Sea Swim 2026

Update 10/07/2026

We've spent the last couple of days closely monitoring the weather forecast alongside our water safety team and several forecasting services. Unfortunately, we're now becoming increasingly concerned about the strong easterly winds expected this weekend.

With everyone's safety in mind, we've made the very difficult decision that we won't be able to run any swim on Sunday.

We looked at a number of alternatives, including setting out a course of buoys for a shorter, fun swim. However, with the combination of strong easterly winds and a high tide, we simply don't believe there's a safe way to do this without putting swimmers and safety crews at unnecessary risk. It would also fall outside the conditions of our event insurance.

We're absolutely devastated to have to make this decision, but safety has to come first.

The good news is that Saturday is currently looking much more promising. At the moment, we're hopeful we'll be able to swim the original route. If conditions change overnight, we have a Plan B ready: a triangular course from Broadsands towards Elberry Cove and back, allowing everyone to enjoy a safe sea swim.

If you're booked onto the Sunday swim, you're very welcome to transfer your place to Saturday.

Simply arrive at Broadsands from 2.30pm onwards, where we'll allocate you to a wave.

We currently have spaces available in:

🏊 Wave 1 – 3.00pm
🏊 Wave 2 – 3.15pm

We'll also be opening:

🏊 Wave 3 – 3.30pm
🏊 Wave 4 – 3.45pm

depending on demand.

As advertised when booking, we're unfortunately unable to offer refunds if the Sunday swim cannot take place. However, everyone booked for Sunday will still receive their exclusive swim hat and limited-edition artwork, with all remaining proceeds continuing to support our two chosen charities.
These can be collected from Cantina Goodrington after Saturday's swim, where we'd love you to join us for our post-swim celebration with a live DJ. We will also have some of the hats and gifts available on the Sunday at Beacon Cove Car Park at 3pm.

Finally, we'd like to thank you for your understanding. This event is run entirely by volunteers, with the exception of our professional water safety team, and every decision we make is based on keeping everyone safe while creating the best possible experience.

Sea conditions can change quickly, and while we're always hopeful for an improvement, we have to make decisions based on the best information available at the time.

Thank you for your support, your patience and your understanding.

We really hope to see as many of you as possible on Saturday

The Agatha Christie Swim Weekend

The Agatha Christie Sea Swim will be returning with a brand-new format over the weekend of Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 July. The event was created to celebrate the author's love of sea swimming and to raise money for Rowcroft Hospice and the Agatha Christie Festival charity.

For the first time this year, we will be offering both routes over a single weekend, with confident open water swimmers invited to choose either one of the swim routes -- or for the truly adventurous -- the double!

We've moved the swim to the summer this year for a few practical reasons -- including better availability of safety support, avoiding clashes with other maritime events, and the capacity of our team (who are all volunteers).

Full safety support is being provided, while the event is open to all strong swimmers over the age of 18, who can comfortably swim a mile.

Saturday 11 July | 3pm--5pm (High tide 3.54pm) | Broadsands → Goodrington South

Sunday 12 July | 3pm--5pm (High tide 5.04pm) | Beacon Cove → Meadfoot Beach

Cantina Summer Sessions

We're delighted to announce that DJ Max Corderoy will be providing the post-swim soundtrack at Cantina Goodrington from 4.30pm–6.30pm on the Saturday!

Entry fees

• £35 -- Single swim
• £60 -- Double swim

Your entry includes a branded swim hat, full safety support, and an exclusive finisher's gift.

As always, all profits go to charity:

• Rowcroft Hospice
• The Agatha Christie Festival charity, which funds free creative literacy activities for local school children.

Thanks to your incredible support, the swim raised more than £6,000 for charity in 2025.

Important Note #1

The Agatha Christie Sea Swim is not a race, but a relaxed "sightseeing swim". However, each route is around one mile in open water, which can involve challenging conditions. Participation is therefore limited to confident open-water swimmers 18 and over, who have trained and prepared appropriately.

Important Note #2

If the swim has to be cancelled due to adverse weather or pollution alerts, we will unfortunately be unable to offer refunds. Swimmers will still receive their hats and gifts, with all remaining funds donated to the charities. If possible, we will also organise a fun alternative activity.

Route 1: Broadsands → Goodrington South

We will leave from Broadsands Beach, where Agatha would enjoy swimming with her grandson Mathew when enjoying summer holidays at Greenway. We would highly recommend the walk over to Elberry Cove (where a body was found in the ABC Murders) before the start of the swim.

Starting at Broadsands, the route will take people past Shell Cove, Armchair Rock and Saltern Cove, finishing off at Goodrington.

The event finishes at Goodrington Sands, where there is a shower, toilets and the fantastic Cantina, where we can all socialise after.

• 3.00pm - 1st Wave departs from Broadsands
• 3.15pm -- 2nd Wave departs from Broadsands
• 3.30pm -- 3rd Wave departs from Broadsands
• 3.45pm -- 4th Wave departs from Broadsands

Route 2: Beacon Cove → Meadfoot Beach

We will leave from Beacon Cove, where Agatha swam as a child when it was the Ladies' Bathing Place and swim past the Imperial Hotel, which is featured in several of her books. The swim then hugs the coast past Peaked Tor Cove (the former Gentlemen's Bathing Place) and then past Dyers Quarry and on to London Bridge Arch. It's possible to swim under this natural arch before continuing along past a huge cave known as Thunder Hole or Daddy Hole - it was once believed that the devil lived in this cave, so you'll need to be brave to venture inside.

The last past of the swim takes you past West Shag Rock and into the elegant curve of Meadfoot Bay overlooked by the majestic 19th century Osborne Hotel. The beach was one of the first to allow mixed bathing and was a favourite with Agatha, who would spend her summers with her sister Madge and her nephew Jack on what was considered the more aristocratic and fashionable beach.

The event finishes on Meadfoot Beach where there is a shower, toilets and a café.

• 3.00pm - 1st Wave departs from Beacon Cove
• 3.15pm -- 2nd Wave departs from Beacon Cove
• 3.30pm -- 3rd Wave departs from Beacon Cove
• 3.45pm -- 4th Wave departs from Beacon Cove