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Swim Day Information for Guests

WEATHER

If the weather seems uncertain:

check this website
call the Hospicare answering service at 607-272-0212

Regardless of the conditions, we hope you will join us for the onshore celebration and usual activities. There is no rain date.

PARKING

Parking for swimmers and guests will be at Union Fields at Cass Park - just 5 minutes by car to the Ithaca Yacht Club (IYC). Shuttle buses will ferry folks back and forth throughout the morning. Boaters will receive parking passes to park at the IYC. Boaters may also paddle to the IYC from other launching points if they wish.

If desired, swimmers can be dropped off directly at the IYC, with cars continuing to Union Fields to park.

Directions to Union Fields at Cass Park

From the northeast: take 13 south to 89 north
From the southeast: take 96B north to downtown Ithaca, turn left at Buffalo St. and turn right on 89 north
From the east: take 79 west to 13 north and turn left on Buffalo St. to 89 north
From the southwest: take 34, 96 or 13 north to 89 north
From the northwest: take 96 east to 89 north
From the west: take 79 east to 89 north

Cass Park is 0.7 miles north on 89 from the bridge over the Cayuga Lake inlet. Note that 13 separates into two roads, one way north and one way south, within the Ithaca City limits.

Union Fields is on the left immediately to the south of the Cass Park skating rink on 89. There will be white signs with purple lettering marking the parking lot.

Swimmers will not be able to park at the IYC because the limited parking there is reserved for the flotilla of boats and kayaks needing access to the water for unloading their boats.

The Glenwood Pines Restaurant on 89 has kindly offered to make their lower parking lot available to participants and spectators. Please use caution when walking down to the IYC.

TIMELINE FOR THE MORNING OF THE SWIM

6:00 am       Wave 1 swimmers park at Union Fields at Cass Park
6:15 am       Swimmers gather for check-in, pod line-up, pre-swim briefing at IYC
6:25 am       Wave 1 swimmers board boats

7:00 am       Wave 2 swimmers park at Union Fields at Cass Park
7:15 am       Swimmers gather for check-in, pod line-up, pre-swim briefing at IYC
7:25 am       Wave 2 swimmers board boats


7:30 -
10:30 am       Swimmers arrive at IYC and exit via dock

BREAKFAST

A delicious breakfast will be provided by Ithaca Bakery and is free to swimmers, boaters, and volunteers and will be served from 7:00 am throughout the morning to the accompanying music of the Yardvarks. Breakfast may be enjoyed by spectators for a suggested donation of $5.

RAFFLE

To add to the excitement of this year's swimming event, we will be hosting a raffle for a Prijon Motion Kayak with Werner Skigit Paddle generously donated by Puddledockers. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Ticket sales will open at 7:00 am and conclude when the last swimmer comes ashore. Drawing takes place post-swim and you need not be present to win.

CLOSING CEREMONY

Once all the swimmers have arrived, there will be a closing ceremony which will include announcements of prize winners, the raffle winner and thanks to all those who made the event possible.

Safety

Please review the following documents:

Event Safety Plan (PDF: 232K)

Swimmer/Boater Safety Procedures (PDF: 211K)

One of our past swimmers, Alanna Downey Fontanella, recently attended the Island Fitness Swim Clinic with Sue Norberg. She has participated in the last 6 Women Swimmin' events. Please see her advice on our blog.

Other News

This year there will be no rain date. To ensure that the event remains safe and fun for all, we rely on the help of more than 200 volunteers and many other important support services. Given that we are unable to ensure full participation of all the volunteers and services vital to the safety of the event on two consecutive days, we are planning some fun on-site activities should the swim be cancelled because of unsafe swimming conditions. Such conditions might include lightning, severe wind, or very choppy water (rather than light rain). Please check this website often as the summer progresses for updates about the plans.

ALTERNATIVE SWIM PLANS

We are humbled and very touched by the following supporters of Hospicare...Thank you for your creativity and generosity!

Denny Grout, a past swimmer, plans to swim 1.2 miles in her pond and ask friends to support her swim.
Kirsten Miller, who in the future has plans to walk 1.2 miles with her young son to raise funds for Hospicare.
Several other women have contacted us to say they plan to fundraise in lieu of swimming this year.

If you plan on doing something to support Hospicare, please let us know so that we can formally thank you and recognize your outstanding efforts! Contact info@womenswimmin.org with the following information: Your name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, and a brief description of what you're planning to do. Using this information, we can create a personal page to facilitate online fundraising. What a truly amazing community we live in.

Warm thanks!

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