6 swimming events in Clearwater, Florida

Dear Swimmers,

Get ready to dive into our annual swim challenge, “Swim What You Can”! This is a fantastic opportunity to set your own swimming goals and stay motivated throughout the year. Here are the details:

Challenge Guidelines:

Swim Frequency: Swim at your own pace, whenever and wherever you can! There are no minimum or maximum distances—just swim what you’re able to accomplish each week.

Weekly Reporting: Every week, please report your distances to Coach Leo. Include both your weekly total and your cumulative total for the year.

Motivation: Let’s keep each other motivated! Share your progress, tips, and encouragement with fellow swimmers.

Year-End Challenge: Join us for our traditional 100x100 swim on December 31, 2026. This is a great way to celebrate our hard work and achievements!

Awards and Recognition: All participants will receive a specially designed shirt and an award indicating your total distance swum for the year.

Plus, you’ll earn bragging rights within our swim community!

Registration Details:

• Challenge Fee: $50 for the entire year.

• Sign-Up Deadline: Please register by February 28, 2026.

We can’t wait to see how far you’ll swim this year! Let’s make it a memorable one filled with achievement and camaraderie.

Best,

Coach Leo

You are respectfully invited to participate in the 4th annual TOC5 memorial 1-mile swim with Rory O'Connor, the Clearwater Beach lifeguards, and myself on February 14, 2026.

This complimentary event honors the legacy of Tom O'Connor, a former Clearwater Beach lifeguard and member of the Tampa Bay Frogman.

Donations of any amount are welcomed in support of the non-profit Leo's Swim Safe Foundation FKA Open Water Open Arms

Thomas O'Connor Charity Swim

Event Description:

1 Mile Ocean Swim

Event Day & Time

Feb 14, 2026 (Saturday) arriving at 7:45 AM

Event Location:

Lifeguard Tower 5 Clearwater Beach FL

This annual event is to celebrate the Tampa Bay Open Water and Clearwater Lifeguard communities.

Please participate in the “1 Mile Ocean Swim” or come to hang out with us, no matter your choice; donate and help us spread the word out and increase the amount of awareness and importance of our lifeguards.*

*Activities are subject to change

SCHEDULE:

7:45 AM – Arriving Time

7:50 AM – Safety Briefing

8:00 AM – Swim Event Start

9:00 AM – Event Ends

Ready to build confidence and sharpen your open water swim skills before race day? Join us for a supportive and practical clinic designed ideal for all swim levels.

Led by Coach Coral Owen (Team BABE Head Coach, BABES Tri Race Director) and Coach Katie McEnery (Team BABE Tri Coach), this session will help you feel more prepared and at ease in open water. With over 20 years each of experience coaching swimmers of all levels, Coral & Katie specialize in helping women feel strong, confident, and calm in the water.

Details:

~ Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026

~ Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

~ Location: Sand Key Park (Clearwater Beach, FL)

~ Ladies only!

What we’ll cover:

~ Sighting and swimming straight

~ Buoy turns

~ Managing different water conditions

~ Triathlon-specific skills like water entries, exits, and handling contact

Additional details:

~ No open water experience required

~ Must be able to swim 50 yards continuously

~ Limited spaces available

Questions? Email Coral at coral@teambabeathletics.com

Coach Coral and Coach Skye host a weekend for women only focusing on open water swim technique, strategy and mental hacks to prepare you for your triathlon or swim race. On the last day, participants get to participate in a swim race!

Friday, March 27

3-4 PACKET PICKUP

4-5 Welcome Session

5-6 Form and Technique

DINNER ON OWN

Saturday, March 28

Morning OWS Session

Sighting, Buoy Turns, Contact

Saturday Mid-Morning Learning Session

Mobility and Breath work

Saturday Afternoon Lunch Provided at Hotel**

Saturday Mid-Afternoon Learning Session

Fueling your Swim

Saturday Late Afternoon OWS Session

Race Simulation and Distance Practice

Saturday Evening

GROUP DINNER PROVIDED (walking distance from hotel)

Sunday Morning

2nd Annual Women's Open Water Swim Race

(registration included)

RACE DAY!

Sunday Mid-Morning Wrap Up

Sunday Noon Depart

*Lodging not included

**Meals are not provided unless specified

Women's Open Water Swim Race is a celebration of community and strength set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico at Sand Key Park just south of Clearwater Beach, FL. This inclusive event welcomes women of all experience levels—from beginners to seasoned competitors—to take on the challenge of open-water swimming in a supportive and empowering environment.

Race location: Sand Key Park, Clearwater Beach, FL

Distances: 1/2 mile, 1 mile

🏅 PACKET PICKUP

Pick up your race packet, swim cap, and swag on:

🗓 Saturday, March 28, 5-6pm

📍 Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 1160 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

Parking is available next to the Sheraton at Sand Key Park for $6 flat rate. Limited free parking is available in the gravel lot across the street from the Sheraton at the Sand Key Sailing Center. Parking at the Sheraton itself is variable; please check parking lot signage at the hotel for limitations and rates.

If you cannot pick up your packet on Saturday afternoon, limited packet pickup will also be available on race morning.

🎁 ATHLETE SWAG

Your race packet will include:

💙 Custom event swim cap

💎 Event sticker for your water bottle, laptop, or cooler!

🥇 Every finisher receives a medal!

🅿️ PARKING & SITE MAP

Race morning parking is available on-site at Sand Key Park. Be sure to park at the south end of the parking lot. Review the site map below for visuals. If you are staying at the Sheraton Sand Key, you can easily walk out the back of the hotel down the beach to the race start.

Race day address: Sand Key Park, 1060 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767

🌴 RACE MORNING SCHEDULE

Please arrive no later than 7:30am to pick up your timing chip (and packet if not doing Saturday packet pickup) to ensure a smooth, unhurried start to your race day.

7:30-8:10 am // Timing chip pickup for all athletes & race day packet pickup (on beach next to race start)

7:20 am // Pre-race briefing (at start line on the beach)

8:30 am // 1 mile swim start

8:35 am // 0.5 mile swim start

9:30 am // Overall awards & post-race celebration

Note: The tentative course plan and timeline is what we intend for race morning with the currently projected wind and water conditions. Please note this is subject to change for the best race experience possible - thank you!

☀️ WEATHER, WATER TEMPERATURE & WETSUITS

We’ll send an update the week before the race with projected weather and water temperatures so you can plan gear accordingly. The swim will be wetsuit legal. If you need to rent a wetsuit, please contact PlayTri St. Pete at 727.383.0551.