PRIZES AND SOCIAL

All distances will finish at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. There will be a social event / prize giving at the finish. We will also have food and drinks for purchase which will benefit the Bermuda Zoological Society - please bring cash (small bills preferred!).

EVENT T-SHIRT COLLECTION

Race T-shirts / tank tops will be collected after you finish the swim along with an event towel. This will enable you not to have to load your swim bag with a towel when you check in at your start dock.

Race Numbers and Swim Caps will be collected the Day of the Event from each respective Starting Dock.

ADDITIONAL CHARITY INFORMATION

This is a Charity Event and to date the Round The Sound swim has raised more than $500,000 for local charities. All Donations/pledges will be given to the Bermuda Zoological Society, Bermuda Registered Charity # 179, to support their educational and conservation programs. Visit www.bamz.org for more information. Donations may be made online until 20 October 2026.

NOTES

1.  The race committee reserves the right to cancel the entire race or stop any individual at any stage of the race.
2.  Average sea temperature for October is 78 degrees F.
3.  In the event of extreme adverse weather, changes/modifications can be made to the course. This decision is made by the organizers at 8am on the morning of the race.

GENERAL RULES

1.  ANY SWIMMER WHO HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED THE RACE AND IS UNABLE TO FINISH OR WHO MUST WITHDRAW FOR ANY REASON IS OBLIGED TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT HIS/HER POSITION TO A RACE OFFICIAL.
2.  In order to be an official entrant, each swimmer must register at the check-in area between 30 and 60 minutes before the start of his/her race.
3.  An official swim cap for the race will be provided at each check-in. This cap must be worn as your timing chip will be inside it.
4. Transit swimmers must not cross or interfere with the starting line for shorter races – see Instructions.
5. During the race, directions issued by race officials must be followed.
6. Course marks must be passed on the correct side – see Instructions.
7. No wetsuits will be allowed.
8. An emergency plan card, provided, must be completed and handed in at registration.
9. The Race Committee reserves the right to remove a swimmer from the water who fails to reach a checkpoint by the official closing time - see CUT OFF TIMES for details.

PARKING FOR THE RACE

As all four events finish at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo but start elsewhere, competitors should have someone drop them off at their particular starting points at least 1 hour prior to the start of their race. See Check In times above.

Parking for the finish will not be available at the Aquarium, instead it will be up the hill at Whitney Institute or on Flatt's Victoria Field. Please use these areas responsibly and do not leave any litter.

THE STARTS

Check in will begin 1 hour prior to each start, see CHECK IN TIMES above. At the appropriate start, swimmers will be marked with their numbers and given their official swim cap. Please wear your official swim cap as it contains your timing chip and without it your time will not be recorded. Warm-up will be allowed, but all swimmers must have checked-in and be on land 20 minutes before start time. Swimmers will be checked into the water, in order, by number. Entry into the water shall be FEET FIRST. Diving is not permitted.

All starts will be in-water along the designated start line or rope and will strictly follow the timetable.

10K, 6K AND 4K SWIMMER CHECKPOINTS AND CUT OFF TIMES

All swimmers entered in the 10k, 6k or 4k events will be required to check in at all official check points on their respective course. As a transit swimmer, you will approach the check point dock with the pink course marker buoy on your left shoulder. At the dock, identify yourself by number and confirm that you are fit to continue. At each checkpoint there will be water and Powerade available. Once you are given the go ahead to proceed you should continue on your course. At times there will be yellow 'sausage' shaped buoys that will indicate the direction of the course and are in place to separate you from other swimmers who may be starting a shorter race. Do not swim underneath these 'sausage' buoys.

• 8k Checkpoint (Angel's Grotto) - closes at 11:00am (For 10k swimmers only)
• 6k Checkpoint (Shark Hole) - closes at 12:00pm (For 10k swimmers only)
• 4.25k Checkpoint (Luffalong Dock) - closes at 12:55pm (For 10k and 6k swimmers only)
• Please note that the Bayside Lane Dock is the start point for the 4k swim only. It is NOT a checkpoint for transit swimmers.
• 2.75k Checkpoint (Radnor Estate Road Dock) - closes at 1:55pm (For 10k, 6k and 4k swimmers)

THE FINISH          

All swimmers finish at the Aquarium, with an “In-Water” finish through a floating finish arch. Your finishing time and position will be taken as you swim through the arch. If you arrive in a pack please stay in your finishing order and make your way towards the steps to exit the water.

VOLUNTEERS

This event can not take place without the continual support of volunteers. If you or a family member wish to volunteer to help at the Start and Checkpoint docks on race day or with kayak and safety support then please email nick@bows.bm to signup for one of the volunteer positions.

SAFETY BOATS AND KAYAKS

These safety boats are officials of the race and will correct a swimmer who is off course or who misses a mark. Please comply with their directions courteously. Failure to comply will result in your number being reported to the race committee along with the offense. Penalty or disqualification may result.

THE COURSE       

The course is an ANTI-CLOCKWISE route around Harrington Sound using islands, docks and buoys as course markers. RULE FOR BUOYS: Other than the yellow sausage buoys. ALL BUOYS MUST BE KEPT ON THE SWIMMER'S LEFT SHOULDER

There are four types of buoys which will be used on the course:

1. PINK TRIANGULAR BUOYS (~6 feet tall pyramids) indicate a check point / water stop along the course - SWIMMERS MUST CHECK IN AT THESE PINK MARKERS,
2. ORANGE TRIANGULAR BUOYS (~6 feet tall pyramids) indicate an island at which swimmers will be making a turn,
3. ORANGE ROUND BUOYS (most are 5 feet tall, some at the end of the route are 8 feet tall) indicate a path for the swimmer, do not turn at these, they are simply for guidance,
4. YELLOW SAUSAGE BUOYS (15 feet long by 18 inches high) indicate a direction for swimmers to follow leading into a Dingles Island, Cockroach Island, and out of the checkpoint with 2.75k to go.

Round the Sound 2026 is sanctioned by Open Water Bermuda, and organized by Bermuda Open Water Swimming Ltd. 

Race Fee includes an Event Membership Fee, which provides an Event Membership in Open Water Bermuda for the duration of Round the Sound 2026