Today's Liffey swim will be staged without the support of full sponsorship for the first time in the long history of the event after the ESB withdrew its support. The race will now be part-sponsored by Speedo. A women's race will again precede the men's event (4.30) with 80 women and 180 men set to compete.

Mattie Waine, the recent winner of the The Irish Times-sponsored Dun Laoghaire harbour swim, is among the favourites, off on a handicap of four minutes 30 seconds. The back marker (at 6 minutes) is Half Moon's Eoin Fahey. Women's back marker Rachel Lee of Eastern Bay is set the task of making up seven minutes and 40 seconds.