To help make your day more enjoyable, please read the following important information.

Check-in begins at 7:00 a.m.
in front of the South End Club , 500 Jefferson Street.

Photo ID All race participants MUST bring a photo ID or copy of a photo ID. No Exceptions.

During Check-in
you will receive a yellow swim cap, a timing chip and your event t-shirt. Wetsuit swimmers will be given one personal effects bag. Skin swimmers will be given two personal effects bags. We ask that wetsuit swimmers walk to the boat "swim ready", Skin swimmers can use the second personal effects bag to put clothes in after walking to the boat. We will bring these bags back to the Swim Bag area after the boat leaves the dock.

Once you have checked in
A volunteer will body mark you hands with your race number and give you a bag tag(s) marked with your swim number to place on your personal effects bag.

Once you have been body marked-get ready to swim.
Place all your personal effects in the bag you were given during Check-in, put the numbered tag on the bag and take it to the area under a sign labeled Swim Bags located behind the Check-In area. Your personal effects are stored in a numbered spot and monitored by volunteers during the swim. You will return to this area after the swim to retrieve your personal effects.

Mandatory Orientation Briefing at 8:30 a.m.
We shut down check-in and hold a mandatory orientation during which we cover information that is absolutely essential to complete the swim.

8:45 a.m. A bagpiper will begin playing
he will lead down Jefferson St. you as you walk the short 3 blocks to the Blue & Gold Ferry. Bags & Personal Gear Wetsuit racers board the Blue & Gold Ferry "race-ready," i.e. nothing brought onto the ferry is returned to Aquatic Park (hint: you may want to buy a cheap pair of $1.99 flip flops for the walk to the Ferry though many people simply go bare foot.If you are a “naked” swimmer (not wearing a wetsuit), we provide a bag for the “stuff” you wear on the Blue & Gold Ferry & want brought back to Aquatic Park.

At 9:30 a.m., the Ferry departs for Alcatraz. WILL YOU BE THE ONE?
Unlike other races, our timetable is set in concrete to take maximum advantage of the tidal currents. We do not jeopardize the race start for 599 others because you are late. Believe us! There is always one of you. If you are not in the check-in line by 8:00 a.m. you likely will not have sufficient time to get checked in, get body marked, put your personal effects in the Swim Bag Area, use the restroom facilities and be ready for the 8:30 a.m. orientation and 8:45 a.m. departure for the ferry.

Alcatraz Arrival
The Blue & Gold Ferry arrives at Alcatraz Island at 9:45 a.m. and stops 100 yards southeast of the Rock.

Water Entry & Start
Once the ferry is in position we open the doors and signal the start of the swim by a loud blast of the ships horn.

600 swimmers must enter the water in the space of 5-7 short minutes
via two doors on either side of the Blue & Gold Ferry. This requires that you jump 3 at a time from each door. Once you reach the exit door, jump quickly and swim immediately away from the ferry so the next swimmers may jump. Your timing chip will be activated as you go out the door. However if you are highly competitive swimmer you need to be among the first off the boat because the moment the doors go open the Captain is required to shut down the engine and the boat begins to drift east, so the longer you stay on the boat the farther away from the finish line you will be.

Route and Current.
The day before the event, we do a test swim to pick the best race day route so what follows is the best advice we can give you at the moment until we can complete the test swim. Start off sighting at the grey merchant ship the Jeremiah O’Brien. (Don’t worry; we point it out to you on the ferry ride out to Alcatraz.) The current will first push you slightly east (to your left) – this is what is supposed to happen – do NOT compensate by swimming west (to your right). Somewhere between half way and two thirds of the way across, the current gradually shifts, carrying you west (to your right) so you want to make sure that you are east (to the left) of the opening to Aquatic Park at all times. If you get off course, our kayakers and rowers will direct you. Please follow their directions. If you are lagging behind, or have been caught in a bad current, we will reposition you to a better location. We only do this if we know for certain that you will be unable to complete the swim because of your position. Please don’t argue or resist. Your SAFETY is our utmost concern in taking these actions. To help you identify the opening to Aquatic Park, we place a huge yellow buoy there but remember always aim east of the opening and buoy since the current will be carrying you west as you get closer. Once you reach the Opening, you are almost there – you have about another 400 yards to swim to the finish.

Safety / Problems
If you find yourself in trouble in the water, wave an arm over your head and a kayaker or rower will come to the assist. Hold onto the front or back - NOT the middle - until motorized help comes to your aid. There are plenty of motorized craft on the course. You are permitted to re-enter the water later if you so choose. One Final Tip-Based on our experience over the years, the single most difficult part of the Alcatraz swim is all the negative worrying that you are doing right now. Once you jump in the water, you are going to have the time of your life. We encourage all swimmers to stop for 10 seconds half way across and really take in where you are. Look to your left where you’ll see the Oakland hills. Look to your right at the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge gleaming in the sunlight. Look behind you at Alcatraz and know that you are doing what many once considered impossible. Then look at the unique San Francisco skyline, put you head down and swim for home. It’s a mental video you’ll keep for the rest of your life!

After the Swim.
You will proceed through the timing chute where you will receive your Finisher Medal. Please proceed to the grassy area where volunteers will help you retrieve your personal effects stored under you swim number.

Breakfast / Brunch
will be served around 11 am.

Awards ceremony
will begin around 11:30 am. This year we are giving out awards for 1-3 Men and Woman's wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions as well as age-group awards.
We hope you have a good swim! See you September 18th!