How to ratify a swim
Below is a link to the 2024 ratification pack. The pack has been written to contain everything you should need to get your swim ratified. For 2025 we are continuing to operate to the internationally recognised MSF standards of observing and documenting.
The pack is broken down into three sections:
-
Section one, register your swim! Please complete this section and get it back to us as soon as you can, especially if you plan on using a BCSA observer!
-
Section two guides you through the documentation requirements during your swim (particulary important if you wish to provide your own observer).
-
Section three details the post swim documentation requirements.
Please do your best to complete and submit everything, missing sections or incomplete forms could lead to delays in ratification!
The ratification process:
On completion of a swim the swimmer/observer should submit their documentation; swim report, observer report, observer log, track (in gpx form), pictures and videos as defined in our ratification pack. This will be compiled by the BCSA and sent to the committee for ratification. In the case the documents are fully complete, all in order, and the swim meets the swim rules as set out, three members of the committee may sign it off, ratifying the swim.
If a query is raised or further information is required, the swimmer and observer will be approached to clarify or complete. In the case that this is sufficient to resolve the query, as above, three members of the committee can sign it off and ratify. If further information isn’t provided within 2 months of the request, the ratification will be declined.
In the case that a query or question still exists after further information is submitted, the committee will meet, review the submission and make a decision on the case.
If a swim is declined ratification, the swimmer will be notified the reason why. The committee will have gone through a thorough process to get to this point and this decision is final.
Note: in the case a BCSA committee member has either swum or observed, they are not permitted to sign the ratification.
Medicals and qualifiers:
This is the responsibility of the pilot company you book with, for 2025 we are recommending you complete a qualifying swim and medical to ensure you are aclimatised to cold water and in the best possible health to complete your crossing. For 2026 this will be mandatory with all the pilot companies we work with. Qualifiers and medicals to try and prevent incidents from occurring so please do not see them as a barrier to your swim!
Qualifiers should be completed up to 18 months prior to your swim in water of less than 16C and to standard channel swimming rules (i.e., no clothing to increase buoyancy or heat retention). We recommend you have at least one person as beach support who can complete the temperature checks and stroke rate checks every hour. For solo swims, the qualifier should be 6 hours for Porthcawl to Glenthorne or Swansea to Ilfracombe and 3 hours for swims from Penarth. Relay swimmers should all complete a 2 hour swim.
For 2025 we recommend you complete the medical or qualifier for either the ILDSA or CSPF.