Water will be 59-62 F on race day, and even if you have not been swimming in cold water before, a full wetsuit and a neoprene hood will more than make it tolerable. Cold, but tolerable. It will help if you’ve had a chance to acclimate some to the water before race day. So get out there and go on some open water swims in Aquatic Park with GGTC, Swim Art, or Pedro Ordenes.
The water feels cold for a few minutes, especially the face, hands, and feet, but your body adapts in a few minutes and that initial shock wears off so you are able to swim comfortably. Silicon earplugs will also help keep you feeling warm by blocking the cold water from inside your ear, and may keep you from feeling dizzy when you get out (if that’s something you’re prone to). Be sure to try the earplugs out before race day!
If you’re worried about the water temperature, a thermal cap is a must-have, and does as much (if not more) to keep you warm than your wetsuit. Buy one and wear your wave-coded latex cap over it. Latex and silicone swim caps have virtually no insulating properties.
The race is planned for slack tide, turning to an ebb, so that the water will be moving east to west out of the bay. This will help push you toward your swim exit at Yacht Harbor which is west of the jump. Check the internet for tide and current tables to get a picture of what will be going on the day and time of the race. But, note that waves and other conditions cannot be fully predicted by the tides, wind, or other items. Days with identical tidal profiles (and even weather conditions) can have flat water – or two- to three-foot whitecaps that kick the crap out of you! Watch the GGTC email list for pre-race test swim results, too - the tides and conditions will be reported and will give you an idea what to expect on race day.
Wear your wetsuit (up to the waist) on the bus (body glide yourself on shore and leave it behind), hold your swim caps, goggles and earplugs in a bag, and wear throw-away socks or flip-flops on your feet. You won't have to change on the boat, and you won't have to pick up your stuff later. Body glide can be borrowed if extra is required while waiting. Bring a bottle of WATER with you to drink from on the boat. It will be hot inside the boat, and you should be hydrating anyway. It you lose the bottle, no big deal.
Get in the boat line EARLY to get on the boat early and relax. On the boat trip to Alcatraz, look back to get your bearings and what landmarks you are going to sight on.
When you put on your goggles, put them under your colored swim cap. They are harder to knock off if someone accidentally swims over you or bumps you. Place your hand gently over your goggles when jumping in to hold them onto your face.
When you jump off the boat it is going to be COLD and quite a shock. It is every time. Just realize that the initial sensation will go away soon. After you jump, IMMEDIATELY move away from the boat so the next person doesn’t jump on top of you.
When you first jump in you feel the adrenaline rush, but stay calm. Get into your relaxed swim stroke, breathe, relax, get into your stroke, relax, breathe (see the mantra?). There is an initial "holy $!!#$!##" for the first timer (and even second timer) and then a rush of fear, disorientation and more fear. However, you’ll be fine! Just relax, swim your stroke, and stay on course. If you stay focused on your stroke, breathe, relax, focus on navigation the other negative thoughts will disappear. The harder you try, the slower you go. So RELAX!
Once you get out there, take a minute to enjoy the scenery from out in the middle of the bay. Very few people get to enjoy this unique view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s exhilarating!
TIP: Never have oatmeal for breakfast!!! Oatmeal + saltwater = Metamucil.
If the water is choppy, you’ll probably need a higher arm recovery to clear the waves. If you have the ability to breathe on both sides, choose the side that keeps the waves from slamming into your face. Otherwise, you may need to use an exaggerated roll. In any case, try to time your breathing between the waves.
You CANNOT swim a straight line to the swim exit, especially if you are a slower swimmer. Because the tide will be turning into an ebb, you will need to compensate by navigating slightly EAST (i.e., left) of the Yacht Club. How much you’ll have to do this will depend on conditions on race day. Stay in the middle of the pack with swimmers on both sides and you'll be just fine.
Expect the field to spread out a lot more than other triathlons, as people fan out in different directions. It can be difficult to find someone to draft behind. Have a plan for landmarks to sight. The “shortest distance between two points is not a straight line” in this event. The swim course rewards those who are patient.
Sighting Tips: Start by heading straight for San Francisco. Sight to Fontana Towers, the two big towers over Aquatic Park. Once you can see both towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, head toward Fort Mason (the yellow buildings). Once you can see the Palace of Fine Arts (the big brown dome), head straight toward it. This will bring you directly to the Yacht Club. The slower you are, the more you should cheat EAST (left). Don’t worry, the current will help bring you to the right spot. You DON’T want to be fighting that current to get back to the beach at the Yacht Club, however!
Slower swimmers - Yes, you want most of the people on your right side while swimming, but you STILL will want people to your left, because there will be a few who don't have a clue where they are going, are overly conservative, or just can't swim straight. You are smart to keep 1/2 or 2/3 of the swimmers to your right for the first 1/2 of the swim to get you across the channel, as some of them will definitely overshoot the exit and be in real trouble.
If you cross the channel extra fast, stay a minimum of 200 yards off shore, preferably 250 to stay in the faster moving waters and avoid any minor eddies that may be spinning around.
Once you are about 150-100 yards from the swim exit, swim perpendicular to the coast and the combination of tides and your swimming will take you right in. This may NOT be possible with other swimmers angling in, but the point is to stay away from the coast until you have to.
The swim exit beach/stairs are about 50 feet wide. DO NOT come in on the very left (east) end, as there are boulders, and you can easily slip and hit your knee.
If you do miss the exit, you can always get out on the rocks, or even on Crissy Field, and run back to the mini-transition area. Don’t worry – you won’t be the first person who’s had to do that!
Tell your spouse or significant other not to worry: No one has ever been lost during the swim. The pilot coverage is fantastic, and they WILL be there to help out if needed. Note: If a kayak or boat tells you to move or to get on board, DO IT. It’s for your safety. This is perhaps the only triathlon in the world where you will not be disqualified for receiving assistance by being relocated in the water.