• REQUIRED SWIM DOCUMENTATION & SUBMISSION
  AFTER EVENT ENTRY & FEE PAYMENT:
  Potential lottery winners, if required, you must send in your swim documentation within 24 hours of going on-line to complete and charge the formal entry form & payment.  The email notice your receive with your secured entry i.d. number (if selected), will remind you of this requirement.  GET IT READY EARLY SO YOUR ARE READY.

1.  All new and potential 4.4 Entrants, other than past GCBS finishers from 2007 or 2008, in either the 4.4 or 1 Mile Bay Challenge -- which both serves as documentation requirement -- must submit one of the following within 24 hours of completing your on-line entry.

A.  Completion of a 1 Mile Swim or longer in open water at a pace of 40 minutes per mile or under in the last two years.  Must submit copy of the race results with event date and title on it (plus identify your name).  SWIM RESULTS FROM A TRIATHLON swim portion (1,500 meters or more) will be accepted. 
 
DO NOT TELL US TO GO TO THE EVENT SITE AND PRINT OUT YOUR RESULTS -- too many for us to handle.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EMAIL THAT PAGE TO US, MAIL IT VIA HARD COPY OR FAX.  (address, email, fax info. at bottom of page) 
                             FAX:  856-468-4018

B.  Completion of a continuous 3-Mile Pool Swim in 2 hours, 15 mins. or better in the last two years.  A letter of verification must be submitted by the pool management/swim coach on either the pool's stationary or the swim coach's letterhead.  Must contain:  date of the swim and the witnessing lifeguard's/coach's signature with phone number/email attesting to the actual time it took to complete the swim.  SWIM RESULTS FROM A TRIATHLON swim portion (1,500 meters or more) will also be accepted. 

Falsifying records results in permanent removal from the event.    PLEASE GET THIS DONE AHEAD OF TIME -- YOU KNOW IT IS A REQUIREMENT TO BE SUBMITTED WITHIN 24-HOURS OF YOUR ON-LINE ENTRY.  IT MUST BE DONE PRIOR.  Do not call us and tell us you did not have time and "need an extension."  Your fee will be refunded -minus the $25 processing fee - and another name will be selected from the lottery to replace you.

Q & A

1.  What happen's if something comes up personal, work related, injury and I must cancel -- what is the refund deadline and rules?
We realize that the $250 entry fee is a personal and financial commitment to this awesome event.  Therefore, a refund deadline of April 10, 2009 has been established. 

     To notify of cancellation and refund -- minus a $25 processing fee:  Must contact swim processing coordinator, Linda Toretsky at:  lindat@lin-mark.com  to submit the request and why.  The request must contain:
Your name, mailing address as completed on the entry form, along with your secured lottery confirmation number.  We must assure that it is indeed submitted by the confirmed applicant.  This request will then be copied to the head timer (who will change the data to show the applicant is now out), and to the swim's accountant who will process the refund check.

2.  Can I please have all correct contact data?

• Site Link for pre-swim entry info.:  http://www.lin-mark.com

• Contact Person:  Linda Toretsky, GCBS Processing Coordinator

• Direct Email:  lindat@lin-mark.com

• Fax:  856-4468-4018

          Mail:  Lin-Mark Sports - Bay Swim 2009
          7 Westwood Dr., Mantua, NJ 08051


3.  If I can't participate can I give/sell my slot to some else?
It is against the rules to sell, switch, give a swim slot to another person.  It will results in permanent removal from entry into the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim for both persons.  There is mandatory photo i.d. at packet pick-up/check in on event day.  NO PHOTO I.D. NO SWIM.

4.  How many people will be selected in the lottery entry process?
We typically select and confirm by the end of both lottery rounds: 
700 or slightly more.

5.  If I do not make it in, is there a Wait List?
The U.S. Coast Guard, and in water safety guidelines have established an in-water count of 650 swimmers for the 4.4 swim.       This permits them the ability to pull swimmers in the event of sudden weather or water conditions which would be unsafe for the event to continue.

Since we take in an overage of 50-60 entrants this has proven to remove the need of a "Wait List."  This count has also proven to allow for those who must drop out of the event (requesting their refund), and still permit the event to field 650 participants on swim day.

6.  Can I show up on swim day and replace a "No Show Swimmer?"
Sorry, No.  Detailed records are submitted to the medical staff and in-water safety personnel.  There is not, and has not been and will not be a swim day replacement.

7.  Are there any other ways to enter?
The swim director, Chuck Nabit, does reserve several "Charity swim late slots." Those are announced and made available closer to event date.  This process is tied into the swim's charity pledge-program, which if met, removes an applicant from the next year's lottery entry process.

8.  But -- how does the Charity/Pledge program work?
Again this will be posted in detail after the lottery entry process closes out and typically posted in late January:
a)  An entrant must submit a minimum of $300 or plus, ABOVE THE $250 entry fee.

The charitable contribution funds may be submitted on-going right up to swim day. The event's accountant will be on site to accept final contributions.

b) All those currently listed on the posted 2009 EARLY BIRD LIST met this criteria during the 2008 swim, and will receive an EARLY BIRD 2009 HARD COPY ENTRY FORM IN THE MAIL prior to the lottery going live on November 1, 2008.

c) The event gives many great prizes and awards to the Charity Pledge program.  This is conducted on site, by Chuck Nabit, prior to the 4.4 Awards Ceremony.

9.  Where do funds from this event go? 
a) All funds, minus event expenses, are donated to tax deductible, fully IRS-qualified charities.  A major recipient is the March of Dimes.  Many volunteers from the March of Dimes work the swim.

b)  The event executive staff and support crews in the water and on-land do not take one dime for or from the swim.  Over one-million dollars has been donated and continues to be donated.

10.  When and where will I be able to view the events:  schedule, timeline, directions, lodging, in-water rules, WHAT - WHEN - WHERE complete details?

a) Lin-Mark Sports typically posts complete event details, listings, results and major links for the event.  BUT the event's web site also mirrors with, and posts, much info. also A MUST SEE.  Currently on the Bay Swim's site is an all new swim store -- check it out for some cool items.

b)  Both site links: 
www.BAYSWIM.COM                       www.lin-mark.com

• So, on behalf of Chuck Nabit, Race Director and his staff . . .
  Good luck to all -- hope to see many of you "on the beach swim day."
  Be prepared for first class organization, presentation, swim safety and a day where all are winners in our eyes.

Be prepared, be safe, strong and always tri to keep it fun.  Reach out to a fellow swimmer who just might need the strength of his fellow competitors to realize . . . "I can do this."

Linda Toretsky,
Swim Processing Coordinator
The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim
June 14, 2009