c)  BAG DROP:  Tables will be set up near the restroom building for bag drop.  You will put any personal belongings in the plastic bags, write your name & race number on it.  They will be trucked back to the finish area.  They will be placed in rows just outside of the fenced finish area, usually on the first grassy parking medium.  Volunteers will be there to assist.

3.  The 4.4 swim finish is next to the Twin Bridges back on the eastern shores of the bay at Hemingway's Restaurant marina.  Small beach next to the Bay Bridge.

4.   The swim is point-to-point.  4.4 Miles from Sandy Point State Park to Hemingway's Restaurant marina on the eastern shores of the Bay Bridge.

•  Sandy Point State Park:
  1.  Once 4.4 swimmers arrive, they are to check in at the 4.4 swim packet tables.  It is about 100 yard walk+ from the parking lot drop off to the top of the hill on the sports field overlooking the bay.  White tents and tables will identify the area. 
  
  2.  Bag Drop: Closer to the parking lot area, and the restrooms, are swimmer tables with plastic bags and markers. 
      
  Write your name and race number on the bags - large print please.  Volunteers will place them on the truck to be brought back to the finish area.  Bags will be across from the food tables, usually in the first or second glassy parking medium directly out of the fenced-in swim finish enclosure.
  
  3.  4.4 Swim Check in tables will be in the following order:
       a)  By Swim Wave --  1  and Swim Wave 2
       b)  Cards will be placed in the roped approach line -- in alpha order.
       c)  When getting in your alpha line make sure you are in the correct
  wave check-in line:  By Wave 1 or Wave 2.
  
  4.  Please show the volunteer your mandatory photo I.D.  No photo I.D. -- No Swim.
  
  5.  You will be given your swim packets which contains:
       a)  Wave color coded and numbered swim cap
       b)  Coded Wining Time Computer Chip ANKLE BAND (coded to your assigned number)
       c)  Bib tyvek race number.
  
       aa)  Must wear your assigned swim cap.  The U.S. Coast Guard uses the swim cap and your assigned computer chip ankle band as personal i.d. should you need medical, personal or any other in-water i.d. 
       bb)  WinningTime Computer Chip Ankle Band:  May be word under or over your wetsuit pant leg, if you wear a full-body wetsuit.  The timing band is coded to all your personal race day data.
   
• Plus, it is used for I.D. check-in count when you enter onto the fenced swim beach.  Ground receive mats are placed at the entrance of the check-in fence.  When you exit the water at the swim finish, you run or walk over the finish line receive mats. 
• Note:  once you have done the beach check in, and walked over the ground receiver mats, you may not exit the swim-start beach area without reporting to the swim processing coordinator, Linda Toretsky.  Accountability of each and every swimmer must be strictly maintained!  Linda is on the beach during this entire process conducting the check-in and swim start.
  
       Not only does this process give you your swim finish time for scoring purposes, it is essential to the U.S. Coast Guard and Lin-Mark Computer Sports, in keeping an accurate count of all swim participants who enter and exit the water.
  
       The additional swim count is also included in the process when a swimmer has to be taken from the water for safety, medical or non-compliance reasons.  At that point, the swimmers numbered cap and WinningTime ankle band is removed and radioed in to timing central where a complete swimmers count is being kept.
  
       cc)  All swimmers will have their right hand marked to correspond with their race day number.
   
• Wave 1 -- Those who entered and stated it will take them a minimum of 2 1/2 hour or longer:  first start
• Wave 2 --  Those who entered as finishing under 2 1/2 hours.
• Waves start 15 minutes apart.
  
       Once in the water all swimmers fall under the final jurisdiction of U.S. Coast Guard, most importantly the large cutter which is fondly referred to as "Mother command com."  Mother command ship rules over the water and all in it.
  
       So, please be sure to follow all i.d. rules.  There are other swim rules posted below which are to be followed regarding course adherence and swim guidelines.

1. The 4.4 swim course is point-to-point.  From Sandy Point State park back to the eastern shores at Hemingway's Marina next to the twin bridges.

2.  Swim day instructions will strongly detail the buoy set up, and in water support.  But the basics are:
      a.  Once you round the "point" and head for the twin bridges, you must swim between the two bridge spans until you follow the exit buoy closer to the eastern shores.  If you do not or cannot stay on course between the two bridge spans -- you will be pulled from the swim by the in-water support team.
     b.   When the Time Line page is posted, it will contain each mile cut-off deadline time.  That is the time you must finish each mile or be pulled from the swim.
     c.   There will be drink/refreshment boats on the course.  You may stop at them and hold on while partaking.  But no forward progress is permitted.
     d.   Medical assistance is also on the course.  The Bay is closed to all in water traffice except for official race day support.  No spectator or swimmer support boats permitted!

3.  If you are  on the course past time specifications you will be given assistance to exit via the in water boats.  Do not resist, as it can result in permanent exclusion from ever participating in future swims.

4.  Should you require medical or physical assistance to stop --  please pump your arm and hand up and down and call for assistance.  Please realize that there will be an "armada" of in water support.  From kyaks to the U.S. Coast Guard cutter -- "mother ship."
No swimmer will ever be far from in-water suppport.

5.  Again, it is mandatory that you wear your assigned/numbered swim cap, timing chip ankle band.  In your packet will be a tyvek race number.  Remove the bottom tear-off strip.  It will have your personal data on it.  Fold the info. strip and place it on the top of your head under your swim cap. :

• Spectators
  1. Spectators who do drive to Sandy Point State Park, must pay the entrance fee.  Parking is limited!  Plus there can be a long delay on the bridge to return to the finish area back to the eastern shores and get to the parking area and Hemingway's Marina.  NO PETS PERMITTED ON PARK GROUNDS AT ALL -- NOT PERMITTED TO BE LEFT IN THE CAR!!  DO NOT BRING PETS ACROSS THE BRIDGE!!
• No spectators permitted on the swim start or finish area beaches.
• No spectators permitted inside the finish area fencing. 
• There will be ample spectator refreshments for sale back at the finish area, including music and a great viewing area on the bluff overlooking the bay and small finish beach.  You are welcome to bring your blankets, beach chairs, picnic baskets and be part of an awesome cheering, inspiring group of family and friends!

Thank you . . . Questions?
Please contact: Linda Toretsky, GCBS Swim Processing Coordinator
lindat@lin-mark.com                    Official Swim Site:  www.BAYSWIM.com