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Wet Rock Race Karingon Swimrun:
Course, Rules and Date

Updated September 2026

We had great news from Sweden regarding the Wet Rock Race Karingon swimrun. The Wet Rock Race, one of Sweden's oldest swimrun races, was revived in 2024, after a six-year gap, and again in 2026. Despite extreme weather conditions, over 200 participants took part.

In 2027, this event is scheduled for Friday 30th July.

In 2024, the event raised an impressive 516,750 kronor for the sea rescue service. That time, the goal was to fund a new rescue boat named after Anders Bagge, a beloved figure on Käringön who tragically passed away prematurely.

Lars Samuelsson, CEO of the Sea Rescue Society, added, "the loss of Anders Bagge has been a great sorrow for all of us. It is fantastic to see the strength now raising money for a new rescue boat. Wet Rock Race 2024 was perhaps the most challenging ever with rain and gale-force winds, but we are truly impressed by the athletes' fighting spirit. This initiative is truly something special."

Image courtesy Baatphoto. No paddles, no tether, no floats!

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Wet Rock Race Karingon
- The Rules

FIRST of all, you should be aware that the Wet Rock Race Karingon has slightly different rules to most swimrun events. Read this carefully!

Event swim caps and bibs must be worn
Goggles and wetsuits are recommended
You may NOT use swim paddles, snorkels, nor ANY flotation aids
Tethers / tow ropes are banned
The course is not marked, apart from 3 checkpoints and the hut on Käringon
Team members must always be within 10 metres of each other
Minimum age is 13, and one team member must be 18+
Throwing trash in the nature will result in disqualification
You are obliged to help other competitors if they get into difficulties

Wet Rock Race Karingon
- The Course

Start

The event begins on Gullholmen, with a group warm-up session held on the island's football field. The start on Gullholmen is a mass start, so runners are advised to proceed with caution. Teams line up according to their team numbers and, after the starting signal, proceed in a line across the bridge to Härmanö. Once over the bridge, the race truly begins with free pacing.

Grindebacken

After approximately 3 km of running, participants reach Grindebacken. This is a good spot for a refreshing dip as it is common to feel quite warm by this point. Wait until you pass a flag on the main road before heading towards the water to avoid private property. Officials will indicate where to leave the road. The swim starts at Grindebacken Strandhak, rounding two buoys, and ends at the beach, totaling about 500 meters.

Image courtesy Baatphoto. No paddles, no tether, no floats!

Checkpoint Härmanö

The first checkpoint is on Härmanö, just after the initial swim. Here, participants can hydrate at the race's first water station. Following this checkpoint is about 3 km of trail running with some short water crossings before reaching Årholmen.

Checkpoint Årholmen

At the top of Årholmen, a flag will be placed for participants to aim for. The second checkpoint is at the southern tip, where hydration is also available. After this checkpoint, the toughest swim section, Vallerösund, awaits. Although only about 300 meters, it can be challenging due to currents and waves.

Checkpoint Vedholmen

Following Vallerösund, participants run across Vallerö, Tornö, and Vedholmen, totaling about 3 km. The third and final checkpoint is on Vedholmen's southeastern side. From here, the finish is near, with a visible exit point on Käringön. The swim here is approximately 200 meters.

Finish

Before finishing on Käringön, all teams must pass the kiosk and take a mandatory dip in the harbor. The jump must be at a designated spot to avoid interfering with boat traffic.

The race concludes with a short sprint in Käringön's harbor, ending at Skeppersholme by the Sea Rescue Station. The harbor may be crowded, so extra caution is advised. Numerous officials will be present to alert the public and spectators.

Wet Rock Race Karingon
- the cut off times

There are TWO cut off times:

1 hour 45 minutes at checkpoint 2
2 hours 45 minutes at checkpoint 3

Total distance is approximately 13 km, although this can vary as the course is unmarked and can choose your own route, as long as you go through each of the three checkpoints.

How to get to Käringön

According to the Katiesaway website, Käringön is an island located in the Bohuslän archipelago and thus the only way to get there is by boat. You can catch the public ferry from Tuvesviks hamn on Orust which passes by the nearby island of Gullholmen.

The ferry to Käringön takes around 40 minutes. The boat trip costs 35kr each way and you can buy tickets on the boat or via the Västtrafik app (zone C). The ferries leave every 1 – 1.5 hours all through the year.

Käringön is known for its strong community spirit, the so-called "Käringöandan." This fundraising effort shows that it is still very much alive. The fundraising is close to its goal, but more contributions are needed to reach the finish line.

More information at: info@wetrockrace.se

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Richard Mitchell, BDS, and Mogsy Ford are swimrun competitors and endurance athletes who write from direct racing experience. We have competed in swimrun since 2016, and bring added perspective from competitive running (5K to marathon) and open-water swim racing. This website has been mentioned by The Guardian newspaper. As married teammates, we train together, and build holidays around races. Read more at the 'About Us' page.