Registration is Open for Friends 2018 Power Swim

The Friends of VI National Park is pleased to announce that despite Hurricanes Irma and Maria the swim will be held on Sunday, May 27, 2018 in the crystal clear waters along the spectacular north shore of St. John, US Virgin Islands.

However, due to the impacts of the September hurricanes to the island, the park, and the beaches, there will be a modified format this year. Most significantly, there will be just two courses and they will both start and finish at Trunk Bay. We fully expect to return to the usual format in 2019.

Both races of the Power Swim will follow roughly circular courses swum in a counter-clockwise direction that start and finish at Trunk Bay Beach. There will be two simultaneous events:

  • The Short Course (approximately 1 mile) will be within Trunk Bay
  • The Long Course (approximately 2 miles) will go out and around Johnson’s Reef and then back to the starting point.

In each of the events, swimmers may compete using snorkels, fins, and/or exposure suits in a separate category of “assisted” swimmers. However, swim paddles, webbed (training) gloves and other swim aides are not permitted. There will not be relay teams this year.

Registration opened on March 12thPlease note that this year there are again reduced registration fees for swimmers 17 years and younger; as well as reduced registration fees for early registration (thru May 4th).

Please be aware that accommodation on St. John is severely limited since the storms. The largest hotels, Cannel Bay Resort and the Westin Resort and Villas, as well as the Cinnamon Bay Campground and Resort are closed. Race participants coming from beyond St. John or St. Thomas are strongly advised to secure accommodation before registering for the event or booking air travel.

Please visit our website at https://friendsvinp.org/events/swim for complete information on this event and to register. The website also has a list of hotels and villa rental companies that are open and offering discounts for race participants and their companions. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.

You can also register:

  • By phone by calling 340-779-4940
  • Or in person on:
  • St. John at The Friends of the Park Stores in Mongoose Junction, or at Connections in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay
  • St. Thomas at Caribbean Surf Co. in Havensight or Red Hook
  • St. Croix at SCUBA in Christiansted

Registration will be limited this year to just 200 swimmers so register early to avoid disappointment.