31st Annual Maryland Swim for Life

The District of Columbia Aquatics Club (DCAC) (www.swimdcac.org) is proud to host the 31st Annual Maryland Swim for Life on Saturday, September 24, 2022. DCAC is a Potomac Valley USMS Masters swim team and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This is our 22nd year of hosting this community fundraiser. Proceeds from Swim for Life supports three local nonprofits to assist them in their mission. We invite all swimmers, old and new, to join us in participating in this wonderful event.

Complete Overview: All of the detailed information and maps are on our website.  Navigate the "Maryland Swim For Life" drop down menu on the website's tool bar.


Online Registration and Fundraising powered by ClubAssistant.com

REGISTRATION: The registration fee for MD Swim for Life is $65. With your registration fee, you will receive  a picnic lunch, a swim cap and a t-shirt. Participants are also strongly urged to donate or set a fundraising goal of at least $75 in support of our local charities.  You can ask your family and friends to contribute to your fundraising goal by donating here.

Those registering after Sunday, September 18, 2022, can not be guaranteed a t-shirt.

Per our sanctioning guidelines and insurance purposes, this event is open to USMS registered members, USA Swimming members, and USA Triahlon members. Non-members also have the option to purchase a one-day USAT license for $15 to participate in the event.  Club Assistant will confirm membership during the registration process. Online entries are paid by credit card to "WWW.SWIMDCAC.ORG".

USA TRIATHLON & One-day Licenses:  If you are a member of USA Triathlon, enter through the "No Governing Body" path in the club assistant registration system. You will be asked for your USAT license number.  Alternatively you may purchase a one-day USAT license; if you choose that option you will be asked to verify your one-day license.

Online registration will close at 11:59 pm eastern daylight time on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. Registrations after that date will be considered on a case by case basis.  


FUNDRAISING:  Each participant is strongly encouraged to set a donation or fundraising goal of $75 to support our charities.  Many swimmers raise far more.

You can ask your family and friends to contribute to your fundraising goal by donating here.

Pledge checks can be made payable to “DCAC Swim for Life.” Checks, cash, Venmo and credit cards will be accepted on the day of the event. 

Funds raised are distributed to our charities: Quality of Life Retreats, ShoreRivers and District of Columbia Aquatics Club.

AWARDS: 

Special prizes will be awarded to the top 5 fundraisers, based on pledges submitted at the start of the event. 

The top finishers, male and female categories, in the under 40 and 40+ age categories for each distance will also receive awards

LOCATION: This year’s event will again take place at Rolph’s Wharf Marina on the Queen Anne’s County side of the Chester River, three miles south of Chestertown in Kent County.

CAMPING: At this year's event, we are offering onsite camping at Rolph's Wharf for Friday, September 23, 2022. Campers will have full access to the showers and bathrooms at The River Inn. The DCAC swimmers will also be onsite Friday night completing the set-up for the event. We always go into town for a Friday night carb loading and all campers are welcome to come along. The camping cost is $50 per tent.

DIRECTIONS: From the Chesapeake Bay Bridge: Take 50 East to 301 North. 50 East and 301 North separate approximately 9 miles past the Bay Bridge. Stay on 301 by taking the left fork. In approximately 5 miles, take the Route 213 North exit toward Chestertown and Washington College. After 2 miles, you will pass through Centreville. Proceed another 10 miles and turn left onto Rolph’s Wharf Road. A Swim for Life banner will mark this turn. Follow Rolph’s Wharf Road for 2 miles and a volunteer will direct you for parking. If you plan to drive Saturday morning, it is best to leave early to avoid summer bridge traffic.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
7:00-8:15 am     On-Site Registration (check-in) and Breakfast
8:00 am             Watercraft volunteers' Safety Overview
8:00 am             Swimmer Safety Instructions for 7.5K swimmers
8:30 am             Swim Start for 7.5K swimmers 
8:30 am             Swimmer Safety Instructions for 2.5K/5K & 1.2/2.4Miles Swimmers
9:00 am             Swim Start for 2.5K/5K & 1.2/2.4Mile Swimmers
10:45 am           Lunch Set Up
12:30 pm           Swim Cutoff; Picnic Celebration and Awards Ceremony

Every swimmer must be registered and checked-in by 8:15 am on race day. All pledge money not submitted online also is due by 8:15 am, to be counted towards determination of fundraising prize winners. ABSOLUTELY NO changes to race distance will be permitted after registration closes. To ensure the validity of the swim results, except for safety reasons, no mid-course corrections will be allowed. If you do not complete your designated distance, you MUST inform the event coordinators. During check-in, swimmers will be body-marked and capped according to distance, and will receive a timing chip on a velcro strap, to be worn around one ankle.

COURSE: Participants will start and finish at Rolph’s Wharf, in five waves by distance (7.5K starts first). The swims are out (upriver) and back (downriver) and run parallel to the shore. There will be 2 large inflatable yellow buoys on the course – one marking the start which also serves as the turnaround for multi-lap swimmers, and one at the 1.25 kilometer turnaround. Consecutive buoys are visible from each preceding buoy. Each wave will turn around at the north buoy. A special orange buoy will be set at .6 miles from the start for the north turn-around point of the 1.2 and 2.4-Mile triathlon challenge. Water safety officials have the authority to determine when a swimmer needs to be removed from the water. Any swimmer removed from the water must report immediately to the recording station upon returning to shore. The swim ends promptly at 12:00 pm. Any swimmer still in the water at that time will be picked up by safety personnel.

TIMING: Timing will be provided by Blue Cheetah Timing.

WATER: Water temperature on swim mornings is usually in the mid-70s. Wetsuits are allowed (but most swimmers do not wear one as the water is very comfortable); other flotation devices (e.g., pull buoys, paddles, fins) are not. USMS regulations prohibit wetsuits if temperatures exceed 78 degrees, as they have in several past years.

WATER QUALITY: Swimmers can monitor any advisories or warnings on water quality on the ShoreRivers website here.

SAFETY: Safety support at the swim will be provided by the U.S. Coast Guard and their Auxiliary, Maryland Natural Resources Police, the Chesapeake Paddlers’ Association, ShoreRivers, the Kent and Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Chesapeake Bay Boston Whalers Club, and other local volunteer boaters and kayakers.

EVENT POSTPONEMENT / CANCELLATION: In the event of inclement weather or other emergency, the event may be postponed up to 2­ hours. No “rain date” is scheduled. No refunds of any registration fees or donations will be made.  

Modification of the event distances is at the discretion of the Event Director and may be made in the event of impending weather concerns. Cancellations and modifications to the event will be at the sole discretion of the Event Director and Safety Coordinator, in coordination with the US Coast Guard and local authorities.

SWIMMING GEAR: DCAC is proud to be sponsored by TYR Sport

For additional information:
Please email swimforlife@swimdcac.org 

    

HAVE FUN, RELAX, ENJOY EACH OTHER, THE DAY, AND THE RIVER!