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The 2021 Beaufort River Swim is Expanding! It’s Now The:
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​June 11 & 12, 2021!
3 Challenges including Run/Swim/Run | Swim/Run | Relay
PLUS 3.2-Mile Competitive  Beaufort River Swim, Kid's Dash, 5K Road Race,  8K Road Race & 1-Mile Fun Run. Something for everyone!

Scroll down for more information & click the RACE INFO tab above to learn all the details!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE WARDLE FAMILY YMCA'S LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAM!

Interested in sponsoring the 2021 BRS +5K/8K? Please contact Denice Fanning, Event Director: d.fanning@wardlefamilyymca.org or call 843-521-1904.

Friday, June 11, 2021: Competitive and not so competitive fun begins at the Community Beer Garden/Sands Beach in Port Royal, SC.  With live music, food trucks, and plenty of libations including non – alcoholic beverages. Note that all participants will receive a race bag.

5:45pm: Kid's Dash (not timed). FREE! Our kick-off run is perfect for those who want to walk, kids of all ages (including families with strollers), and everyone who wants to burn come calories before having a libation. Note there is no registration. This is a free for-fun-only walk/run/skip event. Participants will NOT receive a bib or be timed in this event!

6pm: 8K Competitive Run through Port Royal. This is a stand- alone race as well as the first leg of the 2-day Challenge 1 and Challenge 3. All participants will receive (1) drink ticket. Note there is no same day registration- registration ends Wed., June  9.
Awards: Top Female & Male 8K winners plus top Age Group winners in the 8K will receive an award.
 
Saturday, June 12, 2021: Todays the day to hit the water! It’s the 15th Annual Beaufort River Swim! Meet at the downtown Beaufort marina parking lot which is the end point of both swims. This is the staging area for swim and run events today – please look for directional signage for check-in to receive your timing chip (3.2 mile swimmer and relay team participants only) and be marked up. Parking is free until 12 noon.

Check-in begins at 6am and the 3.2-mile competitive swim starts at 7:15 am with the Fun Swim starting at approximately 7:45 am. Please click Race Info tab above for additional details regarding check in.

YMCA staff will transport via bus all swimmers to their respective starting points (Safe Harbor Port Royal Marina for the 3.2-Mile swimmers and the BMH dock for the 1-Mile fun swimmers).  YMCA staff will bring your numbered race bag BACK to the downtown marina parking lot where you can retrieve it by your race number (please do not leave valuables in your race bag!)

Note that there is no same registration – registration ends Thursday, June 10, 2021. The Fun Swim is NOT timed so you will not receive a timing chip but you are required to be marked with your number and wear the swim cap in your race bag.  3.2-Mile competitive swimmers will receive a timing chip, be marked with your number and also wear  the swim cap supplied in your race bag.

3.2 Mile Swimmers: You must swim up to, onto and run/walk up the boat ramp and over the timing mat to finish the race!
If you are participating in Challenge 1, 2 or 3 your 5K run starts immediately after the 3.2-Mile Swim. There will be a transition area marked with signage adjacent to the swim finish.

There will also be a portable shower area, small towels and water available for all swimmers adjacent to the swim finish line.
Both swims will be WITH the tide (not against it!). Large yellow buoys will mark the swim route and the finish at the boat ramp is marked with a large string of pool ‘noodles’ as well as event safety personnel on SUP, kayaks and lifeguards on the day dock.

5K Run: UPDATE! We have added a stand-alone 5 K running race on Sat., June 12. You can sprint, you can jog or you can walk this 5K and enjoy the scenery as you leave the park, traverse Bay Street, cross the Woods swing bridge down to Meridian Road, turn around and return the way you came. All participants will receive a race bag!
NOTE THAT THERE IS NO SAME REGISTRATION FOR ANY OF OUR EVENTS ON EITHER DAY

Awards: 
Award presentation will be held on June12 at the downtown marina parking lot area immediately after the 5K ends.
3.2 Mile Beaufort River Swim: Top Female & Male finishers plus top age group finishers
5K Road Race:  Top Female & Male finishers plus top age group finishers
Challenge 1 (8K/3.2-Mile Swim/5K): Top Female & Male finishers plus top age group finishers
Challenge 2 (3.2-Mile Swim/5K): Top Female & Male finishers plus top age group finishers
Challenge 3 (Relay 8K/3.2-Mile Swim/5K): Top 3 Teams 

History:

5K running race on Saturday, The Beaufort River Swim+5K is quickly becoming a Beaufort and Lowcountry tradition. The River Swim began in 2006 as a way to promote the sport of swimming while the Local Water Festival was occurring. It quickly began to take shape as an event all of its own! The YMCA took charge of the event and hosted it to start 2008. While initially the competitive swim had two different lengths, we realized that having everyone swim the same distance and start together was much more clear and fun for the competitors. 

The competitive event is now set as a 3.2-Mile Open water swim along the shoreline of Beaufort, highlighting the natural beauty of the area. And back again is the 1-Mile 'Fun Swim" which will start at the Beaufort Memorial Hospital dock. This is a great opportunity to experience what swimming in open water is like or just kick back and enjoy the scenic view of Beaufort from the water.

In 2020 we added a running race to our popular open water swim event upping the ante for competitive athletes, biathletes and triathletes! For 2021 events we have expanded into a 2-day event with the addition of the 8K and Fun Run on Friday, June 11 and creating 3 Challenges to test athletes as they competed in Run/Swim\Run Challenge, Swim/Run Challenge and 3-person Relay Team Challenge. Plus keeping our individual competitive 8K running race, 5K running race on Saturday, 3.2-Mile Beaufort River Swim and non-competitive 1-mile Fun Swim.

Please join us and be a part of this great event and help us towards our goal of being safe around the water and learning to swim!

Proceeds of the Beaufort River Swim Benefit Our Learn to Swim Program:

 Last year we raised over $15,000 at the Beaufort River Swim. Individuals who wouldn't have the access or means to learn to swim are able to, through generous donations and support from individuals like you. In addition to support from the River Swim, our own scholarship program and outside grants such as the Y-USA Safety Around the Water grant, allowed over 900 individuals to be positively impacted through swim lessons and aquatic programming and education at the Y.  In 2019 the Y taught over 900 kids and adults to swim!

Swimmers of all levels participate in the River Swim: triathletes, recreational lap swimmers and competitive age group swimmers. The swimming portion of the race starts at Port Royal Landing Marina, travels around the bend, passes the Hospital, and finishes at the Boat Ramp at the corner of the Downtown Marina, adjacent to Waterfront Park. The *NEW* 5K portion of our event takes place in downtown Beaufort starting at the Downtown Waterfront Park after the swim portion of the race, crossing the Woods Bridge, taking a right on Meridian Road, turning around at approximately 1/2 mile and repeating the same course back to the finish. NOTE: 5K LAND RACE IS PART OF THE BRS,  BUT ONLY IN COMBINATION WITH EITHER SWIM OR RELAY TEAM! THE ONLY STAND-ALONE RUNNING RACE IS THE 8K ON FRIDAY, JUNE 11.
 
The YMCA is a not for profit organization promoting youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The organization is overseen by a  volunteer board of directors within the community. 

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