Events
Swim the Loop
Sorry! This event is full. Registration ends October 9, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT
Motts Channel Sprint
Sorry! This event is full. Registration ends October 9, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT
Information
Swim the Loop starts and finishes at the Dockside Restaurant on Airlie Road, on the Wilmington side of the Intracoastal Waterway. The 3.5-mile course circles Harbor Island and starts at high tide to ensure an even but challenging tide pattern throughout the swim. Don’t be fooled, though: there will be stretches of incoming tide, falling tide and slack tide.
The Motts Channel Sprint starts at the Trailborn Surf & Sound on Wrightsville Beach and finishes across the Intracoastal Waterway at the Dockside Restaurant on Airlie Road. The course is approximately 1.3 miles and is a point-to-point swim. It also starts at high tide to ensure a slight incoming to slack tide throughout the swim.
WEDNESDAY
Pre-Race Virtual Video
This video will be pre-recorded and sent to all swimmers. It will also be posted on Facebook. The video will cover the following:
- Race rules
- Course details
- Updated weather and tide review
- Water safety
- Course tips and tricks
- Appropriate swim gear
- What to expect on race day
- Parking and shuttles
- Start procedures for both races
SATURDAY
Packet Pick-Up – Swim the Loop and Motts Channel Sprint
4:00–7:00 PM at Dockside Restaurant, 1308 Airlie Road, Wilmington.
Pre-Race Virtual Video
All athletes are encouraged to watch the video. We will go over the rules, swim gear, and course, and give advice on how to swim each race efficiently.
The video will be posted Wednesday evening, 10/07/2026 (time TBD).
SUNDAY
6:15 AM – Late Packet Pick-Up, Chip Pick-Up and Body Marking
Your swim cap and arms must be marked with your race number. The number must be bold and large. Your cap will already have your number on it, so please mark either your upper arms or the top of your hands before swimming.
6:30–7:45 AM – Motts Channel Sprint Shuttle to the Start (Trailborn Surf & Sound)
Shuttles pick up at Dockside. If you choose to park at the Trailborn Surf & Sound or in Wrightsville Beach, paid meters start at 9:00 AM at $6.00 per hour.
8:00 AM – Swim the Loop and Motts Channel Sprint Start
At the start, everyone must cross the timing mats before entering the water (Swim the Loop) or the mass start (Motts Channel Sprint). At either start, let the more competitive swimmers go up front. If you wait 10–30 seconds, you will have plenty of room and won’t have to worry about contact with other swimmers.
You must be finished with the swim course by 11:00 AM. If you do not make the time cut-off, you will be pulled from the water and brought back to Dockside.
There is a hard cut-off for Swim the Loop at green channel marker 23. If you have not passed this point within 2.5 hours, you will be pulled from the course.
