St Croix Coral Reef Swim Race, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

13th Annual St. Croix Coral Reef Swim
Race to be held Sun., Oct. 19, 2008
Benefits The Nature Conservancy

For St. Croix Residents interested in the Coral Reef Swims ~ click here for information ~

Aerial View
Buck Island >

Rowdy Gaines on the Coral Reef Swim
"The St. Croix Open Water Swim was the one of the most fantastic experiences of my life. Not only was it the most pristine water I have ever swam in but it was also the most organized of any open water race I have been in. I have already made plans to attend in 2008 and being post- Beijing it should be THE place to be in October."

-Rowdy Gaines, winner of 3 Gold medals at the 1984 Olympics

St. Croix, USVI (January 6, 2008) --- The Coral Reef Swim, one of America's most successful swim competitions, will feature swimmers from all over the United States and maybe even some former Olympians during its 13th annual race Sunday, October 19, 2008, in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Distinguished swimmers also include Pan American Gold Medalist Alex Kostich.

Competitive swimmers, swim coaches and swim enthusiasts from throughout the world will join the Olympians on a course from Buck Island, a U.S. underwater coral reef park, to The Buccaneer, a luxury destination resort on St. Croix’s east end. The Buccaneer’s general manager, Elizabeth Armstrong, is the event’s creator and organizer.

Net proceeds from the Swim will be donated to The Nature Conservancy, which has been instrumental in establishing the East End Marine Park surrounding St. Croix. The Swim is sponsored by Hovensa, which allows for maximum proceeds to flow to the beneficiary.

The Coral Reef Swim navigates the waters of the sensitive East End Marine Park, home to coral reefs, endangered fish species and fisheries, and a high density of green and hawksbill sea turtles who return to shore to nest every summer. The first territorial park in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the East End Marine Park, protects the largest island barrier reef system in the Caribbean.

The race begins on world-famous Buck Island, which boasts a spectacular beach and living coral reef designated as an underwater park by the National Park Service, continues across a starfish-speckled, blue channel and then along St. Croix’s shoreline of colorful reefs and sandy bottom. The Swim concludes at the main beach of The Buccaneer, where a palm lined finish line and steel pan band greet swimmers along with families and friends.

Can't get enough of St. Croix?

Join athletes from around the world for various events on St Croix including the Caribbean Classic Triathlon, an Olympic distance triathlon consisting of a 1500 meter swim, 40K bike and 10K run. Visit StCroixSports.com for more information on this race as well as many fantastic others.

East End Marine Park

East End Marine Park, the first territorial park in the U.S. Virgin Islands, will protect the largest island barrier reef system in the Caribbean. Legislative approval recently made the area an official park. Extending from the high-water mark out three miles (4.8 kilometers), it encompasses 60 square miles (155.4 square kilometers) of offshore coral reef and other marine habitat.

The park includes about five square miles (13 square kilometers) of "no-take areas," which are off limits to any fishing and harvesting. A turtle refuge will extend about a mile (1.6 kilometers) into the Caribbean Ocean from the shoreline of the island's primary hawksbill and green turtle nesting beaches on Jack Bay, Isaac Bay and East End Bay.

Location
The appropriately-named park encompasses the last six miles (10 kilometers) of the eastern end of St. Croix. It includes about 12 miles (20 kilometers) of coastline.

For more information visit East End Marine Park.

HomeSt. Croix 2 & 5-Mile Coral Reef Swim Race 2008

Coral Reef Swim Race, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

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St. Croix 2 & 5-Mile Coral Reef Swim Race 2008