Swim the Loop

Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach are beautiful in the months of September and October. The race will take place 12 day into the fall season and hurricane season does not end until November 30th. The average air temperature is 75° with an average water temperature of 75-79°. The average wind speed is between 5-10 mph and usually comes from the Southwest. On race morning the expected sunrise is 7:16am with a high tide of 4.65ft at 10:11am.

Swim The Loop starts and finishes at the Dockside Restaurant, which is located on Airlie Road (Wilmington side of the Intracoastal Waterway). The race will start at a high tide to ensure an even, but challenging tide pattern throughout the 3.5-mile swim. Don’t be fooled though; there will be times of incoming tide, falling tide and some slack tide.

Mott’s Channel Sprint starts at the Blockade Runner Resort, located on Wrightsville Beach, and finishes across the intracoastal at the Dockside Restaurant on Airlie Road. The course is approximately 1.3 miles long and is a point-to-point swim. The race will start at a high tide to try and ensure a slight incoming to slack tide throughout the 1.3-mile swim.

WEDNESDAY

Pre-Race Virtual Video

This video will be pre-recorded and sent to all swimmers.  It will also be posted on FaceBook.  This video will go over the following -

• Race Rules
• Course Details
• Updated Weather and review of tide
• Water Safety
• Course Tips and Tricks
• Appropriate Swim Gear
• What to expect on race day
• Parking and Shuttles 
• TT Starts for both races

SATURDAY

Packet pick-up - shirt and cap ONLY

4:00-7:00PM at Dockside Restaurant - SWIM THE LOOP and MOTT'S CHANNEL Sprint (https://goo.gl/maps/u5kBTPMR29ZaypWR9)

Pre-Race Virtual Video

Athletes are recommend to watch this.  We will go over the rules, swim gear, course, and give advice on how to swim each race efficiently.

SWIM THE LOOP 3.5  and MOTT’S CHANNEL SPRINT 1.3  

The Virtual Video will be posted Wednesday evening 10/03/2024, time TBD

SUNDAY

Starting at 7:30AM - Late Packet pick-up and CHIP PICK UP

Body marking

Your swim cap and arms must be marked with your race number.  This number must be bold and large.  Your cap will already have the number on it so please mark either your UPPER arms or TOP of your hands before swimming

Mott's Channel Sprint SHUTTLE to START (Blockade Runner)

6:45-8:00AM.  PAID meters start at 9:00am if you choose to park at the start.  The fee is $3.00-$5.00 an hour.

You will be picked up at Dockside

Pre-Race Virtual Video

Will be recorded and posted 10/03/24 in the evening.  Time TBA

SWIM THE LOOP and MOTT'S CHANNEL SPRINT WILL START AT 9:00AM

At the start everyone must cross over the timing mats before entering the water (Swim The Loop) or a mass start (Mott's Channel Sprint). At either start let the more competitive swimmers start up front.  If you wait 10-30 seconds at the start, you will have plenty of room and won’t have to worry about contact with another swimmer. At 12:00PM you must be finished with the swim course. If you do not make the time cut-off you will be pulled from the water and be brought back to Dockside.

THERE WILL BE A HARD CUT-OFF for SWIM THE LOOP at the green channel marker 23.  IF YOU DO NOT PASS THIS POINT BY 2.5 HRS YOU WILL BE PULLED FROM THE COURSE. 

Awards at Dockside Restaurant

Motts Channel  1.3                          10:30 am

Swim The Loop 3.5                          11:30 am

Post-race food and drinks will be from 9:30am-12:00pm.

Event Parking

Parking will be available at Dockside’s main lot and larger side lot.  Both lots are marked as Dockside Parking.  There is plenty of parking; however, street parking is not allowed.  Please DO NOT park at any other businesses along Airlie Rd unless you have approved permission.   

NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION

Does the race benefit a charity?

Yes! A portion of the race proceeds goes to support the North Carolina Coastal Federation,a non-profit conservation organization. We firmly believe in the importance of keeping our coasts clean, since clean coastal waters is something we all need to live and play! Through education, advocacy and restoration, the North Carolina Coastal Federation works in our region to keep polluted stormwater out of our Swim the Loop waters and to restore oyster reefs and wetlands.