Derwent River swims
The Derwent River is a river in Tasmania, Australia, which flows into the Tasman Sea near the city of Hobart. The 34 km (21.1-mile) "Big Swim" route from the New Norfolk Bridge to the Tasman Bridge was first attempted by Christopher Guesdon on Australia Day (26 January) 1972. Des Renford was the first to successfully complete the swim in 1975.
In 2019, the Derwent River swim was added to the MSF Toughest Thirteen and the Australian Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming.
| Route | Swims | First | Fastest |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 75 | Des Renford - 1975 | Andrew Donaldson - 05:35:21 (2022) |
| Tasman Bridge to New Norfolk Bridge | 2 | Brenda Norman - 2022 | Brenda Norman - 09:26:00 (2022) |
| Tasman Br - New Norfolk - Tasman Br | 2 | Brenda Norman - 2022 | Anna Strachan - 18:59:00 (2022) |
| Bowen Bridge to Bruny Island | 1 | Jonathan Wall - 2023 | Jonathan Wall - 08:24:13 (2023) |
| New Norfolk Bridge to Iron Pot Lighthouse | 1 | Brenda Norman - 2023 | Brenda Norman - 15:19:00 (2023) |
| Date | Name | Gender | Age | Nation | Route | Km | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 Jan 25 | Des Renford |  |
47 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 10:54:00 | |
| 1976 Jan 26 | Richard Campion | |
35 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:19:00 | |
| 1976 Jan 26 | Jenny Anderson |  |
20 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:44:00 | |
| 2015 Jan 31 | Daniel Curtis | |
48 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 15:57:00 | |
| 2020 Jan 1 | Emma Radford | |
28 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:46:00 | |
| 2020 Mar 7 | Lynton Mortensen | |
55 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 11:10:00 | |
| 2020 Dec 13 | Ross Youngman | |
59 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:11:00 | |
| 2021 Jan 7 | Richard Jones | |
54 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 10:08:00 | |
| 2021 Jan 9 | Brenda Norman | |
39 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:04:00 | |
| 2021 Jan 24 | Sharon Young | |
51 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:53:00 | |
| 2021 Jan 30 | Anna Strachan | |
46 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:31:00 | |
| 2021 Feb 12 | Stuart Donnachie | |
40 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:54:00 | |
| 2021 Feb 13 | Val Kalmikovs | |
47 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:58:00 | |
| 2021 Feb 28 | Eric Bateman | |
48 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 10:27:00 | |
| 2021 Mar 8 | John Van Wisse | |
48 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 06:49:00 | |
| 2021 Mar 12 | Douglas Hughson | |
50 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:29:00 | |
| 2021 Mar 20 | Luke Richards | |
48 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:37:00 | |
| 2021 Dec 9 | James Clothier | |
38 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:47:00 | |
| 2021 Dec 30 | Anna Strachan | |
47 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:10:00 | |
| 2021 Dec 31 | Joy Symons | |
40 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:42:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 1 | Jayde Richardson | |
29 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:02:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 1 | Zen Durbidge | |
38 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:39:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 12 | Jonathan Wall | |
51 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 10:38:05 | |
| 2022 Jan 13 | Brenda Norman | |
40 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:47:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 13 | Carolyn Anderson | |
46 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:52:14 | |
| 2022 Jan 14 | Joep Buijs | |
52 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:25:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 15 | Marcus Payne | |
46 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:55:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 18 | Sally Catt | |
60 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 11:10:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 19 | Brenda Norman | |
40 | Tasman Bridge to New Norfolk Bridge | 33.5 | 09:26:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 28 | Brianna Thompson | |
20 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 06:40:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 30 | Julie Boxsell | |
51 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:45:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 30 | Brett Stephenson | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 10:53:00 | ||
| 2022 Jan 30 | Brenda Norman | |
41 | Tasman Br - New Norfolk - Tasman Br | 67 | 19:51:00 | |
| 2022 Jan 31 | Brianna Thompson | |
20 | Tasman Bridge to New Norfolk Bridge | 33.5 | 11:43:00 | |
| 2022 Feb 12 | Felicity Harrison | |
30-31 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:18:46 | |
| 2022 Feb 12 | Brittany Parker | |
39 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:47:00 | |
| 2022 Feb 12 | Anna Strachan | |
47 | Tasman Br - New Norfolk - Tasman Br | 67 | 18:59:00 | |
| 2022 Feb 13 | Peter Tucker | |
66 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 12:18:45 | |
| 2022 Feb 16 | Richard Langridge | |
50 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:02:50 | |
| 2022 Feb 26 | Jayde Richardson | |
29 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:05:00 | |
| 2022 Feb 27 | Claire Keane | |
62 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 10:06:30 | |
| 2022 Feb 28 | Michael Powell | |
60 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 10:33:26 | |
| 2022 Mar 15 | Mark Robson | |
50 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 10:31:17 | |
| 2022 Mar 16 | Rod Watkins | |
60-61 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:47:17 | |
| 2022 Mar 17 | Mark Sowerby | |
50 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:55:12 | |
| 2022 Mar 24 | Eva Buzo | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:01:21 | ||
| 2022 Mar 25 | Eva Buzo | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:32:21 | ||
| 2022 Mar 26 | Andrew Donaldson | |
31 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 05:35:21 | |
| 2022 Mar 26 | Helen Conway | |
45-46 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:28:10 | |
| 2022 Mar 27 | Fiona Cullinane | |
20 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 06:26:38 | |
| 2022 Mar 27 | Victor Pineiro | |
44 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:10:33 | |
| 2022 Mar 29 | Tara Grout | |
50 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:05:06 | |
| 2022 Dec 21 | Bob Tarr | |
44 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:47:10 | |
| 2022 Dec 21 | Rachael Rowland | |
20 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:19:13 | |
| 2022 Dec 22 | Ben Humphreys | |
53 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:40:49 | |
| 2022 Dec 22 | Nicky MacKenzie | |
47 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:40:49 | |
| 2022 Dec 28 | Stephen Maloney | |
53 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:37:00 | |
| 2023 Jan 2 | Greg Woodward | |
40 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:13:00 | |
| 2023 Jan 5 | Natasha Bamber | |
46 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:39:04 | |
| 2023 Jan 17 | Jonathan Wall | |
52 | Bowen Bridge to Bruny Island | 30.2 | 08:24:13 | |
| 2023 Jan 20 | Paul Stravato | |
50 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:55:11 | |
| 2023 Jan 21 | Val Kalmikovs | |
48-49 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:37:37 | |
| 2023 Jan 24 | Samuel Abeshouse | |
52 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:31:47 | |
| 2023 Jan 24 | Stephen Junk | |
62 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:34:00 | |
| 2023 Jan 27 | Brenda Norman | |
42 | New Norfolk Bridge to Iron Pot Lighthouse | 55.8 | 15:19:00 | |
| 2023 Feb 2 | Ceinwen Roberts | |
42 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:10:12 | |
| 2023 Feb 2 | Katya Noble | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:39:59 | ||
| 2023 Feb 3 | Mark Mallinson | |
45 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:05:39 | |
| 2023 Feb 3 | Marty Filipowski | |
59 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:31:42 | |
| 2023 Feb 3 | Steve Cork | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:31:42 | ||
| 2023 Feb 3 | Alex Prendergast | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 09:41:06 | ||
| 2023 Feb 5 | Louise Rosemann | |
55 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:33:13 | |
| 2023 Feb 15 | Luke Colston | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:26:07 | ||
| 2023 Feb 16 | Tim Scott | |
43-44 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:48:01 | |
| 2023 Feb 17 | Rory Thomson | |
51 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:07:46 | |
| 2023 Feb 19 | Michael Pranckl | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:53:00 | ||
| 2023 Feb 19 | Greg Johnson | |
New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:01:54 | ||
| 2023 Mar 4 | Stephen Mirams | |
44 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:43:21 | |
| 2023 Mar 5 | Abigail Fairman | |
46 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:35:20 | |
| 2023 Mar 5 | Ashleigh Webb | |
33 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 08:49:39 | |
| 2023 Mar 6 | Melanie Holland | |
47-48 | New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge | 33.5 | 07:47:41 |
Reviews
Reviewer: Abigail Fairman (August 2023)
Swam in 2023 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️
Pilot: Val Kalmikovs
Fees: AU$2500
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "Also found me exceptional crew (Clinton Millar) after weather-related date shift."
Association: Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation
Fees: AU$200
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
General Comments: "This was the first of my three swims in Australia and it was my favorite. The Derwent River is gorgeous, Hobart is a wonderful little town, and Val is an amazing pilot. While it was the only solo swim I did there, Doug and the ALDSF made the finish feel special. Five Stars - book yourself a trip to Tasmania."
Reviewer: anonymous+verified (August 2023)
Swam in 2023 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️
Pilot: Heath Watts - Brum
Fees: NA
Communication ★️★️★️★️✩️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️✩️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️✩️
Association: Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation
Fees: NA
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
General Comments: "A beautiful swim with the most spectacular finish line."
Reviewer: Val Kalmikovs (August 2023)
Swam in 2021 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️
Pilot: Sea Rescue guys
Fees: 3000aud
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️✩️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "Phil and I became good mates. He was a great help with my first year on Derwent as a pilot.
Swam again in 2023..."
Association: DRBS
Fees: NA
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "2023 was the first year association start charging rego fees."
General Comments: "Loving it. There are few other great swims on Derwent as well"