– Open Water Swimming at Elton Sailing Club

Open Water Swimming at Elton Sailing Club BL8 2BR

The club are organising open water swimming for 4 Tuesdays in May from 5 to 8pm at Elton Sailing Club in Bury Tue 9th May to Tue 30th May.

Non members are welcome and can book sessions on https://www.picktime.com/btc . It is £6.50 for seniors and £4.00 for juniors. Before your first swim at Elton you need to complete this 2023 Registration form so we have up to date emergency contact and other necessary information. Bolton Tri Club members can book sessions on ClubSpark but must also complete the 2023 registration form.

To manage numbers and for safety reasons there are three booking slots for seniors based on your expected arrival time, 5 to 6, 6 to 6.30 and 6 to 7.30 pm. There is just one booking slot for juniors – anytime 5 to 8pm. You may swim for as long as you want up to 8pm. Water temp is now 18 degrees C . For more info about swimming and water temp see Callum’s Scottish Guide to Water Temperature on You Tube . It depends on wind and water conditions but we usually have a 400m swim course marked out by large buoys and a shorter alternative course

You must be able to swim 400m front crawl or breaststroke without stopping. Wetsuits are compulsory but we have some to hire. The sailing club has showers and changing rooms and hot meals and drinks will be available. Please read our Safety leaflet before swimming.

Two main meals in the cafe every week one of which is a vegetarian option – price £4. For example last Tuesday it was Cottage Pie and Chick Pea & Sweet Potato Curry with rice . Burgers, chips, bacon barms, snackbars, tea, coffee, hot chocolate,Vimto etc. also available

Regarding water quality, tests for e-coli and entero-cocci taken on 17th April produced excellent results, even better than previous years. Water levels are higher than last year too and there is very little weed. However blue-green algae is an ongoing risk at Elton Reservoir especially in warmer weather so for now we are only scheduling 4 swims up to Tue 30th May. We inspect the water several times a week to check that swimming areas are safe. Currently it is fine. If it remains good we will organise another 4 weeks of swimming from 13th June to 4th July

Keep an eye on this page for updates, latest water temperatures, cafe menu, cancellations due to adverse weather or water conditions etc.

Directions to Elton Sailing Club. Use this postcode if relying on SatNav BL8 2BR
If travelling down Bolton Road (A58) towards Bury turn right at the Wellington Pub into Kitchener Street signposted Elton Reservoir and Cygnet Hospital. At end of Kitchener St turn right into Buller Street. Turn left over a small bridge signposted Cygnet Hospital. Once over bridge bear right and down lane to Sailing Club.