All swimmers ages 12 and up can participate in the Swim in one of two Waves:

Wave 1 – Un-Escorted Swimmer

• You must be 12 years of age or older and in good physical condition. Swimmers under the age of 18 must meet one of the following requirements in order to be eligible to participate in the Swim:

1) You have successfully completed Swim Buzzards Bay.



2) You are a member of a swim team and can provide a letter from your swim coach on official letterhead offering proof that you are capable of competing in this race.



3) If you have not previously completed Swim Buzzards Bay and are not a member of a swim team, then you must demonstrate your swimming capability at a local pool. You must provide a letter from the Aquatics Director at your local pool indicating that you have successfully completed a 1,000 yard swim in less than 25 minutes. 

 

Please make sure the following information is in the letter: swimmer name, time 1,000 yard was completed, pool name, pool address, and the aquatic director’s name, signature, phone number and e-mail address.

• You must have completed Swim Buzzards Bay in the past three years; OR
  
  

• Provide documentation that you have completed another long-distance, open-water swim in the past three years; OR
  
  

• Provide documentation that you have completed a 1,000-yard continuous swim in under 25 minutes from a certified swim coach.

  
  

Wave 2 – Escorted Swimmer

• You must be 12 years of age or older and in good physical condition. Swimmers under the age of 18 must meet the requirements listed above.
  
  

• You are asked to provide your own Kayak Escort with kayak.
  
  

• Your Kayak Escort will be required to sign a Registration Form, which will include a Liability Waiver.
  
  

• Your Kayak Escort must be 1) 18 years of age or older; 2) competent to paddle as fast as you can swim; 3) capable of communicating with On-The-Water Safety Personnel; and 4) able to stabilize their kayak in the event you need to hang-on.
  
  

• It is strongly recommended that you practice open water swimming with your escort before the day of the race.
  
  

• Your Escort’s Kayak must meet the very specific requirements, which will be provided to you upon receipt of your Registration Form.

Form a Team and Compete for the

Watershed Challenge Cup

We know you love the Bay.
We know you love to swim.
And we know that you know other people like you.

But can you put all three of these together to prove that you are the best from Woods Hole to Westport?

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay challenges you to Win the Richard Wheeler Watershed Challenge Cup!

Now is the time to form a team of 3-5 people to compete for the Watershed Challenge Cup. The Cup—a large, silver Revere Bowl—will be awarded to the team with the fastest average time and displayed with the names of the winning team at the team’s Town Hall, library, police station or firehouse until the next challenge. The team with the fastest average swim time wins the Cup and bragging rights as the most fit team in the entire Buzzards Bay Watershed (17 towns, including Gosnold)!

…and it is easy to register as a team. When filling out your Swim registration form, simply check the box marked “watershed team member” and fill in your team name.