of four

have done the last 3 years as skipper, team of 4

As others have said, good deckie goes along way, also set the boat up to suit swimming and bringing people onboard as quick as possible.

Saying that, I've never had any damage but come bloody close a couple times. Last year they relaxed the start line for the suppor boats which made life a lot easier.

It's a long day. The blokes i take over did it in just under 5 1/2 hours last year, but when you gotta be at the start line by about 6.30am means up at 4, and not home till at least 4 or 5

Brilliant bit of fun with a dedicated crew.

Most swimmers will want to pay for fuel and other cost incurred.

As the registrations are now underway, a fair few adverts asking for support boats are appearing.

Hire fees of $1000 for the day are seemingly not uncommon.

I am doing it again after a great expirience last year with lots of laughs and a bit of funny drama.

The Rotto Island authorithy should make the island more accesable for the dedicated support boats so the crew can partake in the closing ceremony and festivities.

If you are one of the boats that supports an early wave starter then a trail run during the day plotting/record the route to the start line area is highly advisable as you will have to get there in pitch black conditions on the actual day.

Make sure your navigational lights are all working!

Launch NOR from the Swan river or from O/R or Hillaries all the way down to floreat (in darkness)

Allow plenty of time to get there in the dark!

I did it last year for a gun female swimmer from Queensland. 

Was a great day and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Slept on my Swan River mooring the night before for a cruisey 4am departure and saw the ramp chaos on the way out. 

Some good planning and a keen eye on the GPS makes it a lot easier for the swimmer. 

I agree with Glastro about priority for skippers boats. 

We were among the first few to arrive and still couldn't find a place to anchor up.

Also agree about the darkness. We cruised past many who were running at snails pace between Freo & Cottesloe that were obviously worried about hitting something in complete darkness - then ended up with a big convoy behind us taking advantage of the big HiD spotty we had turning night into day.