47th Annual Save The Bay Swim -- Saturday, July 15, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES:
Swim Registration Closes: Monday, June 19.
Last day to drop (without being charged for $400 fundraising minimum): Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Credit Cards Charged with any remaining fundraising: Wednesday, July 19
Schedule of Events
THERE WILL BE NO SPECTATORS ALLOWED ON THE BASE.
Participant Check-In (5:15 AM to 7:30 AM)
LATE CHECK-INS will not be accepted. All swimmers and kayakers MUST check in at the start in Newport AND check out at the finish in Jamestown.Once you check in, you will be added to the count given to the Coast Guard.
If for any reason, you do not get in the water or decide to get out before finishing, you MUST notify a Save The Bay staff member. Swimmers who have not checked in on the morning of the Swim WILL NOT BE PERMITTED to enter the water. Unregistered swimmers will be removed from the water immediately and may be prosecuted.
The Coast Guard requires that we maintain an accurate count of swimmers and kayakers in the water. Unregistered swimmers endanger other swimmers and cause errors in our accounting system. If you're not registered, don't swim.
Kayakers Escorting a Swimmer
Kayak Unloading and Inspection (3:45 AM to 6:00 AM)
Kayak check-in takes time. Please arrive early in order to ensure your boat is approved in time for the Swim. While in the kayak unloading zone, please remain in your vehicle until Save The Bay staff or a volunteer directs you to move forward and unload. Swimmers participating with a kayaker cannot check in until their safety kayak is approved. Swimmers must check in together with their kayakers. IMPORTANT: Numbered vests will be given to all kayakers at registration.
Individual Swimmers
Individual swimmers are swimmers who will swim without a kayak escort. Individual swimmers will check in at the Individual Swimmer table. Swimmers will Kayakers have a separate check in line.
PARTICIPANT CHECK IN:4:00 AM to 6:15 AM, NEWPORT NAVAL BASE, DEWEY FIELD
- Exit the shuttle (Officer’s Club lot) and walk to Dewey Field.
- Go to the CHECK IN table and give your name to the staff.
- Complete any unfinished paperwork (waiver, Jim Mullen etc.).
- Take your number to the swimmer numbering area for numbering and cap.
BAG DROP:
Drop any bags at the SWIMMER BELONGINGS sign near the check in tent. Bags will be delivered to the RITBA lawn in Jamestown near the showers and changing tents.
Individual Swimmers (Wave 1 )
You are an individual swimmer if you have qualified to swim without a kayaker. Individual swimmers will check in separately in the individual swimmer line.
Swimmers with Kayakers
Swimmers and kayakers MUST check in together. Swimmers participating with a kayaker cannot check in until their safety kayak is approved. Click here to go to kayaker page.
Numbered vests that correlate with your swimmers number (WAVE 3) will be given to all kayakers at registration. Vests MUST be worn on the water to indicate which kayaker is supporting which swimmer.
IMPORTANT: Swimmers using accessories (i.e. fins, paddles, kickboards, pull buoys, snorkels, etc.) must be presented at the registration area and will be subject to inspection. For safety reasons, any swimmer using an accessory will be place in the last wave.
Swimmer Numbering
Following check-in, all swimmers will proceed to swimmer numbering.
Swimmers are required to have BOTH ARMS and BOTH HANDS numbered and be given a numbered swim cap that must be worn during the event. The Swim cap will be colored according to the assigned wave.
Safety Briefing 6:20 AM
This is MANDATORY for all swimmers and kayakers. Participants will be made aware of emergency procedures and the safety regulations will be reviewed.
IMPORTANT: Please make sure your kayaker has a recognizable flag, float, hat, vest so you can easily spot them in the crowd of kayaks.
Wave Information and Swimmer Line Up
Individual Swimmers (Wave 1 & 2) -- 6:45 and 6:50 AM
All individual swimmers will line up in the water behind the starting line. Swimmers in this group who anticipate completing the Swim between 30-45 minutes should place themselves in the front of the group.
Swimmers in this group who anticipate finishing in one hour or more should place themselves towards the back of the group. Remember, this is not a race. The faster swimmers should be in the front of the group for the safety of all swimmers participating. Individual swimmers will begin after the starting signal and will be escorted across the Bay, as a group, by the kayak safety squad (in bright orange shirts).
Swimmers with Kayaker (Wave 3 & 4) 6:55 and 7:00 AM
All individual swimmers will line up in the water behind the starting line. Swimmers in this group who anticipate finishing in 45 minutes or more should place themselves towards the back of the group.
Swimmers will line up in the water behind the starting line with their boats off to one side. Swimmers will swim to their escort boats and proceed across the Bay. Kayakers, please make sure your kayak has a recognizable flag, float, etc., and that you have a recognizable hat, vest, etc. so your swimmer can easily spot you out of the crowd. Swimmers in this group and their kayakers will begin after the starting signal.
Swimmers will line up and proceed in the same manner as swimmers in Waves 1 through 3. Swimmers in this group and their kayakers will begin after the starting sign
NOTE TO SWIMMERS WITH KAYAKERS: You should work out a strategy in advance with your kayaker to easily locate them. You do not want to waste time trying to find them when the start signal goes off. Decide where in the line of boats they will be and make sure you have a way of finding them (sign, flag, etc.). It is also a good idea to have your kayaker pull something that floats behind their boat so you do not have to lift your head to follow them. They also will want to have bottled water on hand.
THE COURSE
The Swim course runs roughly parallel to the Newport Bridge. The finish in Jamestown is around Taylor Point in Potter Cove. Use the two green Coast Guard navigation buoys to guide you out of the start. Swimmers with Kayakers should swim toward the green can buoy and meet up with your kayaker there.
Swim toward Taylor Point. Taylor Point in Jamestown is marked with orange netting, reflective sheets and a large 16-foot balloon. There will also be a yellow buoy near Taylor Point. As you approach the Jamestown side, you will pass to the right (or north) of Taylor Point. After you round the point, you will see the finish area. Be aware that the Bay bottom at the finish line is soft with rocks and holes, so please walk carefully.
The Celebration (7:30 AM to 10:30 AM)
Time to relax and celebrate! Family and friends are welcome to join participants and volunteers for food and refreshments across the street from Potter Cove, on the lawn of the Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority’s property. Enjoy massages, music, food and friends! We will have water dispensers rather than bottles, to reduce our carbon load on the environment. Please bring your own reusable water bottle for fill up at the completion party.
There will be a short speaking program where plaques will be awarded to honor teams as well as five-, ten-, fifteen-, twenty-, twenty-five, thirty- and thirty-five year swimmers. Participants will enjoy live entertainment and an array of food from our food truck partners.
TIMING AND FINISH
When you complete your Swim and are coming into the funnel, you will be handed a popsicle stick. Please hold onto the stick and HAND IT to one of our PINK LADIES who will verify your swimmer number. PLEASE show them the number on your arm/cap. This is how your time over the line is determined. Swimmers will exit the water and receive a finisher medal, towel and goodie bag.
SWIM RESULTS
Results will be posted on the Save The Bay Swim website by late Saturday afternoon or early evening. There will be no postings at the Swim. Please check http://swim.savebay.org/2023 to see your results.
