The Beach-to-Beach Power Swim is coming up this Saturday, May 24th.

Friends of VI National Park’s largest-ever Beach-to-Beach Power Swim is coming up fast on May 24th. Registration is still open, but is limited to 350 swimmers and filling fast. If you are interested in swimming please register soon to avoid disappointment. Registration fees are $50 for adults and $25 for those under 18. Register on-line at www.friendsvinp,org/swim or by phone at 340-779-4940. You can also register in person at the Friends of the Park Store or office in Mongoose Junction, at Connections in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay, at Caribbean Surf Co in Red Hook or Havensight on St. Thomas, and at SCUBA in Christiansted on St. Croix. Late registration (@ $75 for adults and $50 for those under 18) will also be available at the Pre-race Meeting on Saturday evening at Cinnamon Bay Campground – if space is still available. However, there will be absolutely no registration on race day (Sunday).

NEW this year is a Recovery Party Boat Trip to Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands on Sunday, the day after the Power Swim!  Hosted by our friends at Cruz Bay Watersports, join us for a day of island adventures aboard their beautiful boats for snorkeling, libations and a day at White Bay on Jost Van Dyke.  The trip is deeply discounted and is a donation to Friends: $100 per person including customs, drinks and snacks on board.  For more information visit: www.friendsvinp.org/race-info, or call Cruz Bay Watersports (340-776-6234) to make your reservations. Space is limited.

To prepare for the race please visit www.friendsvinp.org/swim and review the sections on: the race information; competition rules; and, course description.

A few other updates for your information:

Pre-race Meeting (Friday, May 23rd — the day before the Power Swim)

A Pre-race Meeting will be held at Cinnamon Bay Campground starting at 3:00 pm on Friday, May 23rd (the day before the race) in the restaurant pavilion. While attendance at the pre-race meeting is not mandatory, all swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend – especially those who are first-time competitors. At the pre-race meeting swimmers will do their preliminary check in and receive their t-shirt and goodie bag; this will be followed, at about 4:00 pm) by a detailed briefing on the competition rules and description of the course. While there will be a short briefing on the beach in the morning, it will not be as detailed as the briefing at the pre-race meeting.

Again, the Power Swim has several navigational challenges and swimmers are strongly advised to review the competition rules and course description at www.friendsvinp.org/swim prior to the race. This is especially import for those swimmers who will not attend the pre-race meeting.

Event/distance changes:

You can change the event/distance you signed up for up to 4:00 pm (EDT) Thursday by phone (340-779-4940) only. No changes are permitted after this deadline so, if you want to change the event you signed up for, please let us know as soon as possible.

Race Start

The race will start at about 8:00 am on Sunday morning. Check-in on the beach will begin at 6:45 am and swimmers are encouraged to get to the start as early as possible to help ensure a timely start. A briefing will begin at 7:30 am so all swimmers should be checked in, numbered and ready to start by then.

Transportation to/from Maho Bay and between race venues

Swimmers and spectators coming from St. Thomas must take the Red Hook ferry that departs Red Hook at 6:30 am. Later ferries will arrive too late. This is the only ferry that will be met by event shuttles.

Swimmers and spectators on St. John are advised to park either in Cruz Bay (some parking is available at the NPS Maintenance Division parking lot) or at Hawksnest Bay and take advantage of the free shuttle service to get to Maho and between race venues.

Complimentary shuttles will run from Cruz Bay to Maho Bay. The first one will depart at 6:15 am and the last one will depart at about 6:50 am (or after the arrival of the Red Hook ferry, whichever is later). They will all start at the public ferry dock in Cruz Bay, stop at the NPS Maintenance yard (parking available) near Mongoose Junction, Hawksnest beach (parking available), Cinnamon Bay (please be on the road) and on to Maho Bay. They can be flagged down anywhere along the route – but please be on the main road, the shuttles will not enter Caneel, Hawksnest, Trunk, or Cinnamon parking areas.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LAST SHUTTLE WILL LEAVE CRUZ BAY AT ABOUT 6:50 AM.

Shuttles will also run between all race venues and is for use by all swimmers and spectators. They will also run between Hawksnest and Oppenheimer for the beach party and award ceremony. Shuttles will periodically run back to both Maho Bay beach and Cruz Bay and after the beach party.

For those of you who will be parking a car at one of the race venues please note that parking regulations are strictly enforced in the park. Please park responsibly to avoid getting a ticket.

Beach Party and Awards Ceremony

A Beach BBQ and Awards Ceremony will be held at Oppenheimer Beach following the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim. The beach BBQ will start at about 11:00 am and the Awards Ceremony will start at about noon. Competitors, volunteers and the general public are welcome at the Beach BBQ and Awards Ceremony. Food and drink will be available for purchase and shuttles will provide transport between Hawksnest and Oppenheimer.

Viewing the Race:

Unlike most open water events, the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim is very viewer-friendly. To see the action and to cheer on friends and family members go to Maho Bay to see the start, Cinnamon Bay to see short course swimmers finish and the rest of the swimmers as they pass by close to the beach, Trunk Bay to see intermediate course swimmers finish and the rest of the swimmers as they pass by close to the beach, and Hawksnest Beach for the long course finish.

Volunteers

It takes more than 100 volunteers to make this a safe and enjoyable event and we still need help. If you are not swimming and would like to help, please call 779-4940.