In looking at the www.nycswim.org website, it seems that they have changed both the start time and location for this year's LRL swim (13 September 2008). Originally it was listed as starting at 4:45 pm and going south-to-north with the incoming tide. However, it is now listed as starting at 2:15 pm and going north-to-south. But the tidal charts say that this means that you would be swimming against the current, which is brutal in the Hudson.
Anyone have any info on this? Thanks.
-LBJ
This was in a newsletter I get from the people that run the race.
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Little Red Lighthouse Swim — Start Time and Course Change
Changes happen for a reason. In the case of the recent changes made to the Little Red Lighthouse swim, the adjustments were made to give swimmers a safer and more enjoyable experience — both in the water and at the finish. In order to address concerns about finishing close to dusk in an area that is a bit isolated, the race will start earlier in the afternoon (at 2:15 pm) at Fort Washington Park (165th Street) and finish at Pier 96 (56th Street). The benefits? A faster swim, an afternoon finish, and the opportunity to spend some time enjoying Shakespeare on the Hudsonand the Clinton Cove Festival. Not enrolled yet? There are still slots available, so log in, sign up, then grab your goggles and head to the pool to train.
Thanks, Rosie.
However, I'm still wondering about the current going against the swimmers, at least according to the NOAA tidal chart. Obviously, someone knows something that I don't.
-LBJ
NOAA's website has some good info on currents, tides, and the relationship. Click on the link and the drop-down called "education". If you can identify a NOAA buoy near the swim course (I haven't searched), you can see how strong, and in which direction (for the hudson, ebb would be south, and flood would be north, I think), the currents will be during the swim.
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/index.shtml
hope this helps.
excellent day in manhattan!
thanks to the manhattan island foundation for a job well done.... they had a rough season, so it was good to end it on a high note.
good luck to all the swimmers signed up for their ederle swim on oct 25.
Evidently something got read right!
Loose calculation showed I was averaging 0:40.3 per 100 yds (1:09:13 finish time), notwithstanding navigational errors. Very fast conditions.
Fun race, well-run, would love to do it again next year. I will never be a sprinter, but at least I can have a glimmer of the sensation.
DV
