Wilmington YMCA swim (Page 2)

On this wim you can swim anywhere  you like. there are actully 4 or 5  trinalge buoys almost dead in the middle to help navigate. I think it would be hard for setup to make you have to go around the turn buoys and fight current just to do so. When you start the race they dsay swim left and go around the first bouy  and  only folks doinf this race for the first time do that everyone else  swim straight towards the docks

Here is the swim course information as it was in last years packet:

Swim:

• Swim diagram is available on the Wilmington YMCA race page on our website
• Orange buoys will be placed along this point-to-point course to help lead you to the swim finish location. You may swim on either side of these buoys.
• When approaching the finish – sight in on the large building (Sea Path Towers) that will be the swim finish location.
• When exiting the swim, you will be directed to a series of ladders. Please be careful and patient when exiting the water on these ladders. In other words, if you have to wait a few seconds to climb up one of the ladders because there is a person or two in front of you, be courteous – it’s not the end of the world if it takes you a few extra seconds to get out of the water.
• USAT rules will apply for wetsuits. If the water temp. is 78 degrees or lower, wetsuits may be worn. If the water temp. is 79 – 83 degrees, wetsuits may be worn – HOWEVER – the participant will not be eligible for any awards, will not receive any points for the NCTS and will not receive any USAT national ranking points. USAT race officials will take the official reading on race morning. (bring your wetsuit in case they are legal).
• USAT officials will take the official water temperature reading on race morning and announcements will be made.
• There will be a variety of watercraft on the swim course during the race. If you feel it’s necessary and you need some assistance, wave your hand above your head.

So you don't have to go around the buoys.

FYI - This will be my second year for this triathlon. Hopefully I can avoid the monster jellyfish sting I got last year.

-Greg

Just swam the course this morning at 0630, across the channell you dont feel much current but as soon as you get along the docks is when you really pick up some speed, beware of the jellyfish, got stung twice, once on the cheek and the other time on the arm....

The closest site I find is that Holden Beach is 81 degrees and holding.  That's a mean temperature with ranges from 79 to 83.  I think if you have a wetsuit I'd put it in the car, just in case.

blynott, I agree with you. If they cancel the swim, would they then cancel the bike?  Seems the bike would be cancelled as well...so will they just cancel the whole thing then? When will they make these decisions?

One thing I do recommend is to go walk to the swim finish at seapath and look at those channel markers so you get a prospective of where you should be aiming for then afterwards take a drive to blockade runner and look at the them there too. Even with no buoys in the  water you will feel comfortable where to go and see where in relation the channel markers are so when u swimming sight 3 times u home. REMEMBER  RED  then GREEN and on the seapath.  My first time doing the race was two years ago and swam like everyone else and it took me 24 min( I am descent swimmer). I swam it last year  the way I shown above in the drawing 17min thats including the run to T1. I swim relay in the B2B half 1.2 mile with current a little longer in the channel same course 26m:55 and no current help and cold and unfit 37m10 16th fastest out of 50 swimmers and I swam alone the whole.

So what I am just showing folks is the way to swim this course fast and easy. Its been well vetted  

Bob, Heck 3 weeks.  Last night at the pre race meeting RD said the temp was 80 degrees.  Thats 4 degrees overnight.

I thought the current wasn't that much of a help until the last 500 yds or so.  In the end, I actually overshot the ladders and needed to go back against the current a little bit to get out.

BTW I love your Weight-O-Meter, congratulations.  If you weighed yourself right after the event I'll bet you would be down 100 lbs from your starting weight.  Awesome!

Thanks actually climbed a little over the last two months with moving.  Weighed in yesterday morning at the race at 207, this morning at 202.  Hope to be back down in the 195 range by the time for the 1/2 marathon in November.  Thanks again.

Dandr,

Which half mary are you doing?  I am planning to do the City of Oaks.

The Battleship on November 6th I think is the date.