2017 Central Coast Swims at Eel Lake

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Registration Schedule

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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.  No, the lake is not named for its residents; it’s named for its shape.

SWIMS:  Adults—sorry, no swimmers under age 18—may enter any or all of the three swims.  We’ll start with a 3000-meter swim, twice clockwise around an irregular pentagonal course (remember your geometry?).  Then we’ll try a 600-meter Agility Swim on counterclockwise loop course.  Finally, we’ll stage the 1500-meter swim, once around the pentagonal course counter-clockwise.

SWIM SCHEDULE (subject to change due to conditions):
  8:00-8:40am       Registration/Check-in for all swims
  8:45am               Required pre-swim meeting for 3000-meter swim
  9:00am               Start of 3000-meter swim
  10:00-10:30am   Registration/Check-in for next two swims
  10:40am             Required pre-swim meeting for 600-meter Agility Swim
  10:55am             Start of 600-meter Agility Swim
  11:00-11:30am   Registration/Check-in for 1500-meter swim
  11:40am             Required pre-swim meeting for 1500-meter swim
  11:55am             1500-meter swim
  1:15pm               Awards

ELIGIBILITY:  Open ONLY to 2017 USMS members or foreign equivalents 18 + on race day.  USMS “One-Event” membership—covering all swims—is available for adults 18+ only for $21.

RULES:  Current USMS rules shall govern this event.  Age will be determined by the age of the swimmer on December 31, 2017, except for 18-year-olds, who must be 18 on the day of the event.  Category II suits—including wetsuits—are welcomed in all swims, but will be scored in a separate category in the 1500 & 3000-meter swims. See event website for swimwear details.  For the 600-meter Agility Swim, swimmers may wear any swimwear or gear that they wish.

AGILITY SWIM:  The 600-meter swim will be a special swimmer obstacle course, new this year!  This will be a fun to find the kid in you and to test your athletic & cognitive abilities.

JUST FOR FUN:  In the 1500-meter swim only, we have added a new 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 and 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!  The addition of this category is the national pilot of a new initiative to be integrated into our usual swims, aimed to attract new participants who might not be inclined to race or to swim without their favorite gear.

STARTS & SEEDING:  The 1500 & 3000-meter swims will use a mass start.  The 600-meter Agility Swim will use an individual start with a 20-second stagger, seeded fastest to slowest.

SAFETY—OUR PRIMARY CONCERN:  Safety boats will monitor the entire course.  Swimmers must wear a brightly colored swim cap, have their race number on their arms or hands, and follow all announced safety rules without exception.

REGISTRATION—ONLINE ONLY (except day-of-race entries, which carry a $10 late fee)
Online entries must be received by Tuesday, August 8.  After that, swimmers may only enter as a Day-of-Race entry, which carries a $10 late fee.   Save some cash—submit your entries on time!

ENTRY FEES:  One swim (500, 1500 or 3000-meter) is $25; two swims are $35; all three swims are $40.  Entry fee includes pre & post-swim snacks and the swims themselves. Online entry is paid by credit card to "ClubAssistant.com Events".

OMS SANCTION SURCHARGE:  There is a required a $5 per swimmer 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.

• 500, 1500, and 3000-meter swims:  Eel Lake ribbons to the top three finishers in each age group & race in both suit categories.
• ‘Just for Fun’ Category in the 1500-meter swim:  No awards, but the great satisfaction of a swim well done.

OREGON OPEN WATER SERIES:  All swims count towards the cumulative season series.  The 1500 & 3000-meter swims are featured swims, the 600-meter Agility Swim is a qualifying swim, and the ‘Just for Fun’ category in the 1500-meter swim is a participation swim.

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

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

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

PARKING:  There is plenty of nearby parking in the park, with no parking fee.

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 a backup, try nearby Umpqua State Park, same reservation number.

WEBSITE FOR EVENT INFO: www.comaswim.org

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GURU:  Ralph Mohr   rmohr1565@charter.net    541-269-1565

EVENT DIRECTOR:  Bob Bruce   coachbobbruce@gmail.com    541-317-4851

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "WWW.COMASWIM.ORG."