Capitola to Twin Lakes Beach Long Distance Swim + Lunch

Time Line
8:30 AM Meet at Capitola Beach Esplanade
8:45 Shuttle some cars to the finish in Santa Cruz and prep standup paddle board support
9:30 Start swimming
11:30 Likely finished swimming before 11:30
11:40 Retrieve cars
12:00 noon Change, then lunch or a BBQ in Santa Cruz.

Requirements
+You MUST sign up at least 5 days in advance of the swim
+You should have swum a mile or more in the Ocean at least once this summer.
+You should have swum at least 4000 yards in one workout within the last month
+You should be in good swimming shape.

Instructions
Please bring:
Tow Buoy. You must bring and use a tow buoy. I have two extras if needed. Please let me know in advance. In your tow buoy you should carry at least $20, a credit card, your car keys and your phone – all inside a Ziploc plastic bag. You will need your phone if you pull out early:

• So that you can text others and let them know you are ok
• So you know where you are when you stop
• So you can let others know where you are if it turns out you will need someone to pick you up in a car

Two sets of dry clothes packed in a bag (not loose).

• Leave one at the start and put one in my truck that will be shuttled to the finish
• If you pull out of the swim early you will have dry clothes waiting for you at either end, and you can walk to whichever is easier to get to

- There is no formal support on this swim. If you are tired you will have to swim to shore and walk to either the start or the finish.

• If you do drop out early
• You must tell the group you are swimming with that you plan to go to shore
• You should work out whether it would be helpful to get an appropriate car key from one of the other swimmers so you will be able to access your dry clothes
• Your swim group should swim you to within 25 yards of shore and watch to make sure you get safely on to the beach. Once you are on the beach text the group chat and let everyone know what beach you stopped on, what your plans are, and keep us updated on your location. Turn your ringer on and answer your phone in case we need to call you later to make sure everything is ok or to see whether you need some help.

- Below is a map* of the swim route, good early pullout beaches along the way that have road access, and a note about which roads can be used to access each beach. Please look at this carefully before you go on the swim. Print it out and put a copy in your tow float Ziploc bag if you think it would be helpful.
- If you know ahead of time you do not want to do the entire distance you can still participate: Get a buddy to swim with and pick a closer beach to start from. We can pull into that beach on our way around and pick you up. Let me know if you are interested in a shorter route ahead of time and we can try to work out the details.
- There is not a lot of parking near Twin Lakes Beach in Santa Cruz. I have indicated a few parking areas on the 2nd map* below, as well as an area of some nearby city streets where I have been able to find parking in the past if the lots are full.
- Parking in Capitola could be tough. The 3rd map* below shows some nearby public parking areas, but on Saturday afternoon you may have to look for parking on some of the streets further away from the beach.
** Meetup won't let me include images in the email. Please see this event on Meetup to see the map.