Portland Bridge Swim: Sellwood to St. Johns

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Registration Schedule

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The Portland Bridge Swim is a 10.7 mile race in the Willamette river, passing under all 11 of Portland's bridges.  You'll swim through the heart of the city:  Starting with the serene natural setting of Sellwood Riverfront Park, where you may be visited by our bald eagles; through downtown, on past the immense structures of our working waterfront, and finishing under the beautiful St. Johns Bridge at Cathedral Park.  Come see Portland from the water!

Hosted by Portland Bridge Swim LLC
Operating under Permit from Portland Parks & Recreation and the U.S. Coast Guard

This event is not sanctioned by US Masters Swimming

LOCATION & COURSE: The course is approximately 11 miles (17 km) with the current on the east side of the Willamette River through downtown Portland, Oregon. The individual swim & relay will start at Sellwood Riverfront Park (SE 7th Av. & Miller St.) south of the Sellwood Bridge, heading north to pass under all 11 of Portland's bridges on the Willamette River, and finish at Cathedral Park (N. Edison & Pittsburg Av.) west of the St. Johns Bridge. Water temperature is expected to be 66–72 degrees Fahrenheit.

WATER QUALITY: With completion of Portland's Big Pipe project, rain is no longer a risk to water quality. We are in touch with the city water quality monitor and Willamette Riverkeeper, and we will be in touch with both groups throughout the summer to ensure that levels are safe. Links to their results will be provided at www.portlandbridgeswim.com.

TIDES & START TIME: High tide on July 21 will be at 5:05 am and low tide will be at 2:52 pm. To take advantage of the tide and to avoid as much boat traffic as possible, the swim will start at 7:30 am.

ELIGIBILITY: You must be at least 18 years old to participate.

RULES: Current United States Masters Swimming rules apply. There will be a separate awards category for Category II swimwear, which includes wetsuits. Propulsive devices, such as fins & paddles, and flotation aids, such as pull-buoys, are not allowed.

ENTRY & REGISTRATION: Individuals and 3-person relays are invited to enter. All entries MUST be received by July 12. Due to organization & safety needs, late or day-of-race entries will NOT be accepted—please don’t even ask.

ENTRY LIMITS: The Portland Bridge Swim is limited to the first 80 entrants and relays. Solo swimmers' entries require a completed qualifying swim to be complete. We will maintain a waiting list in case early entrants drop out.

CANCELLATION: If the swim is cancelled after July 1, 75% of the entry fee will be returned.

ENTRY FEES: Fees include the swim and post-swim snacks & drinks for all swimmers & kayakers.
Entry: Individual $125
Entry: 3-person relay $210
Kayak Rental $50

QUALIFYING SWIM: To qualify for individual entry, swimmers must show that they have completed a minimum 5000-yard swim faster than 1:45, or farther swim at similar pace, within the 15 months before the swim. Pool or open water swims will be accepted. This swim does not have to take place in a competition, but requires the signature of an observer. Relay swimmers do not have to complete a qualifying swim. Swimmers who cannot complete one mile in open water in 35 minutes should NOT enter, either individually or in a relay.

CUT-OFF TIME: For safety coverage, swimmers & relays on the course who have not completed six miles within four hours of the race start (11:30) will be stopped, transported off the course, and listed as DNF in the results.

SAFETY—OUR PRIMARY CONCERN: Safety boats will monitor the entire course and medical personnel will be on site at the finish. Swimmers & relays must provide their own escort in a kayak (or other non-motorized boat with organizer's permission) with life vests for both the escort and the swimmer. Each escort kayaker will be provided additional safety materials. For swimmer safety, motorized boats and other escorts are not permitted. Swimmers MUST wear the brightly-colored swim cap provided and must follow all announced safety rules without exception.

KAYAK RENTALS: Kayaks—provided by Next Adventure—are available for rental scheduling up until one week before the event. Rental Deadline: July 14. Kayak rental includes boat, paddle, two life jackets, delivery at the start, and pick-up at the finish.

TRANSPORTATION: From the finish, a shuttle van will be available to transport swimmers and kayakers back to Sellwood Park. Swimmers are responsible for transporting their kayaks if those kayaks are not provided by Next Adventure.

RELAYS: Relays shall consist of three swimmers, of either or both genders. At each exchange, physical contact in the water must be made between the two swimmers.
Relay swimmers must provide their own transportation to & from the relay exchange points, listed below. See the event website for maps & information about directions & parking.
Leg #1—3 miles: Sellwood Riverfront Park to the Public Pier by the OMSI submarine (1945 SE Water Ave.).
Leg #2—4 miles: OMSI Pier to Swan Island by the Daimler Headquarters (N. Anchor St. & N. Channel Av.).
Leg #3—4 miles: Swan Island to Cathedral Park.

SCHEDULE: Sunday, July 21, 2013
5:30-7:00 am Check-in at Sellwood Park
6:30 am Pre-race meeting
7:30 am Swim start- wave starts every 10 minutes
11:30 am Individual swimmers & relays who have not reached mile 6 will be stopped & transported to the Swan Island relay exchange point.
2:00 pm Awards at finish in Cathedral Park
3:30 pm Individual swimmers & relays who have not reached the finish will be stopped & transported to the race finish.

AWARDS: Trophies will be awarded to first-place male, female, and relay first-place finishers in both swimwear categories. All individual & relay finishers will receive a certificate of completion.

RESULTS: Results will be available after the race, and will be posted on the event website.

EVENT WEBSITE: www.portlandbridgeswim.com

EVENT DIRECTOR: Marisa Frieder, marisa@portlandbridgeswim.com, 503-454-6766

DEADLINE: ENTRIES & PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY JULY 12, 2013!

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "ClubAssistant.com Events."