Nanticoke River Swim

The water was 68 - definitely warmer than expected, but not so warm that I boiled in my wetsuit.

I had been thinking of it, but other things intervened. What was the water temperature? -LBJ

Congratulations on your finish! This was my first open water event so I really have nothing to compare it with. It seemed to be well organized for only its second year. The marina area was nice except for all of the bugs. Water temp was announced at 68 degrees. I was one of the last in the water and pretty much got stuck to the outside at the relatively quick start. After the first turn I was able to break away from the pack while trailing you and the leaders. I also thought that sighting was extremely difficult. My neck is still sore from having to pull my head out of the water so often. It also made it very difficult for me to get into any type of a groove. I found myself off course many times throughout the race and probably added many yards to the swim. I agree that the current had picked up through the 2nd loop and I could really feel it as I made the last turn and headed home. I probably swam over half of the race with no one in front or behind me within 100-150 yards. I was thrilled when I was able to pass two swimmers at the end who had been some distance ahead of me. I was 45th out of 92 finishers. 1:33:11 I am glad I had opportunity to do this before the upcoming Bay Swim. I set goals the Bay and the Nanticoke. Now I have the tough one on June 14th. See you there!

I did it for the first time this year and thought it was a perfect "test" swim for people doing the Bay for the first time. It was well-organized on dry land (the marking -- I also got the full-body treatment, over my protest, from an overly eager young man who has apparently never seen a wetsuit). The start was as rough as any start I've done. There's a pretty narrow channel to swim down before you get to the actual course, and my impression was that the natural "faster swimmers in front" sorting did not happen this time around. I think there were lots of inexperienced swimmers in the mix. I'm relatively fast, espec at the start, and had a heck of a time getting free of the crowd of slower swimmers who seemed to be zig-zagging and swimming over each other with clenched fists all over the place. The on-course support could be better. The problem is that the buoys are just far enough apart so that they are tough to sight quickly even when the water is flat, and with any chop (3rd leg was choppy both times around) or an errant kayaker in your way (happened repeatedly), you lost 'em. And the kayakers didn't do much to keep people in line. A friend swam half-way back toward the second buoy after rounding the third on his second lap, and never saw a kayaker. Disheartening to say the least. Problem easily solved by putting out a few smaller mid-length buoys, and perhaps have a few more kayakers -- or at least explain to the ones out there how to herd off-course swimmers. Highly recommended as a pre-Bay swim for those doing the bay for the first time.