Maryland Swim for Life

2.5K, 5K & 7.5K and 1.2-Mile & 2.4-Mile Distances

Rolph’s Wharf Marina on the Chester River

Hosted by District of Columbia Aquatics Club

Sanctioned by:

Maryland Swimming LMSC for USMS, Inc., Sanction #093-W001

USA Triathlon Event #:308488

Complete Overview: All of the detailed information and maps are on our website.

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 or tank top. Register by May 20, 2023 to guarantee your shirt size. Online registration available through Wednesday, May 31st. Additional registrants will be entered on a case by case basis by contacting swimforlife@swimdcac.org.

Participants are also asked to donate or fundraising at least $75 in support of our local charities. A custom fundraising page is available to you once you complete registration.

Per our sanctioning guidelines and insurance purposes, this event is open to USMS members and USA Triathlon members.

Non-members, including those under 18, also have the option to purchase a one-day USAT license for $15 to participate in the event here: https://accounts.usatriathlon.org/AccountCreation2.aspx?EventId=308488

FUNDRAISING:

Each participant is expected to raise $75 to support our charities. Many swimmers raise far more.

You can ask your family and friends to contribute to your fundraising goal by creating your own fundraising page on this site.

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.

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, 1008 Rolphs Wharf Rd, Chestertown, MD 21620.

CAMPING: We offer onsite camping at Rolph's Wharf for Friday, June 2, 2023. 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

7:30 am Watercraft volunteers' Safety Overview

7:45 am Swimmer Safety Instructions for 7.5K swimmers

8:15 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 Temperature: 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.

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.