The 2025 Melbourne Open Water Cup certainly kept us on our toes this year. Originally scheduled for Tuesday 4 November (Melbourne Cup Day), poor water quality due to bad weather forced us to postpone the event. A second attempt on Saturday 8 November was interrupted by high winds—but we refused to give in.

Finally, on Saturday 15 November 2025, the bay delivered the conditions we’d been waiting for, and the race was officially ON!

Race Day Conditions

By start time the showers had stopped, winds had dropped, and the water was calm and sparkling.
Visibility was slightly murky but safe, the water temperature sat at 15°C, and only a couple of jellyfish were spotted. Nearly perfect conditions for a season opener.

Morning Setup

Club President Con Lagos and Coach Jason Bryce kicked off the morning bright and early (some would say “sparrows fart”) with the initial setup. Passing showers briefly threatened to dampen spirits, but once the rest of the setup and safety crew arrived, the skies cleared. By the time swimmers were warming up, the sun was out and the bay looked magnificent.

Participation

We were proud to see a huge level of interest again this year.

* Original registrations: 270 (a club record!)
* Confirmed swimmers by the final race date: 228

The atmosphere on the beach was full of laughter, excitement, and nerves, exactly what makes this event so special. The “Race That Stops Williamstown” truly lived up to its reputation.

Race Results

Super Fish – 3200m
1st – Tommy Golding
2nd – Kipp Kaufmann
3rd – Tharusha Perera

3200m
1st – Mun Lee
2nd – Greg Underwood
3rd – Thomas Chiam

2400m
1st – Brodie Matthews
2nd – Hannah Moore
3rd – Haydn Marshall

1600m
1st – Sierra Kaufmann
2nd – Sam Walker
3rd – Richard Chamberlain

800m
1st – Paul Mariani
2nd – Michael Bradshaw
3rd – Christy Bonstelle

A huge congratulations to all our winners and to every swimmer who took part. Your energy and enthusiasm made the morning unforgettable.

Thank You

Events like this don’t just happen. They rely on the hard work of:

* Our fantastic MOWSC Committee
* Volunteers who assisted before, during, and after the event
* Our on-water Safety Team
* The Williamstown Swimming & Life Saving Club crew who supported us on the water

Your contribution ensures that every swimmer enjoys a safe, well-run event. We appreciate you immensely.

Join Us Throughout the Season

If you caught the open water bug today—or even if you’re just curious—we’d love to have you join our weekly swims:

* 8am – Challenge Yourself Group
* 9am – Around the Poles Group

There are also daily informal swims at Williamstown Beach across mornings and afternoons.

2026 Memberships Now Open

Memberships for next season are now available on Team App.

Stay connected via our:

* Facebook
* Instagram
* WhatsApp community groups

Mother Nature challenged us this year, but we pushed through and created another memorable event.

Thank you for being part of it. See you in the water!

Location

Esplanade, Williamstown VIC 3016, Australia