Cole Classic

Celebrating 30 years in 2013, the Cole Classic has become a rite of passage for swimmers, both Australian and international. The swim from Shelly Beach to Manly is not an easy stretch of water to manage, but every year hundreds of Speedo-clad men and women take the plunge, literally.

There are three courses to choose from: the 1km starting at 8am, the 2km starting at 10:30am and for the Thorpedos out there the Dee Why to Manly swim totals 9km and also starts at 8am. All swimmers need to be at their start lines 10 minutes before the race is underway. Divided into age and speed categories, the races are started in various waves, so don't worry if you aren't the strongest swimmer in the bunch there are plenty who will be in the same boat.

The Cole Classic is the City2Surf of the swimming world, the sight of hundreds of pumping arms and legs speeding across the bay in a churn of salty foam is a definitely something that should be experienced if you're living in Sydney.