Friends of V.I. National Park Power Swim Set for May 27

Friends of V.I. National Park will host the 15th Annual Power Swim, which is the largest sporting event held in the park. It will take place on Sunday, May 27, at Trunk Bay. The event brings together a diverse community of participants, spectators, volunteers and sponsors. People are invited to register to swim, sign up to volunteer or watch the action from the beautiful shoreline of the bay.

The 2018 Power Swim sponsors include: U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, ShadeScapes Americas, St. John Insurance Agency, Theodore Tunick Insurance, United Healthcare, Cross Island Builders, Mongoose Junction, TOPA Insurance, St. John Hardware, Gallows Point Resort, OnCell, Jolly Dog Trading Co., Windspree Vacation Homes, Merchants Bank, Property King Inc., Big Blue Excursions, The Longboard, Virgin Islands Orthopaedics and Medical Specialists, St. John Accomodations Council, High Tide Bar & Seafood Grill, Coconut Coast Villas, Alfredos Landscaping, Offshore Risk Management, Southland Gaming/Parrot Club, Freebird Creations, Angel Electric Inc., Kreke Corporation, Harthman Leasing Inc., Yelena Rogers Photography, T Shirt1, Jon Eichner Designs, ArtUSVI, Arawak Expeditions, St. John Brewers, Cruz Bay Watersports, WVGN/NBC U.S. Virgin Islands and The BUZZ 104.3.

This year registration is limited to 200 swimmers, so swimmers should register early. Early registration ends Friday, May 4; registration fees are $50 for adults and $30 for youth (17 and under). General registration happens May 5 through May 26; the fees are $65 for adults, $30 for youth. Register online at http://www.friendsvinp.org/swim  or by phone at 779-4940. People can also register in person on St. John at the Friends of the Park Store at Mongoose Junction, Connections (either Cruz Bay or Coral Bay), on St. Thomas at Caribbean Surf Co. (Red Hook or Havensight), and on St. Croix at SCUBA in Christiansted.

If space is still available, late registration will cost $85 for adults and $50 for those under 18 and will be available at the pre-race meeting scheduled for Saturday evening at Trunk.  However, there will be absolutely no registration on race day on Sunday.

A pre-race meeting will be held at Trunk Bay starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, (the day before the race) at the beach pavilions.  While attendance at the meeting is not mandatory, all swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend – especially those who are first-time competitors.

The Power Swim has several navigational challenges, and swimmers are strongly advised to review the competition rules and course description on the website prior to the race.  This is especially important for those swimmers who will not attend the pre-race meeting. To prepare for the race, visit the Friends of the Park website at http://www.friendsvinp.org/swim and review the sections on: race information, competition rules and course description.

Swimmers can change the event/distance they signed up for up until 4 p.m., Thursday, May 24, by phone: 779-4940 only. No changes are permitted after this deadline.

The race will start at about 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  Check-in on the beach will begin at 6:30 a.m. A briefing will begin at 7:30 a.m.; all swimmers should be checked in, numbered and ready to start by then.

Marked event shuttles will provide free transportation for race participants and spectators from Cruz Bay (including meeting the 6:30 a.m. ferry from Red Hook, starting at 6:15 a.m.

Unlike most open water events, the Power Swim is very viewer-friendly. This year, to see the action and to cheer on friends and family members, people may watch the start and the finish out of Trunk Bay for both long and short course swimmers.

Race day volunteer opportunities are available; get a free cap and T-shirt plus lunch for helping out. Call or email Karen Jarvis at 779-4940 or kjarvis@friendsvinp.org.

For more information, call 779-4940 up to 5 p.m. Friday, May 25.