SWIM START IS 10:00AM. A point to point 1.2 Mile Bay Swim that is a TIME TRIAL START format based on your estimated swim time.. FASTEST swimmers will enter the water first and they will self seed accordingly to your estimated finish time and where you feel most comfortable. The swim course is on the back half of the Cedar Island 5K Swim. This is a great event to familiarize yourself with open water swimming with a group in a protected bay, the surroundings and key site locations on it. Our goal is to provide an opportunity that will give you the confidence for safe and successful swimming events. it feels like an epic training group swim with your friends! Swim buoys are allowed during the event. It is typically wetsuit legal.
The September SWIM START is at the 23rd Street Public Dock on Ocean Drive. From the AYC you exit the club and go to the end of 7th Street and Ocean Drive. Turn right and head south down Ocean Drive until you get to the 23rd Street on the right. We are entering the water at high tide, so you can expect a little push from the current at the end! NEW BUOY THIS YEAR TO ROUND at 7th Street and Ocean Drive corner.
Athletes will receive the following items: custom event branded swim cap, chip timing, and an amazing, comfortable, warm, premium Live and Tell HOODIE!! Yes, you read that right. A top notch pull over hooded sweatshirt is the give away. If you want another tee shirt, you will have to get it at another event. Wait..there's more! You also get a custom Finish Line towel! Score a tri blend long sleeved tee for a $25 donation. We are a non profit organization and 100% of our proceeds and your donations go to charity.
8:00-9:30AM: Check in at the Avalon Yacht Club. (704 7th Street) There is NO PARKING at the AYC. Parking is available only for volunteers on the far right side lot. There is free parking in Avalon noon all streets. The jitneys will be circling the surrounding areas: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Streets, Ocean Drive, and Dune Drive bring you to packet pick up. They will then be shuttling swimmers to the swim start dock: 23rd Street and Ocean Drive.
A bib list will be emailed September 19th. Please self body mark your number on your left hand clearly and visible prior to arriving and check in at the AYC. We can also body mark on site. Emergency contact information will be checked prior to picking up your race gear. We have a key and gear drop on site to leave for your post swim needs.
WE WILL HAVE A COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE running every 15 minutes, starting at 8:15am until 9:30am. Plan your pick up time accordingly to your swim start time. How do I get to the swim start if I do not want to take the shuttle? Have someone drop you at 23rd Street dock after you check in and pick up. The other option is walk (or run) to the swim start. Participants will remain on the 23rd Street area prior to be called to the dock staging area. Things will move quickly so be prepared to jump in the bay. Swimmers will self seed according to swim time when entering the water, seeding the faster swimmers. Do not worry if you are at the end, your time starts once you cross the timing mat prior to entering the water. There is a 60 minute cut off time to complete the swim and finish at the Avalon Yacht Club. Swimmers will exit by swim ladders located on the end of the large floating dock at AYC. There is a big and bright red finish flag on the end of the dock and visible a few 100 meters away.
YOU MUST REMOVE YOUR OWN TIMING CHIP ONCE YOU HAVE EXITED UP THE RAMP AT AYC. It is recommended to keep your own time if possible to confirm times. Please be respectful and keep your order upon exit or waiting to climb the ladders.
*DO NOT GATHER AT THE SWIM START DOCK AFTER PICK UP UNTIL 8:45AM. There is no guarded warm up swim. Volunteers will be there with their SUP and kayaks preparing to get on the water for your safety during the swim. Once the dock is cleared, you will self seed by your expected finish times, fastest times on deck on the dock and followed by the times in sequential order.
*9:45AM Seeding Swim Times on the dock : Under 25 Minutes, 26-30 Minutes, 31-39, 40-45 Minutes, 45 plus Minutes. The back bay is nice and wide along the entire course. BE AWARE of conditions on both sides of you. On water safety patrol will be there to guide you under the middle of the 21st Street bridge. BE AWARE of the pilings on both sides of you, as well as potential swimmers next to you. SITE and know your surroundings. DO NOT swim or make other swimmers go into the bridge pilings!! Stay in the middle, there will be room for everyone with the proper seeding times. Once you pass under the bridge you will then swim on the right side of the bay/dock side. Be aware of other potential on water activity besides other swimmers in the event.
We will have awards for the top 5 overall male and female finishers, masters, and grandmasters, youngest and oldest swimmer. NO age group awards. Thank you for joining us for our final open water swim event! Can the summer really be over?
Complimentary shuttles will be running from 11:00-12:00am post swim to bring you back to your cars.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE A PARTICIPATION CAP OF 175 SWIMMERS. WE ONLY HAVE 175 HOODIES. IF YOU WANT A PARTICULAR SIZE THAT FITS YOU PERFECTLY, SIGN UP EARLY BEFORE THEY ARE GONE.
ALL proceeds will go to Step Into Swim - FREE learn how to swim programs across the country.
Come join us for Race #3 in our final event of the TKC open water Summer Swim Series: TRIPLE CROWN. Race #1 is the 1.2 Mile Bay Swim in July and Race #2 is Cedar Island 5K Swim in August. Everyone that completes all three races gets a Triple Crown Award! All finish times will be combined for the three events for everyone and the top 5 male and female low net scores will win an additional prize and we will crown an overall Open Water Summer Swim Series Champion.