A 2 metre swell, dangerous rips, and strong north easterly wind which chopped up the surf on Main Beach Yamba forced swim organisers to move both the 700 metre and the 2km swims around the rocks to the more protected Convent Beach. Both swims started and finished at Convent Beach with the 2km swim shortened to about 1200 metres because of the difficulty in laying buoys between the beach break and the breaking waves  on the Clarence River bar.

Despite the rough conditions, a total of 335 swimmers competed on the day with 226 swimmers contesting the short swim and 152 lining up for the more testing long swim. Entries came from all over the eastern states, including many Queenslanders, plus a few visitors from Hong Kong.

Triple Olympian and former world 200 metre freestyle champion Hayley Taylor (nee Lewis) won the short swim last year and finished second in the long swim but this year musn’t have had the training miles under her belt as she finished 7th in the long swim and 15th in the short swim.

Stars of the day were Yamba Surf Club's two home-grown Nutri Grain Iron Man Series competitors Hugh Dougherty and Alyce Bennett who both took out the double in close finishes.

In the 700 metre swim Hugh was narrowly leading a pack of 7 swimmers who all caught the same small wave and he just beat another Nutri Grain Iron Man, James Stewart (North Burleigh), in the run to the line. Last year's winner, Jackson Maynard, from Currumbin, finished in 6th place.

It was a similar result in the long swim with Hugh outsurfing and sprinting a pack of 5 to claim victory from James. Both swimmers showed they are in good form for the Iron Man Series which begins on January 16. Hugh finished 3rd in the 2008 Iron Man Series.

Former Scottish national water polo representative, Colin Braund (43 years of age), from North Burleigh Surf Club, did a lot of the hard work up front leading both swims for much of the race but was unable to match the younger guys in the sprint to the finish. He did exceptionally well to finish 3rd in the open division of the long swim and 7th in the short swim.

Hugh wasn’t the only member of his family to claim victory on the day with his brother Joe winning the 30/39 years division in the long swim; and his grandfather 80 year old Bill Dougherty winning the Over 70 years division in the 700 metre swim.

The Dash for Cash at Yamba was preceded by a moment's silence for the late Jacob Lollback, a Yamba surf club member and former winner of the Yamba swim.

Alyce Bennett showed her experience in the rough surf conditions to outsurf her younger female rivals at the finish of both swims. Alyce won the 3rd round of the Nutri Grain Series at Coolum Beach last year in monstrous surf conditions after an hour long battle with great rival Hayley Bateup. She also finished 3rd in the 2008 Coolangatta Gold event.

Multiple Australian Surf Lifesaving gold medallist and former Australian team captain Mark Raeburn from Southport showed he had lost none of his touch with a win in the 50/59 year division of the short swim and second placing in the long swim to regular Yamba ocean swim competitor John Townend of Brisbane.

The Schafer family from Mosman (and formerly Yamba) was another to shine on the day with Molly Schafer winning both swims in the 40/49 years division; son Ben winning the 10/14 years division in the 700 metre swim; and brother-in-law Jim taking out the 60/69 years division in the 2km swim.

One of the highlights of the day was the Dash for Cash events which were held back at Main Beach in the big surf after the conclusion of both swims. The race started from a buoy 150 metres out to sea and swimmers raced into the beach to the finish.

38 brave souls lined up in the men's division and the big crowd on the beach roared when the 6 leading swimmers took off on a big wave and went “down the mine”. 16 year old Lennox Head lad Hayden Thomas was in the best position when they all surfaced and made the most of his long legs to win the run to the finish from Hugh Dougherty and Northern NSW Lifeguard supervisor Scott McCartney.

The girls division was won by 13 year old Maroubra swimmer Ella-May Basalo who just got across the line ahead of Shivaun Street from Cronulla and Alyce Bennett.

Before the start of the Dash for Cash events, a moving ceremony was held in memory of former champion Yamba lifesaver and 4 times Australian Surf Lifesaving representative Jacob Lollback who was tragically drowned in a diving accident in September. Jacob, who was just 20 years of age, won the 2km swim in 2008 and the 700 metre swim in 2007.

The Yamba swim was started way back in 1988 by Barrie Cribb and most years has been run in good ocean swimming conditions. But the last 3 years have been plagued by rough conditions with the 2007 event transferred to Whiting Beach in the river because of a cyclone swell and the 2008 swim was run in very choppy conditions.

Swim co-ordinator for the past 5 years, Ray Burridge, who announced his retirement at the presentations after the swims, has ordered a gentle southerly breeze and small swell for next year's race.

The day concluded late with locals and visitors enjoying the “ocean swim culture” at the surf club bar to well into the evening. A great day was had by all.