2023 - Swim Hobbs Island

2 mile

This is a two mile out and back that will start just south of the Ditto Landing Marina along the Tennessee River Greenway starting just after the 5 mile swim start. Swimmers will enter the water via a boat ramp on the shoreline. Swimmers will swim upstream approximately 1 mile and then turn around. The finish location will be the same as the start. Because the first mile is against the river current, this swim will take longer than a typical two mile swim in the pool. Please be aware that this is NOT an event for beginner swimmers. You should be able to swim 2.5 miles continuously in a pool before tackling this 2 mile event. Two categories of swimmers are available, WETSUIT and NON-WETSUIT. FOR NON-WETSUIT CATEGORY: Rules are the same as the 5 mile swim rules above. FOR WETSUIT CATEGORY: you MAY wear a wetsuit or swimskin with a zipper or fastener; however, for safety reasons, pull buoys, webbed gloves, fins, snorkels, or audio players are not allowed. BOTH CATEGORIES: Safety equipment such as NewWave Swim Buoy are allowed, but no self-inflating devices such as the “Swim-It” and no pull buoys. You may touch or hang onto a kayak for safety with no penalty against awards, but making forward progress with a kayak will be grounds for disqualification. No touching other people other than incidental contact unless for safety reasons.

5 mile

This is a five mile circumnavigation of Hobbs Island that will start just south of the Ditto Landing Marina along the Tennessee River Greenway. Swimmers will enter the water via a boat ramp on the shoreline and will swim clockwise around Hobbs Island and finish at the same location as the start. Because the first few miles are against the river current, this swim will take longer than a typical 5 mile swim in the pool. FOR EVERYONE: NO WETSUITS ALLOWED. FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS: NO SUITS WITH A ZIPPER OR FASTENER. NO DEVICES OR SUBSTANCES that aid speed, pace, navigation, buoyancy, or endurance (such as pull buoys, webbed gloves, fins, snorkels, audio players, etc.). No tape on the body unless approved by the referee. You CAN use personal safety buoys such as New Wave Swim Buoys but not instant self-inflating equipment such as the “Swim-It”. Medical identification items may be worn. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT CARE ABOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS, you MAY wear a suit with a zipper or fastener; however, for safety reasons, the other items discussed above are still not allowed (no pull buoys, webbed gloves/fins/snorkels/ audio players, etc). FOR EVERYONE: You may touch or hang onto a kayak for safety with no penalty against awards, but making forward progress with a kayak will be grounds for disqualification from awards. No touching other people other than incidental contact unless for safety reasons. Have your kayaker carry hydration and nutrition, and also carry extra nutrition with your kayaker in case this swim takes longer than you planned. The 5 mile time cutoff is the tip of the island at 3.5 hrs or 12 noon and finish by 5 hrs or 1:30 pm.

1 mile

This is a one mile out and back that will start just south of the Ditto Landing Marina along the Tennessee River Greenway starting just after the 2 mile swim start. Swimmers will enter the water via ramps on the shoreline. Swimmers will proceed upstream 0.5 mile and then turn around at the turnaround buoy. The finish location will be the same as the start. Because the first half mile is against the river current, this swim will take longer than a typical one mile swim in the pool. Two categories of swimmers are available, WETSUIT and NON-WETSUIT. FOR NON-WETSUIT CATEGORY: Rules are the same as the 5 mile swim rules above. FOR WETSUIT CATEGORY: you MAY wear a wetsuit or swimskin with a zipper or fastener; however, for safety reasons, pull buoys, webbed gloves, fins, snorkels, or audio players are not allowed. BOTH CATEGORIES: Safety equipment such as NewWave Swim Buoy are allowed, but no self-inflating devices such as the “Swim-It” and no pull buoys. You may touch or hang onto a kayak for safety with no penalty against awards, but making forward progress with a kayak will be grounds for disqualification. No touching other people other than incidental contact unless for safety reasons.

5 mile kayaker

General Kayaker