Chesapeake Bay Swim

Any open water event of at least a mile works (with at least a 40-minute mile pace).  The Bay Swim people do a 1-mile event the same day as the 4.4-mile Bridge swim, so you could use that to qualify, but that would mean waiting for 2012 to do the 4.4.  You can also use the swim portion of any triathlon if it's over a mile (i.e. HIM or longer).

If you can't do any of that, I think they let you do a 3-mile pool swim to qualify and get a lifeguard to witness it.

sweet thanks!!

I did the Bay this year (2010) - I used the Nanticoke River Swim (& tri - the swim was 3 mi, the tri they run the same day is a sprint distance) in 2009 to qualify, and did that race again this year too. The Nanticoke is in May, so you can't do that in 2011 & also do the Bay Bridge in June 2011.

The pool swim thing I think would be your only option to still do the Bay in 2011. They just want it to be timed/ verified by a lifeguard. Someone I chatted w/ before the start of the Nanticoke this year had done the lifeguard thing to qualify, and she was registered for the Bay Bridge as well. I think you can register for the lottery at hte beginning of october, and don't need your qualification until the lottery results come out and you actually go register at the beginning of November. 

For what it's worth do it! I loved the Bay Bridge. I freaked myself out for all kinds of reasons, over and above the distance. But it was a blast!! (Jellyfish, water temperature, where to park, what to wear, gross bay water, taste of the gross bay water). Really it was all better than just OK. I had a great time.

The 3 mile pool swim has to be completed in less than 2 hours 15 min, verified by a signed statement from a lifeguard. Go ahead and get this done right away so you have it in hand before the lottery begins.

The swim is great, you should do it.

My swim coach does a lot of OWS.  She sent me this calendar a while back,

http://usopenwaterswimming.org/2010OWCalendar.htm

It's pretty poorly organized.  They have a everything from across the country mixed in together.  Some of it is competitive and some not. Butt it's very extensive if you're willing to take the time to look through it.