5K Across the Bay 2024. Image Clare Lewis
3K Along the Bay
We are delighted to be partnering with SureSwim Kernow to put on a brand new challenge event for 2025.
On Sunday 13th July 2025, 50 lucky swimmers will have the opportunity to make their way from St. Mawes to St. Just in Roseland - a total of 3K - helping to raise vital funds for Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Ocean Emergency Fund!
Date: 13th July 2025 (further details tbc)
Distance: 3K (St. Mawes - St. Just)
Registration fee: £50
Fundraising target: £100
Please note: all the places have been filled, but you can register your details to join the waiting list. We will contact you if a place becomes available.
This swim challenge is strictly for experienced sea swimmers. To take part, we ask that you are able to comfortably swim 2K+ in the sea within one hour. If you are unsure of your ability, please get in touch with SureSwim Kernow who will be able to help. Please note, wetsuits are mandatory to take part in the challenge.
5K Across the Bay 2024. Image Clare Lewis
Make waves for the seas!
Falmouth Harbour is particularly important for marine life, making it the ideal place to swim for our oceans. All kinds of unique and wonderful habitats can be found here, including threatened seagrass and maerl beds. Both play a role in the fight against climate change due to their carbon sequestration capabilities. They are also important for biodiversity, providing a home seahorses and fish. However, pollution, climate change, and other harmful activities harm their existence. Swimmers will be fundraising for the Ocean Emergency Fund whilst swimming over these incredible habitats. This event is now full, but you can join the waiting list.
By taking part in this event you will:
- Take part in the first St. Mawes to St. Just swimming event
- Swim over incredible marine habitats
- Raise money for the Ocean Emergency Fund
- Meet like-minded people
- Receive fundraising support and training tips
- Receive a free swimming cap
Diver over maerl bed Pendennis. Image by Matt Slater.
A rare marine habitat
"The new 2025 route will see participants swimming the length of arguably our most precious marine habitat, England’s largest and healthiest maerl bed, where the seabed is carpeted with nodules of purple coralline seaweed. These beds have been aged at over 4,000 years old, forming a rare habitat which extends from the entrance of St Mawes Harbour, past St Mawes Castle, and all the way to the entrance to St Just In Roseland creek.
The route also takes you over dense seagrass beds and kelp forests. All three habitats are rare and provide essential habitat for a huge diversity of life forms, including nursery areas for commercial fish, such as bass and bream, for shellfish, such as lobsters and crabs, and for rare species such as seahorses, cuttlefish, and pipefish. It’s a truly remarkable stretch of coastline and we are extremely grateful to all the swimmers who are raising money to help us protect it!"
Matt Slater, Marine Conservation Officer