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Swim

A 2-mile open water swim race across beautiful and mighty Lake Superior from Bayfield, WI to LaPointe-Madeline Island, WI
Swimming to the island has been a storied feat around Bayfield for decades.   Starting with the Ojibwa, individuals of certain skill and daring have swum across the channel to LaPointe – Madeline Island.   In 2006, the Friends of the Recreation Center sponsored a community swim where 23 of 24 people made it across on a flat and sunny day, raising $6000 for the local swimming pool.   In 2007, the Friends are expanding the event to feature both a community swim and a race.   The fastest known time from shore to shore is 47:20.  

Race Info:

When: Saturday, August 11th7:45 Race Start, 8:05 Community Start , 8:15 Relay Start

Where: Start, Bayfield, WI (Washington Ave Beach)Finish, Madeline Island, WI at Griggs Point

Course: A straight 2-mile distance across the Big Lake in open water

Purpose: Raise money for the Bayfield Area Recreation Center. Prizes for most pledges raised and fastest age swimmers.

Race Entry: $50 Entry Fee -OR- $100 in pledges raised

Relay Entry: $100 Entry Fee -OR- $200 in pledges raised

Race Event – for experienced open water swimmers or those who ca swim a mile in under 40:00 in a pool.

Community Event – for open water novices and swimmers who just want to complete the course. The community swimmer must wear a wetsuit and arrange for a non-motorized personal escort (kayak or rowboat)

Relay Event – for teams of 2-4 who want to tag-team swimming the distance. Relay teams must arrange for an escort to swetch on and off of (motorized OK)Entry includes hooded sweatshirt, lunch, swim cap and ferry ride back to Bayfield, WI Location:
Bayfield, WI is small city of 611 on the shores of Lake Superior in northernmost WI.   Bayfield is the gateway to the pristine beauty of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, with its camping, kayaking, trials, sea caves, and beaches.   Madeline Island has long been a vacation destination as the only one of 22 Apostle Islands that is inhabited year-round, serviced by the Madeline Island Ferry Line.   August is the ideal time to experience the beautiful scenery, clean air and water, friendly people and waiting adventures of the region.   Bayfield is 90 miles from Duluth, MN, 240 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul, and 320 miles from Madison.

Web sites with more information on Bayfield and Madeline Island, WI:

Bayfield Chamber of Commerce    www.bayfield.org
Madeline Island Ferry Line            www.madferry.com
Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce    www.madelineisland.com
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore    www.nps.gov/apis/

Course Info:

The start will be on the beach with an immediate entry into the water.   The finish will be an in-water line between two buoys in waist deep water.   It is a straight line from start to finish.   There will be a large buoy marking the halfway point, but it will be up to the swimmer to judge the wind and currents of Lake Superior to choose the fastest course.

The sponsors of this event will provide kayak escorts for the competitive race.   Swimmers in the community event are asked to provide their own escort.

This event will be registered and approved by the US Coast Guard.   US Coast Guard and US Coast Guard Auxiliary boats will monitor and patrol the event in addition to race officials and escorts.

The swimming course follows the same route of the winter ice road, from the beach at the end of Washington Ave. in Bayfield, straight across to Griggs Landing on Madeline Island.   This course parallels the route of the Madeline Island Ferry, finishing approximately 3/4 mile north of the ferry dock.   The ferry affords excellent viewing for spectators.

Schedule:

Friday, Aug. 10
Packet pickup at the Bayfield Recreation Center, 1301 Garfield Ave, Superior, WI 54880,  218-334-1302
Saturday, Aug. 11

6:30-7:15 am   Registration at the start.   Escort and swimmer check-in
7:15 am Safety meeting and warm-ups
7:45 am   Start of race event
8:00 Ferry leaves Bayfield to Madeline Island – ideal for race spectators
8:05 Start of community swim
8:15 Start of relay swim
8:30 Ferry leaves Bayfield to Madeline Island – ideal for community swim spectators
8:30   Approximate time of fastest race finishers
11:00 Cutoff time for all swimmers
11:00   Post-race lunch at the Bell St. Tavern.   Free to all swimmers, escorts and volunteers.   $10 for spectators.   Spaghetti, salad and bread.
11:30   Awards and prizes

Spectator Information:

The swim course parallels the path of the Madeline Island Ferry for most of the 2 miles.   Spectators can watch the start of the race, then take the ferry over the island and get a view of the race as it spreads out across the lake.   The ferry landing dock on Madeline is about ¾ mile from the finish.   Event organizers will offer some van transportation from the ferry dock to the finish line so that spectators can watch the end of the race, but we encourage fit spectators to walk.   While extremely fast swimmers (under 50:00) might actually beat the ferry over, we will do our best to get their friends and loved ones to the finish line in time to see them finish!
Click Here for a map of Bayfield & Madeline Island.
For more information, prices and schedules for the ferry,go to the Madeline Island Ferry Line web site at www.madferry.com or call 218-334-1302
Lodging & Area Information:August is peak visitor season in Bayfield, so we suggest making reservations early.   The Bayfield Chamber of Commerce has an excellent informational web site with a feature to find lodging.
Go to www.bayfield.org and click on the Lodging Availability button at the bottom of the page.   You may also call the Chamber at 218-334-1302.

Race Event:

You should be able to swim a mile in under 40:00 in a pool to swim in the race event.   If you cannot do this, please enter the community swim event.
The start will be a mass start on the beach with an immediate entry into the water.   The finish will be an in-water line between two buoys in waist deep water.   It is a straight line from start to finish.   There will be a large buoy marking the halfway point, but it will be up to the swimmer to judge the wind and currents of Lake Superior to choose the fastest course.
Wetsuits will be encouraged but not required. Water temeratures on Lake Superior can vary greatly with wind direction and prior days weather. The water temperature range will likely be 60-70 degrees.

Race officials will use the ASA Open Water Rules found on the rules page of the www.AmericanSwimmingAssociation.com .   No artificial swimming aids (fins, snorkels, flotation devices) will be allowed in the race event, except wetsuits.   Voluntarily touching a boat or receiving items handed to them by a boat will result in disqualification.

Community Event:

The community swim is not a race, but will be timed for the swimmer’s interest.   Swimmers in this event should feel confident in their ability to swim 2 miles in open water.

All swimmers must have their own escort (kayak or rowboat) in this event.   This should be provided by the swimmer, but race organizers may be able to provide escorts (call for availability).

Wetsuits will be required – shorties and bibs will likely be adequate but a full suit is recommended.   Water temperatures on Lake Superior can vary greatly with wind direction and prior days weather.   The water temperature range will likely be 60-70 degrees.

Swimming aids are allowed, including fins.   Swimmers may rest on and get help from their escorts, but towing is not encouraged.   A relay team from a surfboard or rowboat is allowed.

Cutoff time for the community swim is 10:45 am (2.5 hours).   Swimmers will be pulled from the water at this time.

Relay event: A team of up to 4 swimmers may swim the course as a relay.   The team may switch from a motorboat, surfboard or other craft by tagging each other.   There are no rules concerning how long or often each swimmer must swim, only that they must physically tag each other.   This event is ideal for swimmers that feel 2 miles is too much solo.   Wetsuits will not be required for relay swimmers that are using a boat.   The relay team must provide their own watercraft (motorized OK) to switch on and off from.   Please check with the race director about your craft. 

To Volunteer:

Good volunteers are crucial to sponsoring a safe and fun event for the swimmers. Volunteers are needed to help with the start, finish and with the post-race lunch. We are particularly in need of good kayakers and oarsmen with boats to escort swimmers across open Lake Superior. If you can help, please contact Scott Armstrong at 218-334-1302. All volunteers will get a sweatshirt and free lunch at the Bell St. Tavern after the race.

After The Swim:

The swim and post-race lunch will be done around noon and you will be on Madeline Island with the rest of an August Saturday afternoon to play!
Two web sites to check out with information on the island are:

Madeline Island Ferry Line            www.madferry.com

Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce    www.madelineisland.com

Some ideas:

-have a few beers at the Bell St. Tavern
-visit the great beaches at Big Bay State Park
-moped or bike around the island and explore
-tour the islands by charter, sailboat or kayak
-stroll the old Town of LaPointe and visit the Historical Museum
-dine at one of the many great restaurants
-play golf at the Madeline Island Golf Club
-hit Tom’s Burned Down Café for late night fun
The race directors will provide a free ferry ride home for all swimmers and volunteers.

Parking Maps

There is limited parking near the start at the end of Washington Ave.   You should be able to find legal parking on city streets within 5 blocks of the start, especially along Washington Ave. 2 nd St. and Broad St.   You may drop off gear and kayaks at the start, then park your car.

Note for spectator parking – the ferry to the island departs from a dock very close to the starting beach.   There will be a ferry departing within 15-30 minutes of the scheduled race start times.