You have to be at the dock at Green Cay Marina at 6:10 a.m. For those who have purchased shuttle tickets, the taxis will leave promptly from the Mermaid parking lot, and from in front of the main lobby at 6:00am.
Please be on time so that you do not miss the race.

When you get to Green Cay Marina you will need to get marked with your race number, and then proceed to the boats – Relay Swimmers must know their boats! In order to have an on time start, swimmers must board boats immediately.

You can leave your belongings in a non-plastic bag with distinguishing identification on the boat that takes you to Buck Island; bags will be returned to the Mermaid Beach dock or entrance to the restaurant. Please bring a bag rather than expecting Boat Captains to collect tee shirts and stray jars of Vaseline.

Spectators are not allowed on the boats to Buck Island. Please discourage your friends and family from going out on their own motor boats to observe the race. The fumes bother the swimmers and there is a concern for safety with so many swimmers in the water; these boats may also confuse swimmers as to which boats to follow. The best place to observe the race is at the finish line.

3 Person Relay Teams: Each swimmer will swim approximately 1.6 continuous miles. Relay members will wait on the transition boats at the 1.6 and 3.2 points, the transition will occur in the water. The first swimmers of the relay team will start with the solo swimmers.

Water will be available from all of the boats along the race course, not from the kayaks. There will be a boat every mile, plan your liquids accordingly. This is a warm weather swim so hydrate! Please pass the water bottles back to the boat captain.

There are kayaks for safety in the water, if you are having trouble, stop and wave your swim cap and one will approach you. If you elect not to finish the race you must advise timers at the finish line as soon as possible that you have withdrawn.

There is a 4 hour limit, you will be asked to leave the race course and board the committee boat at this time.

If you are pulled from the race you will need to stay on board the boat until the race is over, they are not allowed to leave the racecourse until the last swimmer has finished. Once you get on shore you must immediately report to Suzanne Rychlik, located at the finish chute on the Mermaid beach.

Swimmers are not allowed to touch the volunteer boats, except during relay transition.

Swim caps must be worn during the race. Do not return to the water after crossing the finish line.

Awards will not be given for wet suits, or swim aid assisted swimmers.

Please be courteous and thank the volunteers! We want to thank our many sponsors for helping to make this race happen.

Course Talk

Note that by starting this event you have read and signed the waiver.

Relays - pick your relay leg swimmers the night before as it makes a difference as to which boat you will board. Remember that swimmers that finish on the 2nd and 3rd leg boats will not be able to leave the course until after the race finishes at approximately 12 noon. You need to make arrangements to be picked up from the Green Cay Marina and brought to the finish line at The Buccaneer in order to check in with the timers.

Sunday: Time doesn't fall back to standard time in St. Croix. Do not adjust your clocks. Use alarm clocks or friends to supplement a wake-up call, just in case.

At 6:00am - Taxis leave the Mermaid parking lot and the hotel lobby - with or without you.

Please do not put sunscreen on your upper arms until after you have been body marked.

If you are using a floatation device or swim aid you will not receive a time or placement.

We do not have the capacity to have friends and family at the docks, so please make sure they know to say good bye to you in the parking lot. We ask that only the race designated boats be on the course, as additional boats are confusing to swimmers and create a potential hazard to swimmers and kayakers. Ask your friends and family to watch your finish at the Mermaid beach.

You will be body marked according to your division, double check that your number is appropriate to your entry:
-Solo Male, Female, and Junior Boys & Girls - race numbers are between 1 and 199
-Fin Swimmers - numbers are from 201 to 299
-Relay teams - numbered from 301 to 399. Note that on a relay team you all have the same race number.

Once you have been marked move quickly to the line to board the boats. You will not be allowed to leave the dock area after being marked. Bob will advise you which boat to board, and you will be escorted and counted as you enter. Please do not leave once on board.

The Green Cay marina has bathrooms, but avoid the rush and go before you get there. You may use the bathrooms after being body marked.

Bring a non-plastic bag with you to put your clothes or other small items into. Do not pack your life into this bag. It will be returned to the entrance of the Mermaid restaurant sometime after the finish of the race. Leave your key with the front desk or swim with it.

Bring water to drink for the boat ride over - stay hydrated.

The boat trip is about 20 minutes. This is a great time to finish applying sunscreen and hydrating as much as possible. Make sure that you pack your bag on the boat - do not leave anything loose. Also, Buck Island is a St. Croix treasure, so please - NO LITTER.

You may not meet the other swimmers at Buck Island – you must be marked and board boats at Green Cay Marina.

Note that boats come in close to shore and it's shallow - DO NOT DIVE into the water, jump feet first from the back of the boat. Move to shore as quickly as possible and stay away from all boats.

Don't forget your sunscreen, goggles, caps and if you are a fin swimmer, both fins.

Swim warm-ups - do not swim to the areas where boats are unloading - this is the most dangerous part of this swim - STAY ALERT and avoid the boats.

Stay in the vicinity of the other swimmers - do not pick this time to explore Buck Island - you will miss valuable last minute instructions and possibly the start.

Near race time - about 5 minutes before the start gather onshore when directed and listen to the final instructions.

The race will start with the blowing of a conch shell - it is a shore start.

There will be boats marking the course between Buck Island and St. Croix, keep them on your right. For a landmark, head for the "V" shape in the mountains on St. Croix. This generally takes you directly to the first turn boat.

Kayakers are on the course as first responders in case a swimmer experiences an emergency in the water. Kayakers are not there to lead you along the racecourse, however they will instruct you when you have deviated from the course and must change your direction in order to avoid reef areas. You must obey their instructions.

	Stop and wave your swim cap.
	A kayaker will approach you and give you a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) to put on.
	If you need further assistance to reach the side of the kayak, they will extend their paddle to you.
	Do not panic and attempt to grab the kayak or the kayaker as this will risk swamping the boat.
	Hold on to the side of the kayak until one of the safety boats arrives to bring you on board.

Water will be available from all of the boats along the racecourse, not from the kayaks. There will be a boat approximately every mile, plan your liquids accordingly. This is a warm weather swim so hydrate! Please toss the water bottles back to the boat captain when you are done drinking from them.

Post-race lunch