Athlete Guide Welcome and Introduction

Welcome to the Maryland Freedom Swim which was born out of the enthusiasm for Open Water Swimming of our local ex-collegiate Water Polo Player, Matt Pluta, and our former President of Cambridge Multi-Sport (CMS), Michael Keene. Together with Jason and Laura Chance of TCR Race Management we bring you this unique, beautiful, and wild experience with the support of our volunteers, Maryland Parks Service, Dorchester County Visitor’s Center, Talbot County, and the City of Cambridge; we hope you enjoy this day!

The Maryland Freedom Swim is set to give our swimming community an opportunity to safely cross a body of water (Choptank River) that is not your traditional swim! We are excited to be able to offer you the ability to see a side of the Choptank River Bridges that you haven’t had seen before.

In order to do this, and to do it safely, we want to present to you this Athlete’s Guide. Though we may not answer all of your questions, we hope this will alleviate some of them. Please feel free to reach out on our Facebook event page or email [email protected] with your questions.

The number one question we are asked is “What is the water temperature?”. There is a NOAA Buoy right next to the course that can be accessed at http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=camm2

We will be supplying Water, Gatorade, Bagels, and Fruit for after the event. We will also be providing you with a gear bag drop at the Start area.

AWARDS

THIS EVENT IS NOT WETSUIT MANDATORY!!!!

Please note that there are no separate awards categories between wetsuit and non- wetsuit. Your choice of use will not make a difference in your placing.

Awards will be based of overall times and given to:

Overall Male Winner (1st Place ONLY)

Overall Female Winner (1st Place ONLY)

Age Group (1st, 2nd, 3rd) is 19 and Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+ for both Men and Women

*Please note for overall times, someone in a later wave may have a faster gun time so awards will be determined at the conclusion of all swimmers.

Timeline • 7:00 am to 8:00 am Pre-race check-in/Day-of Registration • 8:15 am Swimmer Pre race Safety meeting • 8:15 am to 8:30 am athletes need to be READY to leave; wetsuit on or in hand, gear bag, no valuables, pre-race nutrition (water at start) • 8:30 am to 8:45 am Waves formed at buses and begin loading • 8:50 am first Wave arrives at starting beach ready to swim • 9:00 am START of first WAVE • Waves are every 3 minutes • @11:00 am AWARDS CEREMONY AFTER ALL SWIMMERS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR

Parking Instructions and map We have been able to secure parking in the parking lot behind the Dorchester General Hospital rear parking lot. When you come in to the Dorchester Visitor Center (located at 2 Rosehill Place, Cambridge, MD 21613), you will find volunteers there to help you find parking.

Dorchester Visitors Center overview map After Parking at the Hospital Lot, athletes should report to the LARGE SAIL at the Dorchester Visitor Center for packet pickup.

There will be changing tents and bathrooms available near the Dorchester Visitor Center.

Athletes will take a shuttle from near the LARGE SAIL after packet pickup. Based on your registration, you will be assigned an athlete number and a swim cap. We ask that you use OUR swim cap, as it will have your number on it.

Athletes will be loaded on to a bus and taken over to the start area of the race. We are allowing athletes to self-seed for the event. You will NOT have to stay with the other colored swim caps . We will only allow 40 athletes per wave, and each wave will be 3 minutes apart. You MUST cross the timing mat at the beach start area to be recorded in a wave.

NO SPECTATORS WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE SHUTTLE BUSES. SPECTATORS ARE ASKED TO STAY ON THE DORCHESTER COUNTY SIDE AND TO FOLLOW THE RED PATH MARKED BELOW TO TRAVEL TO THE 2ND HALF OF THE BRIDGE AND CHEER ON THEIR SWIMMERS!!!

Packet Pickup At Packet Pickup athletes will be given an appropriate cap based on when they registered. This no longer is associated with your race wave. We ask that you self seed for the race start.

In addition to a swim cap, athletes will be provided with RACE NUMBER TATTOOS!!!! We want everyone to either use the provided tattoos or have their appropriate number marked on visible skin for identification in the water. We will have clear plastic bags to use for gear drop bags, should you need a bag. Bags will be dropped at the start line area in the appropriate containers for your wave.

Athletes will be given a timing band to place on their ankle. THIS ANKLE STRAP IS TO BE PLACED ON CAREFULLY AND ONCE, AS THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR SINGLE USE!! All athletes MUST wear the timing band for the entirety of the race.

Course Maps

START AND FINISH The start will be an in-water start. Athletes will be accounted for before entering the water on the Talbot County side. The start area is a slight change from 2018, with us entering the water at the Beach Area of Ferry Point Marina.

The finish is just outside of the water line at the Dorchester Visitor Center. Athletes MUST cross over the finish mat to receive their time. All athletes must be accounted for before the termination of the race!!!

Cut offs – Strictly Enforced!!! Main Channel crossed (1.0 miles in an hour) by 10:20 am Course limit 11:05 am (1:45 hrs. from final start time)

Don’ts resulting in DQ’s Don’t swim under bridges except at designated entrance and exit Don’t touch bridge structures or you will be pulled from the race Don’t swim outside the bridges

Do’s Do use a kayak to rest if needed (it is okay if you drift under structure while resting with Kayak volunteer) Do ask for water and/or gels from kayak support if needed Do pace yourself and have fun

Spectators

Spectators are asked to stay on the Dorchester County side of the Choptank River Bridge. There are no parking spots for spectators on the Talbot County side. Spectators will be able to walk on to the 2nd half of the old bridge and be able to walk along with their swimmer to cheer them on!!!

Weather and Safety

Swimming can be a dangerous sport and we take the safety of our swimmers as our highest priority. This should be apparent by the need for the proof of being able to swim the 1-mile distance within 1 hour or by showing proof of Open Water Swim ability.

If there is lightning seen or thunder heard in the area of the race, we will be able to have ONE delay of 30 minutes. This time is the accepted time limit from most sanctioning bodies for inclement weather.

If weather is a factor from wind/chop, the safety of the swimmers, as well as the VOLUNTEERS will be taken in to account. The Race Director will convene with other committee members and members of Emergency Management and the US Coast Guard and a decision will be made based on the safety of all participants..

If the swim is cancelled for any reason, there is a NO REFUND policy that has always been on the registration portal. We appreciate your understanding if something were to occur that would prevent the swim from occurring.

BENEFICIARIES

A portion of the net proceeds from this event will go towards two of our local organizations with a mission towards the improvement of water quality and safety in the area. ShoreRivers is a clean water voice for Maryland's Eastern Shore and home to the Choptank, Chester, Miles-Wye, and Sassafras Riverkeepers.

The Dorchester Family YMCA, as part of the YMCA of the Chesapeake, will receive funding to go towards their water safety classes for local students. This program teaches elementary aged children the importance of water safety and what to do in the case of a water emergency.