What do Hawaiian Tropic, Alfredo’s Landscaping, St. John Insurance Agency, Maho Bay Camps, Topa Properties and Mongoose Junction all have in common?
They are all sponsors of the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park fourth annual Friends’ Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, which will be on Sunday, May 27, at 8 a.m.
There will be kayaks monitoring the course as swimmers make their way around America Point to Cinnamon Bay Beach, which is approximately one mile in distance. There is no fee for this event, and everyone is encouraged to participate in this group swim.
The Beach-to-Beach Power Swim is four simultaneous events: a short course (approximately one mile) solo swim from Maho Beach to Cinnamon Beach; an intermediate course (approximately two miles) solo swim from Maho Beach to Trunk Beach; a long course (approximately three miles) solo swim from Maho Beach to Hawksnest Beach; and a long course (approximately three miles) three-person relay team swim from Maho Beach to Hawksnest Beach, with transition points at Cinnamon and Trunk beaches.
Awards will be given in age groups, and to cap off the event the awards ceremony will be held along with a beach barbecue at Oppenheimer Beach.
The Beach-to-Beach Power Swim is for both competitive swimmers and relatively serious recreational swimmers. To make it as accessible and fun for as many participants as possible, swimmers may compete using snorkels, fins, exposure suits, etc. in a separate “assisted-swimmer” category.
The Power Swim will be held in National Park waters.
“This event has become part of the list of challenging sporting events in the Virgin Islands, and features the incredible waters and beaches of Virgin Islands National Park — two very special attributes of the Park,” said Joe Kessler, power swim race director.
Registration is now open. Ad-vance registration through May 15 is only $25. General registration, May 16 to 25, costs $30, and late registration, available only at the pre-race meeting on May 26, costs $40.
New this year is a reduced registration fee for youth 17 and under, which is $15 through May 25th, and $25 on May 26.
Swimmers can register online at www.friendsvinp.org/swim, by phone at (340) 779-4940, or in person at: the Friends’ office in Mongoose Junction, Connec-tions in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, or at Caribbean Surf Co. at all three locations on St. Thomas, or at SCUBA on St. Croix.
For complete information about the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, including the course description, course maps, competition rules, and to register visit www.friendsvinp.org/swim or call 779-4940.