Hello All
New member here. I am 39, from Mass and a life long competitive swimmer. Open water only for the last 18 years or so.
I need some advice about starting a new race.
I have a swim around an island in a protective estuary that I think is really unique. It is two miles around a small island in Essex, MA. On google maps you will see it called Cross Island. The island is 100 yards from mainland. Most of the swim would be in 4'-10' of water. The water ranges in temp from low 60's to mid 70's I would guess. The tide is 10' so the sun warms the exposed bottom between tides. The warm water mixes with the colder water as the tide comes in. Boats are not an issue as most of the swim is less than 50 yards from shore. There are several spots one could stop and stand up if they needed to. It needs to be done at or near high tide both for water depth and to control the current. It can rip at certain tides but at high you can actually get a little help all the way around believe it or not.
I have swum this multiple times and have enjoyed it more each time. I want to build a race and attract some serious competitors. I would like the race to benefit the ALS society as a friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease.
What kind of things do you look for in an ocean race? Wetsuit, non-wetsuit. Prize money, Tshirts, awards, food? Logistically I am friends with people that run an open water event for 25 years in Gloucester. I have some ideas on how to do things logistically but I need input on how to make the race professional and attractive to a variety of swimming abilities.
This course has the potential to be something special so please help me with some ideas.
Thanks
Ken Lawler
Essex, MA
Parents
Former Member
Thanks
September is the best weather and least amount of boat traffic. I like the idea of using a local artist to do something we can give as a plaque. The Swim for a Clean Harbor in Gloucester, MA has done that at different times and it's worked out well. Essex may be the most painted town in Massachusetts so getting a local artist wouldn't be too hard.
I did Alcatraz a few years ago and the wetsuit question was interesting. It was almost as if you didn't really do it if you wore a wetsuit. I would say the vast majority of open water swimmers including myself prefer the wetsuit. It evens out the water temps here in the northeast, it protects you from "stuff" or at least that's how you feel. It also makes everyone a little faster and I would even say they are a bit safer as they provide a lot of floatation. The Gloucester swim is all wetsuit - probably because we've swum it in as low as 53 degrees with the average being around the low 60's. Essex is a bit warmer because it is shallower but in the channell it can be cold.
Keep the ideas coming. Thanks. Ken.
Thanks
September is the best weather and least amount of boat traffic. I like the idea of using a local artist to do something we can give as a plaque. The Swim for a Clean Harbor in Gloucester, MA has done that at different times and it's worked out well. Essex may be the most painted town in Massachusetts so getting a local artist wouldn't be too hard.
I did Alcatraz a few years ago and the wetsuit question was interesting. It was almost as if you didn't really do it if you wore a wetsuit. I would say the vast majority of open water swimmers including myself prefer the wetsuit. It evens out the water temps here in the northeast, it protects you from "stuff" or at least that's how you feel. It also makes everyone a little faster and I would even say they are a bit safer as they provide a lot of floatation. The Gloucester swim is all wetsuit - probably because we've swum it in as low as 53 degrees with the average being around the low 60's. Essex is a bit warmer because it is shallower but in the channell it can be cold.
Keep the ideas coming. Thanks. Ken.
