Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim

Sep 9, 16 10:36

Post #1 of 72 (4081 views)

Howdy everyone. It is that time of year again here in lovely Wilmington NC. Which means I will be trying to organize a practice swim for the IMNC Beach 2 Battleship. I checked the itinerary for the race and it looks like the organizers have nothing planned. So your boy is grabbing this situation by the horns.

This year we will have a boat and several paddle boarders on scene for everyone's safety. As well as first aid equipment.

For the 2016 edition of the OUB2BIMNCPS (Official unofficial beach 2 battleship ironman north carolina practice swim) we will be starting at the coast guard station and swimming to the Blockade Runner hotel, which should amount to a mile with an assist from the current. This is a bit easier from a logistics standpoint. I am also working with the hotel to have coffee, snacks, etc. available once we finish. Myself and some other locals will be available afterward to answer any questions you may have about the race or anything else race related.

It will be that Friday before but the time is to still be determined. 99.9% chance it will be early in the morning. 7ish

Please respond on here (this thread) and let me know if you are interested.

_________________________________________________
When all is said and done. More is usually said than done
Ba Ba Booey

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 9, 16 11:47

Post #2 of 72 (4037 views)

I am definitely interested. I have plenty of OWS practice, but I live in land, and salt water and currents mess with me a bit. I was planning on getting use to things on Thursday, but I would love to do a Friday swim as well.

Plus, I will take any and all useful race info that I can get. Don't tell my husband, but I even volunteer him to shuttle a couple people back after the swim.

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [happyscientist] [ In reply to ]

Sep 9, 16 11:50

Post #3 of 72 (4035 views)

happyscientist wrote:

Don't tell my husband, but I even volunteer him to shuttle a couple people back after the swim.

Thanks for your interest. Your secret is safe with me.

Check back in on the thread for updates

_________________________________________________
When all is said and done. More is usually said than done
Ba Ba Booey

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 9, 16 12:00

Post #4 of 72 (4022 views)

I'm interested. Are you racing, Patrick, or just stirring up trouble?

With tidal prediction of a 7:50am low tide that should make for a relatively slow swim, correct? for those that haven't done this, swim will vary quite a bit with tides. I was 57:00 in 2010 and 43:00 in 2012. I'm thinking we'll be closer to 2010 times this year...

Mark Carey

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [ In reply to ]

Sep 9, 16 12:06

Post #5 of 72 (4013 views)

+2 for me and a buddy

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 9, 16 14:00

Post #6 of 72 (3963 views)

I'm in

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [MCHammers] [ In reply to ]

Sep 9, 16 14:45

Post #7 of 72 (3949 views)

MCHammers wrote:

I'm interested. Are you racing, Patrick, or just stirring up trouble?

With tidal prediction of a 7:50am low tide that should make for a relatively slow swim, correct? for those that haven't done this, swim will vary quite a bit with tides. I was 57:00 in 2010 and 43:00 in 2012. I'm thinking we'll be closer to 2010 times this year...

Yes, much closer to 2010 or 2013 swim splits this year, as any current will be weak. The main advantage compared to 2010 will be much more reasonable water temps. Starting at 7am on Friday should fairly closely duplicate race conditions (well, 8am Sat) as the tide "walks" by about an hour each day.

Coast Guard to Blockade Runner is more on the order of 1.3 or 1.4 miles, but relatively safe if you stay by the docks. Don't try to swim too far out in the middle of the channel aside from race day, even with kayak support.

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 9, 16 17:04

Post #8 of 72 (3916 views)

I'm in with possibly a couple more.

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [beastofbourbon] [ In reply to ]

Sep 10, 16 8:25

Post #9 of 72 (3843 views)

You mention the water temps should be reasonable for the "new" B2B this year - I'm curious as to what the temps have been for the past couple years - Anyone know a rough range?

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [cestmoi] [ In reply to ]

Sep 10, 16 8:43

Post #10 of 72 (3839 views)

cestmoi wrote:

You mention the water temps should be reasonable for the "new" B2B this year - I'm curious as to what the temps have been for the past couple years - Anyone know a rough range?

Expect water temps in the lower 70s. That's been the case since 2012, when they moved the race earlier into October. The first 3 years, they were in November, and had water temps in the lower/mid 60s, which led to Setup's "wetsuit mandatory" status. The in-between year was 2011, when they held the race on the 29th of October, and while the water temp was in the upper 60s, the current was so strong you could about do the swim without really getting wet!

As some of the future race dates drift toward mid-October, there will be some years that it's a close call, or maybe not even wetsuit legal.

Last edited by: beastofbourbon: Sep 10, 16 8:47

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [MCHammers] [ In reply to ]

Sep 10, 16 10:02

Post #11 of 72 (3831 views)

MCHammers wrote:

I'm interested. Are you racing, Patrick, or just stirring up trouble?

With tidal prediction of a 7:50am low tide that should make for a relatively slow swim, correct? for those that haven't done this, swim will vary quite a bit with tides. I was 57:00 in 2010 and 43:00 in 2012. I'm thinking we'll be closer to 2010 times this year...

Mark Carey

No racing for me just raising some hell. I think the Wilmington Fire Department (my employer) is going to have an aid station on the run course. (Maybe)

Someone else answered about the tides/swim times and I would agree with them 100%. Expect times to be closer to your 2010 times. Should be going out for the first few minutes of the swim, then pretty slack for a while, and help you out for the last bit of the full. The half on the other hand should have pretty good assistance throughout.

If anyone needs me on the swim I'll be working as a medic on one of the boats. Hope to see none of you in that capacity

_________________________________________________
When all is said and done. More is usually said than done
Ba Ba Booey

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [beastofbourbon] [ In reply to ]

Sep 10, 16 10:03

Post #12 of 72 (3829 views)

beastofbourbon wrote:

MCHammers wrote:

I'm interested. Are you racing, Patrick, or just stirring up trouble?

With tidal prediction of a 7:50am low tide that should make for a relatively slow swim, correct? for those that haven't done this, swim will vary quite a bit with tides. I was 57:00 in 2010 and 43:00 in 2012. I'm thinking we'll be closer to 2010 times this year...

Yes, much closer to 2010 or 2013 swim splits this year, as any current will be weak. The main advantage compared to 2010 will be much more reasonable water temps. Starting at 7am on Friday should fairly closely duplicate race conditions (well, 8am Sat) as the tide "walks" by about an hour each day.

Coast Guard to Blockade Runner is more on the order of 1.3 or 1.4 miles, but relatively safe if you stay by the docks. Don't try to swim too far out in the middle of the channel aside from race day, even with kayak support.

This right here will be the theme of the practice swim. Stay near the docks. Safety first

_________________________________________________
When all is said and done. More is usually said than done
Ba Ba Booey

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 28, 16 12:31

Post #13 of 72 (3659 views)

Thanks for starting this thread as I start to look at the "new B2B" as my first long distance tri in 2017. I'm trying to get as much knowledge on each course before deciding on venue.

Hit 'em with the Hein!
--

Straightenin' the curves; Flattenin' the hills
------------------------------------------------------------
Coached by Mike Plumb @ TriPower MultiSports
https://www.strava.com/athletes/1149072 - https://www.instagram.com/thoswoods/

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [MCHammers] [ In reply to ]

Sep 28, 16 18:59

Post #14 of 72 (3612 views)

How long does it take to get everyone in the water ?

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 28, 16 23:27

Post #15 of 72 (3594 views)

I'm only doing the measly 70.3 but still interested in the a practice swim if you big timers will have me.

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 16 4:18

Post #16 of 72 (3580 views)

I'm in. Thanks for organizing this.

Don't drown. Don't crash. Don't walk.

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 16 4:43

Post #17 of 72 (3571 views)

Might also want to post this info to official ironman nc facebook https://www.facebook.com/IM703NC/?fref=ts

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 16 4:57

Post #18 of 72 (3563 views)

I am in, might have a couple more who tag along as well. thanks for setting it up.

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [TriTamp] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 16 5:01

Post #19 of 72 (3559 views)

TriTamp wrote:

I'm only doing the measly 70.3 but still interested in the a practice swim if you big timers will have me.

I am a slow swimmer, so I hope everyone just puts up with me. Of course, I picked this as my first IM because of the reputation the swim has.

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [Turd Ferguson] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 16 5:09

Post #20 of 72 (3556 views)

I'm in and my training partner. Thanks!!!

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [happyscientist] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 16 7:48

Post #21 of 72 (3530 views)

happyscientist wrote:

TriTamp wrote:

I'm only doing the measly 70.3 but still interested in the a practice swim if you big timers will have me.

I am a slow swimmer, so I hope everyone just puts up with me. Of course, I picked this as my first IM because of the reputation the swim has.

I'm a slow swimmer as well. IM Chattanooga has a nice swim. Tougher run though.

Last edited by: TriTamp: Oct 1, 16 6:56

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [rmg] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 16 8:23

Post #22 of 72 (3514 views)

rmg wrote:

How long does it take to get everyone in the water ?

I don't think we'll know until we see how it's setup, it was always a mass start in the past. But with 1500 racers and a 90 degree right turn right away they shouldn't let too many go at once. At least that's how the course was setup in the past.

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [MCHammers] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 16 8:30

Post #23 of 72 (3504 views)

If we can assume that it will take 20' or more and tide information is accurate, might make more sense to approach the start leisurely (as long as the bike course won't be too congested getting out of T1)

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [rmg] [ In reply to ]

Sep 30, 16 12:15

Post #24 of 72 (3451 views)

What does that mean exactly for the swim/tide situation? Will there be a current for the 140.6?

Re: Official Return of the UNofficial B2B/IMNC practice swim [FluxCapacitor] [ In reply to ]

Sep 30, 16 12:25

Post #25 of 72 (3435 views)

My take is that if low tide is at 750am, the current will be heading out or essentially non existent when we start at 720, then shift to an incoming tide thereafter with a current assist in the last part of the swim. The 70.3 should have assist throughout. Locals might be able to better quantify things in terms of strength of expected currents.

Our Partners

transition-DOT-area-AT-slowtwitch-DOT-com

Advertise with us

©1999-2024 Slowtwitch, Inc., and Slowtwitch.com
Reproduction of material from any Slowtwitch.com page
without written permission is strictly prohibited.