Event Day Weather Forecast & Event Notices
14th March 2025 | 1:00pm
The weather forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology is for south/south westerly winds of 15-20 knots until midnight, dropping to 15 knot south/south easterly by 6:00am, the scheduled race start time. Winds are then expected to be in the range of 10-15 knots at 8:00am.
An early southerly sea breeze is expected to commence at 10:00am, increasing to 15knots at 11:00am and then trending towards 20 knots south/south westerly by 2:00pm and increasing as the day progresses.
There is expected to be a south westerly swell grading from 2 metres at Rottnest back to 1.5 metres closer to Leighton Beach.
The day will be partly cloudy with a 20% chance of (light) showers in the early part of the event.
Forecast temperatures are from 17C to 27C. Swimmers are advised to ensure a good supply of dry towels and warm clothes for the boat and post-event.
University of Western Australia Coastal Oceanography projections are for a weak southerly current to be running at the start of the event (i.e. pushing swimmers southward). This current is expected to shift to a weak northerly current in late morning (i.e. pushing swimmers northwards) and increase as the day progresses.
For reference, the current is expected to be half as strong as that experienced in the 2025 Rottnest Channel Swim held in February. Port to Pub therefore recommends that swimmers initially plan for a direct course along the rhumb line rather than head far south from the rhumb line.
We note the weather conditions have been very variable this week. Race Officials will monitor the on-course conditions and updates will be provided by radio broadcast on Channel 71 and text messages to skippers during the course of the day.
The decision on whether to commence the event will be made early next morning by the Race Committee. Participants will be notified at 4:30am by text. Assuming the event proceeds participants should be aware that conditions are expected to deteriorate as the day progresses and cut-off times may be brought forward to ensure the safety of all involved in the event.
