Open Water Swimming Raleigh??

Here is Ebeneezer at Jordan Lake: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/map.asp?routeid=156610

Obviously it is not very precise measuring based on satelite images without a clear view of landmarks, but it's roughly 300 yards for one lap.

Edit: Doug, where do they meet at Falls Lake?

Mark:

It is off 98. If you are heading west from Wake Forest. It will be on the left a little ways past the recycling station. There is gravel there and it is just before one of the bridges.

I swam at the cove at Falls on Sunday...very intimate spot and free from boat traffic. Here's the location and the side I swam from:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35.978510,+-78.588284&aq=&sll=35.978058,-78.588359&sspn=0.004636,0.008079&ie=UTF8&ll=35.977503,-78.586686&spn=0.009273,0.016158&t=h&z=16

Also for the Ebenezer Beach area, you can choose to swim the outuer no-wake buoys which increases your distance:

You can find the current temps here:

*http://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/dailyrep.txt

Both Current Lake temperatures, degrees Fahrenheit= 71

The lakes will surely warm up some more to a pleasant temp.

So assuming wetsuit legal races are 78* and below, I guess whether you choose to swim with or without is up to you and what your body can handle. We do have races that are not wetsuit legal, mostly starting in a week or so...

Annual pass is $50 and the good news is, it's good for both lakes. Assuming the email I got was correct.

That's where I hang out on the boat in the summer too.  Good thing, no matter how early, there are very few fishermen in that area, but later in the day, there can be some boat traffic as that cove is fairly sheltered from the wind and makes a great riding cove.