Hammerhead Ocean Swim (Jax Beach) - Swimmer Escorts

Hammerhead Ocean Swim Escort – Jacksonville Beach

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Join us at sunrise on the beach for this annual event. We'll launch directly from the beach and head to the starting positions to escort the swimmers along the race courses. Please provide me with your preferred T-Shirt size!

Skill Level: intermediate - must be comfortable with sea swells and 2-3 foot wind waves, bracing and be willing to assist swimmers in need with your kayak

NOTE: The race course map above is from a previous year and is subject to change. It is shown just to give everyone an idea about how they race 5Ks along the beach! Those red things are swans.

Time on the water: usually 3-4 hours

More details:

1. in the water time - 7 am
2. very cool looking T-shirts for all the kayaker escorts! So I'll need the shirt size for those attending
3. meet in the parking lot on 1st Avenue S. – 1 block south of Beach Blvd.
4. launch from the beach just over the boardwalk from the parking lot
5. at 7:30 am we’ll paddle to the assigned buoys
6. all three races will start simultaneously at 8 am
7. after the last swimmer has finished we'll practice surf re-entries, wet exits and surf crashing exits too! Once we exit the water we plan to have brunch somewhere

Note: if the surf is too rough we won't risk our paddlers' safety on a risky day - no one is obligated to launch if they are uncomfortable with the conditions. Usually in August the seas are flat with a small, slow sea swell rolling onto the low tide beach. Bring your cameras for sunrise and on the water photos.

Our objective: keep the swimmers from venturing out too far, assist anyone that needs to rest or get helped to shore - be sure to instruct anyone you help to grab the nose of your boat (not the cockpit where you are!)