17th Central Coast Swims at Eel Lake

17th CENTRAL OREGON COAST SWIMS AT EEL LAKE
Eel Lake, OR     Saturday, August 17, 2024
Hosted by Central Oregon Masters Aquatics
Sanctioned by Oregon LMSC for U.S. Masters Swimming, Inc.
Operating under Special Use Permit from Oregon State Parks 
 

LOCATION:  Eel Lake is a freshwater lake on the Oregon coast at William M. Tugman State Park, on U.S. 101 between Reedsport and Coos Bay.  Expected water temperature is 67-71 degrees F., and will be posted on race day.

SWIMS (in order):  
• 3000-meter Swim counterclockwise twice around our polygonal course (remember your geometry?).
• 500-meter Predicted-time Rubber Ducky Swim out-and-back along a floating lane line.
• 1500-meter Swim clockwise once around our polygonal course.  

SWIM SCHEDULE (subject to change due to conditions):

8:00-8:40am	Registration/Check-in OPENS for all swims
8:45am	Registration/Check-in CLOSES for 3000-meter swim
8:45am	Mandatory pre-swim instructions for 3000-meter swim
9:00am	Start of 3000-meter Swim
10:40am	Registration/Check-in CLOSES for 500-meter Predicted-time Swim
10:45am	Mandatory pre-swim instructions for 500-meter Predicted-time Swim
11:00am	Start of 500-meter Predicted-time Rubber Ducky Swim
11:40am	Registration/Check-in CLOSES for 1500-meter swim
11:45am	Mandatory pre-swim instructions for 1500-meter swim
12:00 noon	Start of 1500-meter swim
1:00pm	Awards

WILD SWIMS:  Oregon swimmers have often used Eel Lake for “wild swims” (borrowing the term from our British cousins) and potluck dinners.  Come a day or two early and/or stay a day or two late and create your swim adventure(s), with your usual swim mates our with others among your Oregon swim pals.  Eel lake is a great swimming lake with lots of options, and is a lovely place for you and your swim buddies to have a fun weekend.
 

ELIGIBILITY:  Open ONLY to adults (18 years of age or older on the day of the event) who are current USMS members or foreign equivalents.  Eligibility will be automatically verified through the online entry system.  For swimmers who are not USMS members, USMS “One-Event” membership is available with entry for $20. 

AGE DETERMINING DATE:  The swimmer’s age as of December 31, 2024, will determine the age group according to USMS rule 301.4.

RULES:  Current USMS rules will govern this event.  Under penalty of disqualification, swimmers may not make deliberate contact with craft, craft operators, and/or any physical features on or near the course during the swim

SWIMWEAR:  Current USMS swimwear rules will govern this event.

CONSOLIDATED EVENT:  All swims will be conducted seeded as a single swim without regard to swimmer gender, age, or swimwear category.  Places, awards, and published results for the 1500 & 3000-meter events shall be separate for each gender, age group, and swimwear category.  Places, awards, and published results for the Predicted-time swims will be ordered on the closeness to swimmers’ predicted times.

QUALIFYING TIME:  Swimmers who cannot swim 1650-yards (1500-meters) in 45 minutes MUST NOT ENTER these events.  It’s for safety!  Swimmers on the 3000-meter course longer than 1:40 may be stopped and listed as DNF/DQ in the results. 

‘JUST FOR FUN’ CATEGORY:  In both the 3000 & 1500-meter swims, we have included a category called ‘Just for Fun’ for swimmers who would like a more-relaxed, non-competitive participation swim experience.  Swimmers in this category may use otherwise-prohibited devices like snorkels, buoys, paddles, fins, etc.  They’ll identify themselves at the swimmers’ pre-swim meeting and swim with the rest of us, but for safety & fairness they’ll start at the back of the pack and avoid contact & drafting with those who are racing.  We won’t report places or score them in any swimwear category, but we will report times as a courtesy.  As we said—just for fun!  In 2017, the Eel Lake Swims were the very first event in the nation to pilot this category, now integrated into our usual swims and aimed to attract swimmers who might not be inclined to race or to swim without their favorite gear.

WARM-UP & WARM-DOWN:  

STARTS & SEEDING:  The 1500 & 3000-meter swims will use a mass start.  The 500-meter Predicted-time Swim will use an individual start with a 20-second stagger, seeded fastest to slowest.
 

REGISTRATION—ONLINE ONLY (except day-of-race entries, which carry a $20 late fee): https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1756&smid=18090.  Online entries must be received by Tuesday, August 13.  After that, swimmers may only enter at the swim site as a Day-of-Race entry, which carries a $20 late fee.   Save some cash—submit your entries on time!

ENTRY FEE:  One swim is $30; two swims are $40; all three swims are $45.  Entry fee includes pre & post-swim snacks and the swims themselves, and the required surcharge to cover the cost of USMS-mandated sanction insurance.
 

RESULTS:  Will be posted at Eel Lake promptly after each swim and at www.comaswim.org and www.swimoregon.org after the event.

AWARDS:  Age groups are standard USMS age groups.

OREGON OPEN WATER SERIES:  All swims count towards the cumulative season series.  The 1500 & 3000-meter swims are featured swims.  The 500-meter Predicted-time Rubber Ducky Swim and the ‘Just for Fun’ category in the 3000 & 1500-meter swims are participation swims. 

SOUVENIRS:  None.  We’re trying to keep the cost of your swims affordable.  

HOT DRINKS:  We’ll have hot water for drinks to help keep you warm before & after swims.

SNACKS:  Beverages, brownies, cookies, & fruit will be available, but lunch will not be provided.

DIRECTIONS:  Google William M. Tugman State Park, just off U.S. Highway 101 between Reedsport and Coos Bay.

PARKING:  There is plenty of nearby car parking in the park close to the swim site, with no parking fee.  Avoid using the boat parking because it is limited and there for boats!

CAMPING:  Tugman campground has both reservable and first-come first-served campsites, as well as reservable yurts.  Call 1-800-452-5687 for reservations.  As backup, try nearby Umpqua State Park, same reservation number.

EVENT WEBSITE FOR EVENT INFO:  www.comaswim.org
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GURU:  Ralph Mohr • E-mail: rmohr1565@charter.net • Phone:541-269-1565
EVENT MANAGER & DIRECTOR:  Bob Bruce • E-mail: coachbobbruce@gmail.com • Phone: 541-317-4851