APPLICATIONS & WHY CHOOSE CORK DISTANCE WEEK

APPLICATIONS for a swimming place in Cork Distance Week can be submitted after 14 July 2025

There are 3 or 4 times as many swimmers interested compared to places available (parking and dry land space is limited).

It helps to:

Have volunteered (or had a friend/relative) big time at CDW 2025. Example – if your sister was in a kayak for 9 days – for sure you will get an 2026 invitation.

A Triple Crowner coming for their inaugural “crowning”

Booked your English or North Channel or Triple Crown completion solo for July-October 2026

Fees (Most unchanged from 2025 except as noted by *. An early application helps to secure a lower fee – but not a guarantee).

First time CDW entrants:  €800 (early registration – sold out), €950 (later registration – sold out), €1,750 (when we really want to discourage more registrations – sold out), and €2,500* if we haven’t discouraged enough swimmers.

CDW Veterans: €400 (early registration – sold out), €750* (later registration – sold out), €1,250 (when we really want to discourage more registrations – – sold out), and €1,750* if we haven’t discouraged enough swimmers.

Special contributors: €175 (example brought a full-time kayaker/volunteer) – Ned paid this fee

Free entry:  offered to a few swimmers who donated substantially to CDW over the years

There are no professional lifeguards or fully manned safety motor boats (for normal Island swims) – so swimmers experience/current capability is our number 1 safety measure. Finally we want a good mix of swimmers from different countries, with different goals plus CDW veterans and “newbies”. For these reasons the event is invitation only.

Please complete the following google form – as your application and at the very least to get on the mailing list for CDW 2027 and beyond. If you receive no news within a week – please email ned.denison@corkopenwater.com. Most places (at lowish fees) were booked by end of August 2024 – then prices are raised substantially (to slow the interest).

Click here to apply to swim at Cork Distance Week 2026 (all applicants will hear back within 6 weeks)

WHY CHOOSE CORK DISTANCE WEEK

World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA): 2022 and 2023 Winner Product or Service (we have asked not be be nominated for the coming years to give other great Products/Services more publicity).

There are least 25 different on-site training programs for marathon swimmers. We hear good things about ALL of them, which is not surprising, put more than 5 marathon swimmers together for more than a few days and they will learn, bond and train.

CDW is different is several ways – and doesn’t suit all swimmers.

Longest program – 9 days

One of the oldest programs – since 2009

The water temperatures are ALWAYS colder than Dover and we have a natural (~1 mile/1.6km) course around a cool island (see here and here)

The most difficult program to get invited to and certainly the most difficult (for YOU) to organize lodging/local transport.

One of the largest number of swimmers – averaging about 80 from the most locations around the world. This means 500 or so CDW veterans around the world for you to meet up with! Done right, the swimmer will acquire friends around the world who they will re-connect with for decades to come at long distance events.

The focus is on making connections, learning, finding motivation and swimming (meters on variable conditions).

The Towel (see menu and select other page)

Triple Crown Dinner (see menu and select other page)

Facebook and Whatsapp groups which will have you following your new friends (and other CDW veterans) on swims around the world.