A sanctioned swim is completed following a set of rules and standards agreed to by the swimmer and the sanctioning organization. The swim is completed under the supervision of a trained observer who verifies and documents the integrity of the swim. ​

Trans-Monterey Bay Swims

Trans Monterey Bay Swim Route
A "bay swim" must have clearly defined boundaries for starting and ending a swim. Swimming from Santa Cruz to Marina, for example, would NOT qualify as a Monterey Bay crossing.

For the purposes of sanctioning and documenting swims across the Monterey Bay, the preferred route is harbor to harbor:

  • North End (Santa Cruz) - Harbor or Seabright Beaches (adjacent to SC Harbor)
  • South End (Monterey) - San Carlos Beach (adjacent to the Monterey Harbor)

​This course is 25 miles. 

10K Pier to Pier & 20K Pier to Pier to Pier

The Monterey Bay Swimming Association is available to support and observe one-way (10k) and two-way (20k) Pier to Pier swims. Although you can shorten this swim by following the coastline, sanctioned swims follow a standard, measurable, and repeatable course as defined below. Because of the distance between markers and variable conditions and weather, you should come prepared to swim a little extra and longer than expected by looking at the straight line distance of the route. Most swims end up covering a track of 6.2 to 7 miles per leg.
Route
Capitola Beach to SC3 Buoy to Mile Buoy to Cowell Beach (or vice versa).

25K Santa Cruz Wave Rider

The WaveRider swim is a round trip (two-leg) swim that begins in Capitola, Swims south o the SC3 Buoy, then west to the Waverider Buoy, then to Natural Bridges Beach, and returns to Capitola following the same route. Because of the distance between markers and variable conditions and weather, you should come prepared to swim a extra and longer than expected by looking at the straight line distance of the route. 
Route
Capitola Beach to SC3 Buoy to Waverider Buoy to Natural Bridges Beach, and returns following the same route. 
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