2018 Swim Defiance 3K and 5K Open Water Swims

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Registration Schedule

This competition is limited to the first 300 entrants.
Currently there are 58 entrants.

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Sanctioned by PNA for USMS Inc.

LOCATION: Owen Beach, Point Defiance Park, Commencement Bay, Tacoma, WA

EVENTS: 3K (w/Julie Memorial Swim) or 5K swim

COURSE: Re-enact the 1926 Dalco Passage crossing. Round trip 5K triangular course swim and one way 3K linear course. Water temp is estimated at 56-60 degrees F.  Water jugs provided for rinsing at finish. Metro Parks restrooms at start/finish area and on the Ferry during crossing to 3K start.

TIME:
  9:30   AM Swimmers check in
10:45   AM Mandatory Safety Meeting
11:15   AM 5K Race starts
11:45  AM 3K Swimmers leave Pt. Defiance to Tahlequah, Vashon Island, on board Wa St ferry
12:15   AM 3K Race starts and 3K Julie Montiel Friends and Family 3K Wave Race Start

RACE DIRECTOR: Zena Courtney, home 253-927-3695, cell 206-651-0823 swimdefiance@bluewave-aquatics.com

ELIGIBILITY: Open to all 2018 registered Masters swimmers (USMS and MSC) 18 and older as of 08/05/2017. Swimmers not registered may sign up online for a $20 One-Event USMS registration.  

RULES: Current USMS rules will govern this event.  Neoprene wetsuits, swim safe buoy and race provided caps are required, unless swimmer has pre-approval. Email Race Director for wetsuit exemption form. To view USMS complete rules for open water events please visit USMS Rules and Regulations at www.usms.org/rules. Time limits are enforced for both swims: 3K – 2 hours, 5K – 3 hours.

SAFETY: Certified Lifeguards / Tacoma Maritime Institute / Law Enforcement safety boats will monitor the entire course. Body marking requred on hands. Competitors must wear a high visibility swim buoy (purchase information is on the website), the color-coded race cap, and a race chip provided by the host. There is a $20.00 charge for all lost chips. 

AWARDS: Custom participant award and caps to all competitors. A random drawing of merchandized prizes for participants and volunteers will be held while waiting for the last person to finish. Custom event awards for male and female in each event. 1st - 3rd place vintage medals will be presented to men and women in age groups 18-24, 25-29 ... 80+. Scrumptiouspost pre/post race refreshments and extra sponsor kudos for recycle and beach pick-ups!

ENTRY FEES:

• May 6th - June 1st $12.00 discount Early Bird Discount
• $80.00 - 3k short course swim, includes ferry crossing fee
• $80.00 - 5k long course swim  

Add $20.00 for day of race entries with copy of 2018 USMS registration card.

ONLINE ENTRIES ONLY: Online meet entry on Club Assistant. Online entry closes at 11:59 pm PDT on 08/02/2018
Please note: Your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "ClubAssistant.com Events." 

MERCHANDISE: Long Sleeve Performance Shirts $28.00 SM, MD, LG, XL, $33.00 2XL

NO REFUNDS: There will be NO Refunds if these races must be cancelled due to adverse conditions, dangerous waters, or other safety decision or act of God.

USMS One-Event Fee: USMS offers a Swim One-Event entry fee for $20 to any USMS Sanctioned event. For $32 more, enjoy USMS membership for the remainder of the year and MORE USMS insured 2018 Open Water Swims! Membership also includes access to pool events, clinics, coaches and a USMS magazine subscription. Contact PNA registrar Stephanie Hiebert at ravenlou@gmail.com for more information.

RESULTS: Preliminary results available on race day and final results posted at www.swimdefiance.com the next day.

COLD WATER SWIMMING: Cold water swimming is not something one should jump into lightly. The Swim Defiance website has a page dedicated to cold water swimming information. Please take the time to read through the information. http://www.swimdefiance.com/ColdWaterSwimming.aspx

COLD WATER TRAINING: Cold water training for Swim Defiance is free for current Blue Wave members, swimmers with a USMS membership (verified) and swimmers who have registered for Swim Defiance (verified). The website has detailed information about our cold water swims; Swim course, locations and times, what to bring, facilities etc. Please go to http://www.swimdefiance.com for more information.

July 1 / Sun, 7AM (high tide at 6:52AM) at Owens Beach, Tacoma
July 5 / Thur, 7PM (low tide at 4:23PM) beach park at Normandy Park Cove, Seattle (if questioned, you are a guest of Terry Mutter)
July 8 / Sun, 3PM (high tide 2:27PM) at Owens Beach, Tacoma
July 10 / Tues, 7PM (high tide 4:36PM) at Redondo Beach, Des Moines
July 16 / Mon 7PM (low tide at 2:06PM) at Owens Beach, Tacoma
July 19 / Thur, 7PM (low tide at 4:46PM) ** Location Changed to Redondo Beach, Des Moines **
July 23 / Mon, 7PM (high tide at 4:36PM) at Owens Beach, Tacoma
July 25 / Wed, 7PM (high tide at 6:00PM) at Redondo Beach, Des Moines
July 28 / Sat, 7AM (high tide at 5:20AM) at Owens Beach, Tacoma
July 31 / Tue, 7PM (high tide at 8:46AM) at Owens Beach, Tacoma
And every Sat, during the year, there is a unescorted mostly random group swim in Alki Beach, in West Seattle, meet at the bath house at 9:00 am. These swims are not associated with Swim Defiance or Blue Wave Aquatics. See Western Washington Open Water swimmers Facebook page for ad hoc planning.

If you are planning to attend one of the swims please confirm with Zena (in person, text, call, email) before the swim. Zena can be reached at swimdefiance@bluewave-aquatics.com or 206-651-0823.

New Directions From Seattle:
Take I5 South to Tacoma. Take exit 132B for WA-16 west toward Bremerton. Stay on WA16 for approximately 3 mi to Exit 3 for 6th Ave toward WA 163 N/Ruston. Turn left at end of off ramp onto 6th Ave. Take the 1st right onto N Pearl St. Go 3 mi on N Pearl Street to stop light at N 51st Street. Turn left on N 51st, go 0.5 mi and follow the bend to right as it becomes Mildred Street. Continue straight onto Mildred St for 0.2 mi to top of hill. Turn right at stop sign on Mildred St / Five Mile Drive. Go 0.1 mi to next stop sign, turn right at stop sign to stay on Five Mile Drive. Go 249 ft and turn left at next stop sign to stay on Five Mile Dr for 0.3 mi. Turn left at next stop sign to continue on Five Mile Road for 0.5 mi. Turn right onto Owen Beach Rd. NO PARKING IN CARPOOL spot.
New Directions From Olympia:
Take I5 North to Tacoma (about 26 mi). Take exit 132 for S 38th St. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for WA-16 West / Gig Harbor / Bremerton for 1.0 mi. Keep left to continue on WA-16 West for about 3.0 mi to Exit 3 for 6th Av toward WA-163 N/Ruston. Turn left at end of off ramp onto 6th Ave. Take the 1st right onto N Pearl St. Go 3 mi on N Pearl Street to stop light at N 51st Street. Turn left on N 51st, go 0.5 mi and follow the bend to right as it becomes Mildred Street. Continue straight onto Mildred St for 0.2 mi to top of hill. Turn right at stop sign on Mildred St / Five Mile Drive. Go 0.1 mi to next stop sign, turn right at stop sign to stay on Five Mile Drive. Go 249 ft and turn left at next stop sign to stay on Five Mile Dr for 0.3 mi. Turn left at next stop sign to continue on Five Mile Road for 0.5 mi. Turn right onto Owen Beach Rd. NO PARKING IN CARPOOL spot.

TRAFFIC ALERTS:
Metro Parks of Tacoma has issued a traffic alert for the Point Defiance area. Please click here for current information about traffic and parking at Owens Beach.

LODGING:
The Swim Defiance website has detailed information about accommodations, block rates and contact information. http://www.swimdefiance.com/accommodations.aspx

RACE DETAILS: The 5K electronic chipped swim is a triangular course that starts in the water at owen Beach at 11:15AM by designated buoy, proceeds north toward Vashon Island toward onshore strobe light, makes two right hand turns around the outside of two tall yellow cylindrical buoys at 1.5 miles, and then heads south back to Owen Beach. The 3K swimmers will carpool from the finish area to walk on the 11:45AM Tahlequah (WA State Ferry), and enjoy a 15 minute ride to Vashon Island (use toilets onboard). Upon arrival, they enter water at the beach just west of the ferry terminal for the start at approximately 12:15PM. All swimmers will finish at Owen Beach with short run across a timing mat.

CHARITY:
Blue Wave Aquatics provides adult swim scholarships and free lessons for those in need, as well as providing funding for aquatic safety programs. More info on their webpage (www.bluewave-aquatics.com).  Donations may be made to Blue Wave Aquatics during this event's online entry.

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from ".BLUEWAVE-AQUATICS."