Martin Nicholas Gaal

Location and directions:
The race site is at Vista Point Family Campground. 3199 N Pea Ridge Road, Pittsboro NC 27312. We will start and finish at the boat ramp docks. 
 
If you use mapping software please enter “Vista Point Family Campground, 3199 North Pea Ridge Road, Pittsboro NC 27312.” 
 
Coming from Raleigh area – take US64 West over the lake.  Turn left (south) on Seaforth.  After 2 miles you will intersect North Pea Ridge Road.  Turn left (south) and enter the park and then drive all the way down to the large parking lot/boat launch area.
 
Coming from Chapel Hill area – Take 15/501 south to Mt Gilead Church Road and turn left (south).  At US64 continue straight, as Mt Gilead Church road turns into N Pea Ridge Rd.  Drive into the park and all the way to the large parking lot.
 
Please note: There is another Pea Ridge road on the south side of the lake and a few people always get lost over that way.  We won’t be there!
 
Parking:
Park in the large lot near the start area.  Your parking fee was included with your entry fee.   If you’re competing, please arrive no later than 715 to get your stuff and get situated.  Please do not park on the side of the road anywhere within the park.
 
Packet pick up:
We will have the packet pick up area near the boat ramps/docks.  We will start at 645AM.
 
T shirts:
Please sign up by Friday, September 25 to guarantee a race t-shirt.

Course and Map:
It is a clockwise triangular course.  All right-shoulder turns.  All buoys, including interim sighting buoys, must be on your right-side. This minimizes any cross traffic issues with the 1k swimmers.

0.6 milers - swim to the first interim (sighting) buoys and turn these - roughly half of the 1.2 mile course.
1.2 milers: swim 1 loop and get out at the boat ramp and cross the timing mat.
2.4 milers: swim 2 loops.  You don’t get out of the water at any point.  At the buoy nearest the finish area you do a right shoulder turn and then head back out onto the course for loop #2.  At the end, get out and cross the timing mat.
 
Start/finish description:
We will start in overhead depth water lined up with the docks.  To finish you will need to exit the water and cross the timing chip mat at the water’s edge.
 
Safety:
We will have a number of kayakers, paddleboarders, and lifeguards out on the course.  You may stop and take a break at a kayak/board as needed.  Please give these folks a shout or wave if you are having any problems at any point.  They are there to help you.
 
Timing chips:
We use reusable chips.  Please be sure to turn these in at the finish.
 
Wetsuits & water temps:
Wetsuits are optional when the water temp is below 78, and not allowed when it is over 78 degrees for our events. You can keep track of Jordan Lake water temps here: http://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/bejrept.txt.  It is usually - but not always - wetsuit legal in October.

Swim Safey Device:
If you are a newer or nervous open water swimmer, we will allow you to use the Swim Safety Device. This is not a pull buoy. Visit this link. If you choose to use one, please start at the back of your wave.

Other equipment:
You may use snorkels. You may not use fins, hand paddles, or pull buoys. Wetsuits / neoprene shorts are dependent on the water temperature.

Warming up: 
You may warm up as much as you’d like, but please keep it near the start/finish area.  We will have a couple kayakers out by 745AM to watch out for you, but the main fleet doesn’t launch ‘till the race gets going.
 
Weather policy:
In the case of inclement weather, we can delay the swim start up to 45 minutes. We will only cancel the event if necessary for the safety of participants. No refunds or transfers will be given.

Transfer/refund policy:
No transfers or refunds for this event.

Start waves:
As close as we can get to:
8:00 All 2.4 milers
8:05 ALL 1.2 milers
8:10 ALL 0.6 milers
 
Awards:
For the 0.6 miler - top ten men and women overall
For the 1.2 and 2.4: Top 3 overall men / women, top male/female master (over 40), and top 3 in each 5 year age group (15-19, 20-24, etc).  No duplication of awards.  We will run the 1.2 awards a bit before the 2.4 awards, but don’t make any promises on the exact time other than to say, as soon as we can.
 
New to open water/wetsuits?
If you are new / first timer in an open water event, we suggest you check out the open water training clinics hosted by event sponsor One Step Beyond.
 
If you have never swum in a wetsuit before and plan to at the race, we even more strongly suggest you take it to your local pool as soon as possible and swim a few laps in it.  Wetsuits take some getting used to and your first time should not be in a race situation.
 
Race briefing:
We will hold the race briefing and course description meeting at 745 AM at the water’s edge near the finish line area.  After this meeting you will have a few more minutes to warm up should you choose.
 
Post-race food:
We will have bread from Great Harvest Bread, PB and J, bananas and oranges, assorted cookies, and drinks.