Experienced ocean kayakers are needed for course monitoring and swimmer support. Course monitoring includes guiding swimmers to stay on the defined course, steering them towards the course markers. Swimmer assistance includes responding to a swimmer signaling for help, safely approaching swimmer with your kayak, deploying your spare PFD to the swimmer for flotation assistance, and signaling motorized support to take over swimmer assistance.

Personal kayak escorts for individual swimmers are not permitted. All kayakers on the water will be event support kayakers and take direction from event staff.

Kayaks must be ocean kayaks equipped with spray skirts. All kayaks must be equipped with two PFDs (one for the kayaker and one in case it is needed by a swimmer), and a whistle or air horn to alert safety personnel.

Kayakers must have appropriate open ocean kayaking experience, must be able to maneuver kayak in windy conditions with an ocean swell and to launch and land kayak from a beach with breaking waves. The kayaker must be capable of “self rescue” in the event of a roll over. Kayakers are required to submit a resume of their experience and be approved to participate. Kayakers myst be age 18 or older.

Kayakers must attend a mandatory online safety briefing prior to the swim as well as the in-person briefing on the day of the swim.

After registration, you will be contacted by the Kayak Coordinator and approval for participation will be required.

A mandatory online safety briefing will be required prior to participation.

An in person safety briefing will be required the morning of the swim.

Please pull up to the traffic cones and drop off your kayak at the bathhouse (179 Long Beach Avenue, York, Maine) by 7:30 AM at the latest, please.  We will have volunteers to help unload the kayak and bring it to the staging area. Vehicles must then be moved immediately to a designated parking space or parking area.

The VENUE MAP shows the parking locations, shuttle stops, swim start and swim finish areas.    

Parking Fees: Parking at Short Sands Beach (swim finish), please download the ParkMobile App before swim day. Parking charges begin at 8 AM.  Alternatively, you may park behind the Center for Active Living at no charge. Be aware that if you park in the metered parking along Long Sands (swim start) there is no shuttle service available after the swim.

Shuttle Service: There is a shuttle service available between the parking locations, the start and Sohier Park. The shuttle is free for kayakers.

Shuttle Service: The NLS will provide one trolley generously donated by Williams Realty Partners for shuttle service. This free shuttle is available for swimmers, volunteers and their guests between several parking locations, the start, Sohier Park and the finish. 

The VENUE MAP shows the parking locations, shuttle stops, swim start and swim finish areas.   

Shuttle Logistics: Look for “NUBBLE LIGHTHOUSE SWIM SHUTTLE STOP” signs at each pick-up point.

Please note that the shuttle will run on a loop and transit times are dependent on local traffic.  Please plan accordingly. The schedule is subject to change.

NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO SHUTTLE SERVICE AFTER THE EVENT

SHUTTLE STOPS (Pre-Swim)

Hours of operation: 6:15 AM to 8:15 AM

• Short Sands Parking Lot, 15 Ocean Ave across from the "Sands by the Sea Motel” (parking/finish)

• Center for Active Living, 36 Main Street (parking)

• Long Sands Bathhouse, 179 Long Beach Ave (start)

SHUTTLE STOPS (During Swim)

Hours of operation: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM

• Long Sands Bathhouse, 179 Long Beach Ave (start)

• Sohier Park, 11 Sohier Park Road between park &

• Fox’s Restaurant (“the gut”)

• Short Sands Beach, 15 Ocean Ave across from the "Sands by the Sea Motel” (finish)

Shuttle Service Ends at 10:30 AM

Shuttle Service Ends at 10:30 AM

Distances and Walking Times:

• Swim Finish to Start 1.1 miles (20-25 minutes)

• Start to Sohier Park 1.5 miles (25-30 minutes)

• Sohier Park to Finish 1.3 miles (25-30 minutes)

• Center for Active Living to Finish 0.4 miles (10 minutes)

Yes. All kayakers are required to check in with the Kayak Coordinator to the right side of the swimmer registration area. There will be a kayaker safety meeting at 7:50 AM. Kayak launch time is 8:00 AM.

Once in the water, kayakers will paddle to a waiting area approximately 250 yards from shore where they will wait for the swimmers to start. There will be two center console power boats anchored approximately 75 feet apart on either side of the course. The kayakers will be positioned on the left and right of the swim course beyond the boats. See the COURSE MAP for details.

Kayakers will leave the swimmers at the tetrahedron buoys just before the finish and paddle over to the ramp located to the left of the finish line.

The kayaker is responsible for monitoring swimmers and signaling safety personnel in the event of an emergency. If a swimmer needs help, the swimmer swims to the kayak, the kayaker hands them a PFD and signals a safety boat by holding up paddle and blowing a whistle/air horn three long times. If the swimmer cannot swim to the kayak, the kayaker should paddle to the swimmer.

At the conclusion of the swim, each kayaker must check out with the Kayak Coordinator.

Kayakers will be responsible for transporting their kayak off the beach and up to the park. All kayaks must exit the beach on the ramp to the left of the finish (~150 yards). Kayakers are responsible for getting their kayaks to their vehicle. There will not be any transport provided for kayaks so participants should plan ahead regarding kayak transport logistics.

See the COURSE MAP for details.