Pier to Perignon 2026

PIER TO PERIGNON 2026

Event Details

DATE: Sunday, 22 February 2026

START TIME: 10:00 am, after the departure of the 10:00 am ferry

START LOCATION: Sorrento, between the Sorrento Pier and the boat ramp

FINISHING LOCATION: Portsea front beach

THE EVENT IS SOLD OUT

Refunds are not available

IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION - MUST READ

We trust this correspondence finds you fit and well and ready to tackle the 38^th Pier to Perignon on Sunday, 22 February 2026.

Please make sure you read and understand all race information carefully.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Race time has been selected carefully, based on the peak tidal streams over the course, so that entrants will be swimming with the outgoing tidal stream. Note that the tidal stream times at Sorrento are different to those at Port Phillip Heads, and that tidal stream times differ from tide times.

The event is to be conducted in a safe, friendly and sporting manner. Any dangerous or unsporting conduct will result in immediate disqualification.

Decisions of the event officials are final and are not subject to appeal.

All updates to event information will be available on the Portsea Surf Lifesaving website at this link:

Pier to Perignon Information

Please ensure that you keep a close eye on updates to the event, as conditions and other information will be conveyed through this page.

REGISTRATION

The registration tent will open from 8:00 am on the beach on the western side of the Sorrento Pier.

Prior to the event, all entrants will be supplied with registration information by email. The email will include:

Please bring your email to the registration tent, either in printed form or available on your phone.

Be sure to double-check your name and transponder number after registering.

Please ensure you are at the start with plenty of time to spare.

We recommend no later than 9.30 am.

RACE KIT

Your race kit will include the following items:

Transponders not only record your race time but also serve as your ticket to collect event merchandise at the finish.

Please ensure your timing transponder is securely strapped to your ankle, on the outside of your wetsuit.

BAG STORAGE

If you wish to have your bag transported from Sorrento to the finish area, you must attach your bag tag to your bag and deliver your bag to the transfer area, in the car park at the rear of the registration area.

At the end of the event, please present your transponder at the bag collection area at the Portsea Camp oval. We will match the numbers to ensure you collect the correct bag.

Please note that whilst we will take care, we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any bags or personal items transported by us.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT

An entry permits a competitor a single entry.

You are not permitted to use someone else’s entry to swim.

Goggles are allowed and are recommended.

Wetsuits are allowed and are recommended for safety reasons.

Swimmers will be required to wear the designated swim cap and transponder, which must be worn on the outside of any wetsuit. Swimmers will not be recorded as a finisher unless they are wearing the official swim cap and transponder.

Organizers reserve the right to accept, reject and cancel entries.

Swimmers must swim the course as marked and described during the pre-race briefing.

Race officials shall have the authority to remove a competitor from the race if:

SWIM START

Approximately 1,000 Swimmers will start together in 1 wave. This can appear hectic to some entrants, so a swim plan is recommended:

• If you a racing for a top 20 position - start at the front of the pack.
• If you expect to finish in the middle of the field, give yourself some space at the start and let the faster swimmers go first.
• If you are a slower swimmer, please start at the back of the field and enjoy the experience.

The race starts on the beach, on the Western side of Sorrento Pier, as soon as the 10:00 am ferry has departed and is safely clear of the course.

Please ensure that you are mindful of other competitors and conduct yourself with other people’s safety, as well as your own, in mind.

SAFETY DURING THE RACE – CRITICAL INFO

If you need assistance during the event, simply raise your arm to signal one of the lifesavers from Portsea SLSC, who will attend to you as quickly as possible.

Please understand there are a lot of swimmers in the water at the same time, so the water safety personnel will always be mindful of other swimmers.

Directions given by race marshals during the race must be followed. Failure to follow directions may result in you being removed from the race and /or your finish data being removed, and a DNF being registered.

Please be aware that water safety boards, IRBs and other safety equipment are in the water with you. Please ensure you heed all directions given.

In the event of an emergency, swimmers may be alerted by the sound of a hooter.

If you hear a hooter whilst swimming, please do the following:

• Stop in a safe manner (being aware that there are other swimmers around you).
• Look for where the emergency is located and listen for directions:
  • If required, allow rescue craft to enter your area;
  • If directed to exit the water, please do so immediately.
• If you are not required to exit the water, and you are able to continue swimming without causing interference, please do so, but remain vigilant for further advice from race organizers.

FINISH

After clearing the finish area, head up to the grassed area at the Portsea Camp, where you will be able to collect your event merchandise and well-earned refreshments. Steps leading to the camp are adjacent to the finish area and will be signposted. Please be careful on the steps as there may be unseen hazards.

MERCHANDISE TENT

There will be three collection rows at the merchandise tent.

You will be required to walk over a mat that reads your transponder number and prints a card. Please present the card at the tent to collect your event merchandise.

Please note that although we do our best to have the correct T-shirt sizes available, this may not always be possible.

POST-SWIM REFRESHMENTS

Post-race refreshments are provided by our generous event sponsors and the Portsea Surf Life Saving Club

PRESENTATIONS

Presentations will commence at around 11.30 am, once everyone has completed the event and had a chance to enjoy the refreshments.

We will also be welcoming our swimmers who join the 10, 20 and 30-year P2P Swim Club.

Winners will be announced in each of the nominated Categories in both the Male and Female classes

Winners of each category will receive a bottle of Dom Perignon and $500 cash.

To be considered for an award, no additional aids are allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, fins, boards, snorkels, flotation gear and personal support teams.

Swimmers who cross the start line before the starting siren will face potential ineligibility for an award.

In close finishes, the line officials will determine awards based on the competitor whose torso crosses the finish line first. Awards will not only be reliant on the time recorded.

Competitors who leave the water prior to the designated exit point at the finish may be disqualified.

Protests must be made in writing and given to the Race Director within fifteen minutes of the announcement of the provisional results. All decisions of the Race Director are final.

The presentation of commemorative plaques for those competitors who have completed the Pier to Perignon as follows:

POST-SWIM CELEBRATIONS

All Swimmers and families are Welcome at the Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club post-swim for food and drinks.

PARKING & SHUTTLE BUS

A reminder that parking around the registration and start area is extremely limited, and with the traffic for the car ferry, it can quickly become congested. Sorrento Police and Mornington Peninsula Shire have parking officers in the area and will target anyone in violation of posted parking signs, as well as anyone double-parking or blocking traffic flow.

To avoid a costly fine, we would urge all competitors and spectators to:

To minimize wait time, we will have five shuttle buses operating this year, carrying spectators to and from the start area at Sorrento Pier and the finish area at Portsea Camp Oval, returning via the Portsea back beach car park

Shuttle bus services will commence at 8:00 am from the Portsea back beach car park, near the public toilets. A flag to mark the pickup spot will be located near the roundabout

We would like to acknowledge and thank our wonderful volunteers and sponsors, who allow us to continue to deliver this amazing event each year.