Cowes Classic
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Cowes Classic 2026 : event overview
Cowes Classic 2026 takes place on Saturday 31 January 2026 at Cowes Pier, The Esplanade, Cowes VIC. It is Race 2 of the Bass Coast Series and functions as a community fundraiser. Proceeds support local sporting clubs and volunteer surf life saving patrols at Phillip Island.
Distances
- 500m beach swim
- 4km road run
Race format, rules and registration
The swim is a tide assisted 500 m route around the pier. Competitors move through a transition zone and complete a 4 km run up Thompson Ave, turn left onto Chapel St toward Silverleaves, then loop back along the foreshore to finish in front of the North Pier Hotel. Results are presented at the North Pier Hotel after the race.
Registration is online only; no walk-ins are permitted. Entry categories include Individual and Team Relay. Early bird and standard pricing apply, and competitors aged 14-17 receive a $25 discount on Early Bird and Standard fees. Team relay entries require both team members to be provided at sign up.
Rules include wearing an official race number and an official sponsor’s swim cap during the swim. No extraneous aids are allowed. Wetsuits and goggles are recommended and wetsuits may be worn. Each competitor will be issued a timing transponder which must be worn; lost or non-returned transponders incur a $100 replacement charge. Race officials may disqualify or remove competitors for safety or rule breaches. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.