Frequently asked questions

AMSA is an independent, nonprofit voluntary association being established in South Africa, with a continent-wide mandate. Its primary purpose is to independently ratify marathon swims in African waters, document significant routes and crossings, preserve historical swimming records and encourage the development of marathon swimming across Africa.

No. AMSA is not a competitive swimming federation and does not claim authority over organised open-water racing. It independently ratifies and records marathon swims.

Not yet. AMSA is in its founding phase. It intends to apply for registration as a nonprofit organisation once its Constitution is adopted.

Carina Bruwer is Founding Chairperson and Derrick Frazer is Vice-Chairperson, Swimming Operations. Further committee members are being invited, and the final committee composition is still under discussion.

No. AMSA is not affiliated with, endorsed by or accredited by any other organisation.

Solo marathon swims of 10 km or longer in African waters, under rules adopted before the attempt and assessed by independent reviewers.

The two principal swimwear categories. Traditional Skins swims follow AMSA’s traditional marathon-swimming rules, based on English Channel standards. Assisted swims use equipment outside those standards, such as wetsuits, technical racing suits and other permitted swimming aids. The two are recorded separately.

No. Physical assistance, propulsion and other prohibited conduct will be dealt with separately in the swimming rules. The detailed rules will be published once they are adopted.

Shorter, geographically significant crossings may be considered for a separate designation, provisionally called the AMSA Recognised Crossing. A Recognised Crossing is never a ratified marathon swim. Eligibility is not decided and no applications are taken.

That ratification stands, and AMSA records it with the other body named. It is not automatically treated as AMSA-ratified.

AMSA will not retrospectively ratify historical swims. Well-documented past swims may instead be recognised as historically documented under a separate policy.

Not yet. Applications are opening soon: they open once AMSA’s governance, rules and policies are adopted and independent reviewers are appointed. You can tell us about a swim you are planning in the meantime.

AMSA intends to offer ratification free of charge, subject to formal adoption of its operating policy.

No. Membership is never a condition of ratification. Whether AMSA offers membership, and on what terms, is still under discussion.

An observation and evidence platform, owned and operated independently by AMSA’s technical adviser, Dave Welensky. It is intended to be AMSA’s designated platform, subject to independent approval and appropriate safeguards. Swim Ops licensing is separate from AMSA ratification, AMSA receives no commission from it, and Swim Ops never decides whether a swim is ratified.

You can send a free, non-binding expression of interest now. Observer approval and accreditation are not yet operational, and no observer has been approved.

Independent reviewers appointed by AMSA, never the observer, the committee as a whole or any platform. Founders and office-bearers take no part in reviewing their own swims.