This is the 18th annual event, which involves an open water swim in the Atlantic Ocean along beautiful Jacksonville Beach, finishing just north of the iconic Jax Beach Lifeguard Station.

There are three distances to choose from again this year. The 1k swim is perfect for someone just starting open water swimming. The 2k is the traditional 1.25 mile swim that has been a standard all these years. We will again offer the 5k swim; every swimmer in this event will receive a finisher medal. Pick your distance and join us!

As always, there will be support kayaks and lifeguards along the way.

Early registration pricing ends two weeks before the race; price goes up $5 after that!  Online registration will close on Thursday night before the race, but you can still register at packet pick-up on Friday night or on race morning.

This event supports the Jacksonville Beach Volunteer Life Saving Corps and is supported by the City of Jax Beach Ocean Rescue.

PACKET PICKUP

Packet Pickup will be [dates and times to be announced soon] at the Jax Beach Lifeguard Station (at the end of Beach Blvd). Park in the Public parking lot by Latham Park, right across from Four Points by Sheraton. (Note: it is paid parking starting at 10am on Saturday, so if you
are going to be later than that, you may want to prepay using the Park-Mobile app on your phone or use the kiosk).

Enter the station through the south door (adjacent to the parking lot for the Four Points Hotel), and exit through the east door.

You will be assigned a bib number to correspond to your timing chip that will be worn on your ankle for the race. These will be provided in your packet, along with your t-shirt (if ordered) and some further instructions. (These chips are disposable, so we will not need to take them off when you finish the race.)

Look up your bib number on the list we will post, and go to the corresponding table to pick up your packet.

RACE MORNING

If you are unable to pick it up on either of those days, it will be available beginning at 6:15 am on race morning, until 7am. Enter the training room from the South door and you will exit through the east door. (same instructions as those doing pre-race pickup)

If you have picked up your packet, plan to arrive before 7am on race morning.

BRIEFING

There will be no pre-race briefing unless something has changed that we would need to announce to everyone. Please ask questions now.

YOUR GEAR

We will be setting up tents on the beach at the finish line; if you want to leave your gear there while you swim, please know we cannot be responsible for lost items, but we will try to watch the area.

GETTING TO START LINES

We will ask that you proceed to your race start location in enough time to get there before the 8am start time.

Time to start walking to your start location:

  • 7:15 2k swimmers gather and start walking to race start, to approx 16th ave S.
  • 7:30 1k swimmers gather and start walking to race start, to approx 8th ave S.
  • 7:40 5k swimmers get to start line just north of the lifeguard station

All races will start simultaneously at 8am, so please get to your start point on time!!

SWIM CAP COLORS

  • 1k white
  • 2k yellow
  • 5k green

FINISH AREA

At the finish, we will have wrapped granola snacks, fruit cups and water and Gatorade. There will be a tent to get out of the sun.

BAD WEATHER

If the weather is yucky, and the race has to be cancelled, you can still swim at your own risk on another day and be counted as a virtual swimmer. Hopefully it will not come to that.

If you get in trouble out there:

There will be water support on paddleboards, surfboards, and kayaks, and we will have jet skis in the water. If you need assistance, wave one arm in the direction of one of the water craft. If you need to rest, you may not make forward progress with the craft. If you need to exit the water, you MUST report to me or the timing tent and turn in your name.