The 39th Channel Challenge held on Saturday March 1, was certainly one for the record books.

Competitors in the 2025 Channel Challenge, the final leg of the Bass Coast Series, set off under sunny skies in front of a massive crowd of spectators that lined up on the jetty and the bridge.

There was a slight breeze to put a little chop onto the water's surface but that just made the event live up to its reputation as a challenge worth doing.

There were several firsts for this year's event.

• The first time there were 850 registered competitors: 684 Individuals and 83 relay teams.
• The first time there were more than 750 swimmers (767) plus 83 relay team runners.
• The first time entries were closed off once the cap of 850 competitors was reached.
• The first time more than 1500 competitors lined up for the three Bass Coast Series events.
• The first time an Elite Wave was created so that the top Male and Female competitors could race together.
• The first time two winners were declared: the Fastest Female and the Fastest Male: two $500 prizes awarded.

Closing entries when the capped number was reached on Wednesday afternoon caused a lot of panic and consternation in the local and wider community.

Organisers had been warning this might happen and posted notices locally for people not to leave their registrations until the last minute, but many were still caught out. 

Organisers said it was disconcerting to see people trying to swap and trade entries on Facebook and "that was quickly knocked on the head".  The message for next year is to get in early.

With a record number of competitors, accompanied by their family and friends, there was a terrific buzz around San Remo as the race drew close to starting time. 

There was a loud cheer when guest starter, Bobby Bajram blew the horn to set the Elite Wave off.

As the five waves of competitors pushed across the Channel there were nine competitors who asked for assistance and a ride back to shore in one of the rubber duckies crewed by the Woolamai Beach Lifesavers.

Race organisers said none of the nine were in any real trouble, they were just not fit enough to get across the channel. 

They said it was a low number for such a large event, and advised prospective competitors to ensure they have prepared properly for these events in the future.

Competition was strong and Callum McClusky prevailed in the Men's section after following Hamish McDougall out of the water, but hauling him in on the run leg for his third overall victory in the Channel Challenge.

Local competitor, Justin Tilley, finished third and completed a stellar summer with two overall wins and a third over the three events of the Bass Coast Series. In the Women's section another local, Zoe Adams, finished the summer unbeaten after overall victories in all three events.

Results

Local competitors dominated the Bass Coast Series results with seven locals taking home the Bass Coast Series Awards for both the Open and Local prizes in their respective categories.

Justin Tilley won both O/40 Male Awards and the Lyall Williams Memorial Trophy as the best local competitor.

Andre Hetebrueg took out both prizes for the Senior Male Categories.

Zoe Adams won both of her Open Female Categories with three victories in the series events.

Finlay Cameron had a great summer and won the Junior Male Awards, while Abbey Clarke matched Finlay's achievement with the two Junior Female Awards.

Sarah Smith continued her successes with both titles in the O/40 Female categories, while Rob Fleisner again went home with multiple awards in the O/60 Male sections.

Three other locals - Marcus Bond (O/50 Male), Suzie Herrington (O/50 Female) and Carolyn Rushford (O/60 Female) took home Bass Coast Series Awards.

Thank you

Ron Nicholson from the organising committee thanked Phillip Island and San Remo Rotary for again providing a market and the San Remo Hotel for sponsoring the popular Tug-Of-War Competitions.

"These were won by the Male Team from the Phillip Island Football Netball Club (PIFNC) and the Female Team from the San Remo Hotel.

"Also, thanks to Paul Cooper for his great job as race commentator."

Ron acknowledged the work of the "great team from the Woolamai Beach SLSC" who oversee the organisation of the event.

"Thank you to Melina, GB, Sully, Max, Ryan, Georgie, Michelle and Ron  - and they work in conjunction with officers from Bass Coast Shire Council, SES, Rotary, San Remo Hotel, traders, PINFC, to create one of Victoria's best community events which is still growing after 39 editions."

There is expected to be a lot of interest in the 2026 Channel Challenge, which will mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic race.

"Now that Brian Dallinger has got through his 39th race he will be eager to reach the finish line next year and retire as the only man on the planet to have finished all 40 Channel Challenge events," Ron said.