2020 Albatross Open (SCM)

On Saturday afternoon of Leap Day -- Feb. 29, 2020 -- it will be the Tyme of the Ancyent Mariners’ Albatross Open. We will host the meet in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver & Sargent Shriver Aquatic Center (formerly the MAC). The pool will be configured as a 25-meter course. The water depth varies from 7-18 ft deep making it a very fast pool. Dozens of USMS National and World Records have all been set at this meet!

ENTRIES: Entries are limited to the first 215 individuals. If we reach 215 swimmers prior to the entry deadline, the online entry system will shut down. Deck entries will be accepted as space permits (only to fill empty lanes – no heats will be added). Online entries will be accepted until midnight, Feb. 24, 2020 (relay-only swimmers may enter online through Feb. 27, 2020). Entries after the deadline must be submitted as a deck entry at the meet and will be charged the deck entry fee. Deck entries are due by 12:15 pm on the day of the meet. Due to time constraints, swimmers are limited to four events exclusive of relays. We are limiting the 400 Freestyle to three heats. Please remember that your age is as of 12/31/2020 for this meet per USMS rules.

RULES: Current USMS rules apply. All swimmers must be registered with USMS. Deck entrants must bring their USMS card. If you are not registered for USMS you may register online at www.usms.org/reg/

SEEDING: Once again we will seed all of the 50s men & women separately (slow to fast within gender). All other events will be seeded slow to fast, men & women combined. Please enter with a seed time in SHORT COURSE METERS even if it is an estimate. "No time" and deck entries will be seeded at the discretion of the meet director.

RELAYS: We will again be offering an unofficial 2x50 mixed gender relay. We will offer a special award at the meet social to the Fastest Pair on the Water. There will only be one heat - entries for this will be on a first come basis. NEW THIS YEAR: THE DEADLINE FOR ALL RELAYS IS AT 2 P.M. THE DAY OF THE MEET, TURNED IN AT THE REGISTRATION DESK UPSTAIRS. Please enter ahead of time through Club Assistant instead.

FEES: $5 per event plus a $10 meet surcharge. Relays are $8. Deck entries are $7 per event plus $10 surcharge.

AWARDS AND RESULTS: Awards for first through third place in each age group; special awards for USMS National or World Records (one per relay) and the man and woman recording the fastest time (regardless of age) in the 50 freestyle. Some special awards will be presented at the post-meet party, including a high point award to the top club to score the most points. Results will be mailed out only by request. Results will be posted on www.pvmasters.org and unofficial results will be posted at the meet.

WORLD AND NATIONAL RECORDS:  Every year world and national records are broken at this meet. To facilitate the timing, approval and processing of those records, we ask that you notify us in advance that you will be making an attempt.  Please send the Entries Chair or the Meet Director an e-mail (addresses are at the bottom of this announcement) indicating in which event(s) you will be vying for a new record.

FINA COMPETITORS: International entries are subject to verification and may require additional documentation. Please submit a copy of your Masters Registration card/letter from your governing body to the meet director Kara Permisohn (kpermisohn@minkoff.com). Verification is required at the time of online entry. If you do not present verification, you will not be permitted to swim in the competition.

FACILITY: The Eunice Kennedy Shriver & Sargent Shriver Aquatic Center (KSAC) is an indoor 50-meter, 8-lane pool with non-turbulent lane lines. Please note this facility was formerly named the Montgomery Aquatic Center. The pool will be configured in a 25-meter course* with full electronic timing. An area will be available for continuous warm down. Concessions are not sold on the premises so please plan accordingly.

*  The length of the competition course is in compliance and on file with USMS in accordance with articles 105.1.7 and 107.2.1, but as a bulkhead course, is subject to length confirmation. Eligibility of times for USMS Top 10 and records will be contingent on verification of bulkhead placement.

POST-MEET SOCIAL: The post-meet social is a great way to end the day and connect with fellow swimmers!  You may buy tickets to the social when you register for the meet.

T-SHIRTS: We are selling soft cotton short-sleeve T-shirts for $15 and soft cotton long-sleeve shirts for $18 before the meet. A limited supply also will be sold at the meet for an additional cost. We will post the T-shirt design on the Albatross Open web page, http://www.ancientmariners.org/albatross.htm, when it is ready.

PAYMENT: Payment by credit card is required for online entry.  Cash and checks are acceptable payment methods for deck entries, T-shirts and social on the day of the meet.

LODGING: A special meet rate of $109 per night (plus taxes and $17 a day for parking) is available at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center across the street from the pool. This is an excellent rate for the Washington area. You may call 301-822-9200 locally or 1-877-212-5752 and ask for the "US Masters Swimming" special rate, or click https://book.passkey.com/e/50037899 to make your reservation directly. 

DIRECTIONS:
From I-495 (Capital Beltway): Take Old Georgetown Road (Rt 187) exit North. Go approximately 2 miles. Turn right on Nicholson Lane. Turn left at next traffic light onto Executive Blvd. Take first left into the parking lot for the KSAC.
From DC: Take Wisconsin Avenue north through Bethesda. The road turns into Rockville Pike (Rt 355). Take a left on Marinelli Road (Metro stop on the corner) and continue straight into the KSAC parking lot.
From the Metro: The KSAC is one long block west from the White Flint Metro stop.

PARKING: Limited parking is available at the KSAC. Nearby street parking is available on Executive Blvd and Woodglen Drive.

QUESTIONS:
Meet Director: Kara Permisohn, 301-252-3845 (kpermisohn@minkoff.com) 
Entries Chairmen: John McCaffrey 703-887-3173 (johnemccaff@gmail.com) and Cathy Gainor 410-303-7402 (cathygainor@yahoo.com)
No calls after 9 p.m. please.


EVENTS:
* There is no event 26 - event 26 will be the 400 Individual Medley next year

Session 1 - Events 1-11

Session 2 - Events 12-33 after 10 Min Break