RACE PLAN

The Sarasota YMCA Sharks Masters will host the 11th Annual Tropical Splash Open water event. The date for the race at this time is October 5, 2013. The races will be offered at three distances 1K, 2.5K, and 5K with male and female divisions. All races will be held within a rectangular course in the Gulf of Mexico at Siesta Key Public Beach. Pre race meetings will be held on the beach and post race activities will be held at the nearby gazebo area. Water safety will be provided by Sarasota County Lifeguard Service. The race will be officiated by Florida Swimming local officials.

Safety personnel will be located on the beach and in the water. Water safety personnel will be using rescue boards, kayaks, and a jetski. They will be positioned around the course in a method to provide adequate safety for swimmers as they move around the course. Safety personnel will be instructed on how to assist a distressed swimmer and trained medical personnel will be available to assist in emergency situations.

Swimmers will start the race on the beach and proceed into the water when the race starts. The start will be staggered to reduce the number of swimmers entering the water at one time. 2.5K and 5K swimmers will swim counterclockwise around a rectangular course marked with corner turn buoys and directional buoys between the turn buoys. The 2.5K swimmers will swim one lap around the course and the 5K swimmers will swim two laps around the course. The 1K swimmers will also start on the beach from the south end of the course and swim one-way north up the beach to the finish line. All swimmers in all races will finish in the same location crossing a finishing pad. The 5K swimmers will have a maximum of 2.5 hours to complete their swim. At that time, any swimmer who has not finished will be asked by course safety personnel to proceed to the beach and to the finish line to check in.

A timing chip system will be used on every swimmer to check them in at the start and record their finish. This provides an accounting system of each swimmer that entered the water and each swimmer that exited the water.

Prior to the race, a pre-race meeting will take place instructing each swimmer on the course layout, starting and finishing procedures, contingency plans, safety plans with instructions on how to ask for help on the course, and what to do if they abandon the race. A question and answer period is allotted so that each swimmer has the ability to get their questions answered. A course map will also be available for swimmers to view.

Each swimmer will be provided a colored swim cap based on their swimming distance and body marked with their swim number providing additional accountability means.

EMERGENCY PLAN:
1. Swimmer in distress: Swimmers in distress will be identified by support craft. Support craft personnel will alert SCLS personnel on the jetski by blowing a whistle until recognized. If the swimmer must be evacuated from the course, they will be loaded on the sled and brought to shore. Once on shore, the swimmer will be evaluated and treated if necessary by SCLS personnel. Swimmers requiring evacuation via ambulance will be transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital 5.67 miles from the race venue. Transit time is approximately 12 minutes.

2. Missing swimmer: Before the race begins, all swimmers will be checked in by crossing an electronic "finish pad" as they enter a holding area. They will be checked back in as they finish crossing the finish pad. Swimmers who abandon the race will be instructed to check in at the finish area by personnel on the beach. Cell phone number and emergency contact information will be gathered at registration for each swimmer. If a swimmer is determined missing, SCLS will follow protocol for said event.