Beach to Battleship

It depends....

Are you traveling solo?  stay at the finish.  They do an excellent job of shuttling.

Bringing a family including little kids?  Beach is good, but it will be cool/cold.

I stayed half way between at a Hampton Inn by the university.  It worked great, but I had my wife there to sherpa me around.  If I did it again I would stay at the finish so I could go take a shower and then come back to cheer people on and drink beer.  

Separately, anyone else notice the swim this year will have no current, for the full at least? Times might be a little slower than in years past.

What's this, and where did you read it?

B2B Website says:

An incoming tide with participants swimming with the current will make for some very fast times for the 2.4 mile(full) and 1.2 mile(half) course

and their FAQ section:

3) Is it true that this swim will be WITH the current?
Yes. The swim is set so that the tide will be incoming. Thus, we expect some extraordinarily fast swim times.

Setup Events Website:

Swim: The PPD B2B Half swim course will be staged at Wrightsville Beach and will be a unique point-to-point layout with a wave start. The swim takes place in a channel that is connected to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; so it's a salt water swim but not in the ocean. An incoming tide with participants swimming with the current will make for some very fast times for the 1.2 mile course. The water temperature will be in the upper 60's to low 70's - perfect for wetsuit use.

Ok ok thx-but I read that as low tide at 830 and getting to high tide by 1:30 ie water coming IN.

so fast swim, right?

Wife signed up me for a full as an Anniversary gift....I am not sure if she is trying to collect on life insurance or if she truly loves me and wants me to do an Ironman distance lol

I am really hoping we are NOT going against the current. Any fisherman around that can explain the tide charts correctly?

Any other tips for a newbie when it comes to that race? This is my first 140.6

Edin

I swam under an hour at B2B and I've been consistently 20+ minute slower at all my other IMs.  That current is rippin'!

Here is some stuff I remember:

1. When you enter the water off the beach you have to go out 20(?) yards and then turn right at a buoy.  Because of the current and the contact with other swimmers it can be hard to make that buoy.  Walk/jog up the beach 20 yards and make it easy on yourself.  

2. I stood on the beach and waited 30 seconds or so before getting in.  I waited for an opening and it made the first 100 yards pretty easy.

3. Swim just left of center of the channel.  Supposedly the current is stronger over there, but everyone else is mosh pitting it on the right side of the channel.  

4. Do a practice swim a day or two before the race from the HIM start to the finish.  I think the condo where you park is The Bladerunner .  For the first half sighting is easy, but you turn left at the half way point and it's a bit tougher.  You don't have to follow any buoys after the turn, so if you know where to aim in the marina for the swim exit, it's easy.  

That's what I remember off the top of my head!  

Thx!

Great info!

5+ months away and feeling real after this talk!

Somebody posts this 'the sky is going to FALL!' aka 'swim AGAINST the tide this year at B2B!!!' every year, without fail.  Followed by 'What?!!! I wanted to do a fast swim!', etc., etc.

B2B = race management who are graced with a 140.6 with ONE weather factor which is certain (THE TIDE) and they take advantage of it.  Every time.  

The swim is just the start of a very long race...Yes, important, but it's not going to stop you from having a good race...unless it's a terrible swim! I was in the bottom third of my AG and still had a decent, fun race.

We're going to stay at the Sunspree...on the beach, with a view of the ocean. Super place that the family LOVES. There is an indoor pool (heated), an outdoor pool, and 4 or 5 Jacuzzis (hot tubs) that were PERFECT for the cool October temps at the beach. A huge plus is the "kids eat free" restaurant...win, win, win...

The only bad thing is that it's on the beach...not close to the end...you'll need a ride back if your family is having too much fun on the beach, while you're racing...