Race Day Details for the Madrona Course (updated July 23, 2025) 

Check-In/Finish: Madrona Park Beach 853 Lake Washington Blvd.

1. The New Course: This year's course will start at Day Street, just like in past years. Just like the traditional course, you will go north for about two miles. You then make a broad U-turn and head back south for about a mile. At the finish line buoy, turn right to the swimming beach and the inflatable finish arch.  We'll share this information with you at the pre-race briefing on Saturday. Here is a link to the new course. Don't worry, north-bound and south-bound swimmers will not be as close to each other at the turn as they might look to be on the map. 

2. WATER AND WIND: On Tuesday afternoon, the water temp at the measurement buoy was 72 degrees. And Windy predicts winds from the south. 

3.    WHAT TO BRING AND GEAR TRANPORT: This may seem obvious, but just in case: make a checklist or pack your bag ahead of time so you don't forget anything. Swimsuit, goggles, wetsuit (if applicable), body-glide, towel, warm clothes, hat, gloves for before and after (even if the weather is warm, being in the water for a while will lower your body temp), water bottle, pre-race food etc. We encourage everyone to hydrate before you swim! Eat if you need to eat. Anything else? Put it on your list, you might not be quite awake when it's time to go on Saturday. USMS rules govern this race — the following equipment is NOT ALLOWED: fins, pull buoy, paddles, snorkel, floating buoy, music player, etc. (Sport watches are okay.) Please note you will get a plastic bag with your swimmer number at check-in for putting your shoes and clothing items you wear to the start of the race. A truck will transport these from the start to the finish line.  Please avoid bringing unnecessary valuables to the event. There will be complimentary food, snacks, and drinks for all participants at Madrona Park after you complete your swim.

4. TIME SCHEDULE: Please be on time. Seriously. Plan for WSDOT’s I-5 closures (yes, they may affect us, even that early in the morning). If you are late, you likely won’t be able to participate. Here’s the timeline for the morning:

  • 6:00 – Check-in opens (look for table with your wave number)

  • 7:00 – Check-in closes

  • 7:05 - Mandatory Safety Meeting

  • 7:20 - CARPOOL to the start line at the Day Street Boat Ramp: 1402 Lakeside Ave S

  • 8:00 – Wave 1 lines up for the count-in (by order of number on hand)

  • 8:15 - 1st wave starts!

  • 8:18 - 2nd wave starts

  • 8:21 - 3rd wave starts

  • 8:24 - 4th wave starts

  • 8:27 - 5th wave starts

  • 9:45 - Preliminary Results Posted (and available online)

  • 10:10-10:45 - Awards and Drawings (approximate)

5.    TRAVEL, TRAFFIC & PARKING: Give yourself plenty of time to travel and park. There is a large parking lot to the south of Madrona Beach. There is also street parking along Lake Washington Blvd south of the park, and some street parking in the neighborhood streets going west off of Lake Washington Blvd. NOTE the I-5 Closures this weekend.

6.    WAVE NUMBERS AND AGE/WETSUIT DIVISIONS: See Wave Assignments. It also includes information on your planned wetsuit vs. no wetsuit division, sex, and age as of December 31, 2025, per USMS Open Water competition rules. Please note that Wave 1 is the slowest wave by design to reduce the spread of swimmers along the length of the course for safety purposes. For those who provided input on wave placement during the registration process, we did our best to accommodate many of these requests especially for those of you wanting to swim in same heat with a friend/family member. We kindly request that you do not request wave number changes at this point, and we can no longer accommodate any such requests. The waves are also only 3 minutes apart and everyone has 2 hours to complete the swim.

7.    WETSUIT and NON-WETSUIT DIVISION DEFINITION/CHANGES: Are you in the right wetsuit or non-wetsuit category?  We have gotten a few questions about what is considered a wetsuit (neoprene shorts for example). The US Masters Swimming Rule Book section for Open Water Events is strict about what qualifies as "non-wetsuit". Article 303.4 says Category I Swimwear (non-wetsuit) can only include "a swimsuit, cap or caps [including neoprene], and goggles". If it doesn't fit Category I then it is Category II - wetsuit. You can change your wetsuit or non-wetsuit division on race day (do not request this via email at this point). FIRST check in at your wave table, THEN GO TO THE CHANGE TABLE where you will complete the change. 

8.    TRANSPORTATION TO THE START OF THE RACE: We ask that everyone work together to help get everyone to the start and we have never had a problem with this in the past. The address of the start is 1402 Lakeside Ave S. Plan on street parking. Watch for cyclists when opening doors as this is a popular bike route. If you or a family member or friend can drive you and others to the start, please fill up your car with people needing a ride or get a ride in another car if you can’t fill yours.  At the end of the safety briefing, we will encourage drivers and riders to meet up.  We also have some volunteers who have offered to drive swimmers to the start.  Of course, Uber and Lyft can be an option as well.  After the swim if you can offer a ride to swimmers who drove to the start to retrieve their car, they would especially appreciate it. The carpool from Madrona will be much easier than from Madison.

9.  TIMING and SWIMMER CHECK-IN/OUT OF WATER – We are serious about accounting for every swimmer in/out of the water.  Please be patient and prepare to show your swimmer- number marked on your hands to our volunteers before you enter the water.  We will line you up by wave and then by swimmer number to make this as quick as possible at the start.  At the finish, please do not try to run/rush through the finish.  We have volunteers who need to get your number before you pass them so we have an accurate time and so you marked as “out of the water”.  NEW THIS YEAR: We have switched to chip timing. Volunteers will remove your ankle strap (chip) after you exit the water.  If you arrive by a support boat, ensure the swimmer check-in/out volunteers know you have returned. (Please affix your chip outside your wetsuit)

10.    PULLING SWIMMERS & TIME LIMITS: Maintaining everyone's safety is key so we need to keep you bunched together and within a certain distance from a lifeguard.  Those who are not on track to finish the race in 2 hours (e.g. not past 1.5-mile mark in one hour) will be asked to get out of the water onto one of our support boats (they have snacks for you by the way!) If we need to pull you, please don't argue.  Anyone behind the cutoffs jeopardizes the safety of the event and limits our ability to bring this event to you again next year.   

11. TROUBLE ON THE COURSE: We certainly hope you won't have any, but just in case...UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYONE SWIM TO THE SHORE AND GO HOME.   If you can’t finish, please flag a guard or kayak to be pulled onto a motorboat.  Of course, if you’re closer to shore than to help, and can’t wait for a guard, then swim to shore.  But if you do, make sure you notify someone once you are safe. Otherwise, we’ll have no idea that you’ve left and will see yourself on the evening news as missing. Most likely, a lifeguard or boat will be much closer to you than the shore. 

12.  T-SHIRTS, HOODIES & OTHER MERCHANDISE– Your event t-shirt in the size you ordered will be provided to you at check-in.   If you want to substitute a different size, you can check after your swim to see if your alternate size is still available.  Pre-ordered hoodies must be picked up at the Merchandise Table. We will have some other cool Fat Salmon merchandise (3.2 Fat Salmon Car Decals, Current and Past Year shirts and hoodies, etc.) available at the event so check it out.

13.  DRAWING FOR PRIZES– Enter your name at the event for various cool swim accessory prizes.  Must be present to get prize. Anchorhead Coffee, and Sylvia’s Sport and Resort, and Wild Waves (home of the Quackpacker!) have donated fabulous items for the drawings.  All-in-all, almost $500 worth of swim gear.

14.  REFUNDS & SUBSTITUTIONS - When you registered, you agreed to a non-refundable, non-transferable, non-deferrable entry to this year’s race.  We’re so sorry if you are unable to swim for any reason but there are no refunds or substitutions. The costs to run this event are very high and refunds/deferrals/substitutions jeopardize the financial ability to continue to run this event. If you are able, please consider coming to volunteer or cheer on others; you can still pick up your cap and T-shirt too.

15.  LATE / DAY OF RACE REGISTRATION – The race is fully subscribed. I’m afraid we won’t be able to offer race-day registration.

16.  THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS – In addition to the months of planning efforts of the NEO Swim Team volunteer planning committee, we have over 80 other volunteers that help do things the day of the event.   If you have a chance to thank some of our volunteers, please do so!

17.  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS – The financial and in-kind support of our sponsors/supporters subsidizes the substantial costs of putting on this event.  Our supporting sponsors this year are: Blue70, Gentle Giant Moving Company, Wild Salmon Seafood Market, New Roots Organics, Joe Nabbefeld, Sylvia’s Sport & Resort, and Anchorhead Coffee. Please support these businesses and let them know you appreciate their support of Fat Salmon! https://fatsalmonswim.com/sponsors. If you have time, also check out the fantastic eateries and shops in Leschi, or stop by E. Madison St. and Madison Park on your way home. The beach might be closed, but the food and atmostphere is still great!