Littlehampton – Ironman race
The 17th year of the River Arun Iron Man swimming race from Ford Marina to Littlehampton RNLI slipway took place on Saturday 21st June.
The River Arun is the second fastest tidal river in the UK and the organisers Raw Energy Pursuits expected the swimmers not to take any longer than 90 minutes due to the tidal nature of the river which would help them cover the 3.8 kilometre stretch.
Safety boats were present which including MVS’s RIB Peregrine. The Coxswain, Senior Volunteer Mike Cawson’s report advised that the race started just after high tide at Ford Marina and continued during the 30-minute period of slack water.
Initially the MVS was asked to take up a station just north of the footbridge but once the race was underway the harbour master requested the RIB to patrol in the marina entrance as it appeared some vessels were about to get underway and needed to be reminded of the restrictions on passage downstream.
With MVS assistance the race went off safely and was another successful event at the start of what is expected to be a busy summer.
