THE OPEN WATER SWIM SESSIONS ARE FOR CONFIDENT OPEN WATER SWIMMERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED AN INDUCTION COURSE AT THE OCEAN WALKER ACADEMY
(SUMMER OPEN WATER TASTER COURSES DO NO APPLY)

SWIM SLOTS
You must arrive for your swim slot START TIME. If you are late, you risk not being able to access the venue, as we will close the gates shortly after the start time.
All swimmers will start at the same time, and you may then swim for as long as you wish within your 1 hour time slot.

TIME SPENT ON SITE
You have a 1 hour slot for your swim, plus an additional 30 mins to allow for changing, recovery and enjoying refreshments in the Wellbeing Barn.
The venue will close exactly 1 hour 30mins after your start time (all cars must have left the car park by this time).

ENTERING AND EXITING THE WATER
You will only be able to enter the water at your exact start time.
You can complete your session and exit the water anytime within your 1 hour swim slot.
Please exit the water before your 1 hour slot is over.
Our OWA team will call you in when the 1 hour time slot is over.
Your 1 hour slot is fixed, we cannot allow additional time if you are late due to traffic/other reasons.
Please sign out on your way out at reception.

AGE & ABILITY FOR WINTER CLUB OPEN WATER SWIM SESSIONS
To book one of the open water swim sessions, you must be a competent open water swimmer.
You will only swim a time and distance capable of your ability.
You will have your own swim kit.
Swimmers must be 18 years and over for this type of swim session.

FACILITIES AVAILABLE
Toilets are available for use.
Changing available in our disabled toilet.
Gazebo to store kit bags during swim (incase it rains).
Wellbeing Barn – for refreshments and a warm dry place to recover and socialise after your swim.
Free onsite car parking for those who have booked – please note that your cars and any valuables are left at your own risk.
Please arrive swim ready (swimming costume/trunks on under clothes, any additional wear can be put on lakeside).
Please ensure you have suitable equipment to allow you to change following your swim.
Bring your usual winter open water swim kit – brightly coloured swim cap, goggles, swimwear, wetsuit (if you wear one), towel and changing robe.
Ensure you have warm clothing.

REFRESHMENTS
You are not permitted to bring your own refreshments onto site.
Hot drinks and freshly home baked cakes are available to purchase from the Wellbeing Barn.
Please bring cash for purchasing refreshments – there is no wifi in the barn, so no card machine.

WELLBEING BARN
This is a DRY ZONE – you must have dried off and changed into dry clothing before entry.
Shoes, wet coats and kit bags to be left at the designated area.
Doors will be open from 10:15am – 11:30am.

SOCIAL DISTANCING
Covid is still about, and some people are more vunerable than others – so we do require you to follow the rules below while at our venue.
1. Wear a face covering (bring your own) when signing in at reception and also when placing an order for refreshments in the Wellbeing Barn.
2. Stay at least 2m away from Ocean Walker Academy team members indoors and outdoors.
3. Wash your hands!
4. Don’t attend if you feel unwell / have cold or flu symptoms or think you may have Covid. Not only would swimming in cold water make you feel worse if your immune system is struggling, but you would be putting others at risk by socialising.

NON-SWIMMERS
Swimmers may be accompanied by up to 3 non-swimming friend/partner/family arriving together in the same car/vehicle.
Non-swimmers must pay their admission in cash on arrival at reception.
Non-swimmers fee is £3 per person (of any age/size).
Non-swimmers can enjoy a walk around the lake or sit and enjoy a hot drink and slice of cake in the Wellbeing Barn (sorry we don’t allow food to be brought onto site) while you swim.
Non-swimmers are not permitted to enter/swim/paddle in the lake.
At least one non-swimmer must be 18 years and over (you can’t leave anyone under the age of 18 unaccompanied on site while you swim).
Children must be kept under close supervision at all times.
Non-swimmers must abide by our rules during their time on site.

DOGS DURING SWIM SESSIONS
Dogs are welcome to walk around the grounds ON LEADS AT ALL TIMES.
Please do not leave your dog in your car while you swim.
We expect that if you bring your dog, you will also have a non-swimmer accompanying you.
You must clean up after your dog and take any waste home to dispose of. Please do not dispose of dog waste in our bins.
Dogs must be kept away from swimmers entering or exiting the lake.
Dogs must be kept out of the water during open water swimming sessions (we will be putting on doggy swim days separately).
Do not throw dog toys into the water during open water swim sessions (also your dog is on a lead…so they can’t fetch!)
Dogs are not allowed indoors (except for entry and exit through reception area).

ISLANDS, TREES AND GENERAL AREAS
Swimmers are not permitted to climb onto the islands (except in an emergency).
Visitors are not permitted to pick plants.
Visitors must not throw grass, sticks, stones or any other item into the lake at any time – anyone caught throwing will be immediately removed from the site.
Visitors may not climb, hang from or carve any tree, rock or item at the venue.
Visitors are not permitted to lift or remove any display items from their position.
Visitors are not permitted to picnic in the car park.

NO SMOKING
We are a no smoking/vaping venue, this includes the car park.

EVERYONE is required to abide by our venue rules this is for your safety and your enjoyment. If we feel that someone is not following our guidance during their visit, they will be asked to leave the venue. If this is a non-swimmer, the swimmer will be required to finish their swim so that they can leave site.

WINTER CLUB INDUCTION COURSE BOOKINGS
Due to these courses being launched very close to the date of the event, there is no option to cancel with a refund once booked (as we would expect you to book with the intention of attending).
If you find you can no longer make the course date (you fall ill 48hrs before the course date for example), and can give us at least 48hrs notice please contact us to advise and we can move you to the next available course if there is one.

WINTER CLUB BOOKINGS
All bookings to be made online.
WINTER CLUB sessions are booked as a block of swims and we plan our staffing and sessions around those numbers in advance.
If you are unable to make one or more of the sessions, we are not able to offer refund or rescheduling/transferring of that booking.
By booking onto the club you are committing to attending either the max number of sessions or however many sessions you can make, but the fee remains the same either way.
We cannot transfer bookings for open water swim sessions/slots/packages to alternative courses.
You must only book for yourself.

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