NYC SWIM

Race Cancellation Policy

All of NYC Swim's events require permits issued by the Coast Guard. These permits are issued subject to prevailing Homeland Security concerns and Maritime Security Levels in the area. If conditions change, the Coast Guard may require that we alter, reschedule or cancel an event.

Our paramount concern is the health and safety of our swimmers and volunteer kayakers. For this reason, we are sometimes forced to cancel races due to unsafe weather conditions or unsanitary water conditions.

After a prolonged or heavy rainfall, it may take several hours to several days before the rivers are again safe for swimmers, due to the trash, untreated storm runoff, and flotsam and jetsam that may flow into Manhattan's water ways. In addition, inclement weather may interfere with our ability to set up a race, forcing us to cancel the event even when the forecast calls for better conditions at the scheduled starting time.

The race director has full discretion to cancel a race at any time. In the event of an advance cancellation of an event by NYC Swim:

If the event has a scheduled back-up date:
NYC Swim will automatically transfer the registrations of all approved applicants to the back-up date.

If the event does not have a scheduled back-up date:
If the event cannot be rescheduled, all approved applicants will receive 50% off the entry fee for any NYC Swim race in the current or next season, with the exception of the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, the Manhattan Island Relays, and the Ederle Swim.

If an event has to be canceled or halted while swimmers and race staff are on site, the above advance cancellation policies do not apply. If conditions continue to be unsuitable for allowing swimmers into the water or if the event does not have a scheduled back-up date, race souvenirs will be distributed to all swimmers and volunteers who are present.

Safety Policy

The race officials have authority to pull a swimmer from the water at any time for the swimmer’s own safety. Potentially dangerous conditions may include, without limitation, hypothermia, changes to weather or water conditions, or interference by shipping or other watercraft traffic. The race courses are patrolled by lifeguards and government safety officials, and each race includes a medical team. The race officials shall have full discretion to pull any swimmer from the water for safety reasons, and to determine when and if the swimmer may resume swimming.

Statue of Liberty Swim Enrollment Preference Policy

The Statue of Liberty Swim is one of our most popular events and regularly sells out. Since there is inevitably interest among more swimmers than can safely be accommodated, NYC Swim has established the policy delineated below.

Early entry preference can be earned one of two ways:

1) Swimmers who withdraw a week or more before the event will have the opportunity to enroll a week in advance of open registration the following year.

2) Entry preference can also be earned through active participation (swimming and volunteering) in NYC Swim events throughout the course of a season. Like the Manhattan Island Swim's Frequent Participant relay slots, we will set aside 15 slots in the Statue of Liberty Swim to reward NYC Swim's most dedicated and loyal volunteers/swimmers during the 2012 Swim Series, giving them enrollment preference and a discounted price for the 2013 Statue of Liberty Swim.

For the 2013 Statue of Liberty Swim: individuals will receive one point for swimming in an event, one point for volunteering for an entire event or for a portion of the Manhattan Swim, 1.5 points for swimming and volunteering at the same event or on the same day, and 2 points for volunteering for the entire Manhattan or Ederle Swims in 2012. (Individuals serving as swimmers' crew members do not accrue any points.) In order to qualify in this category in 2013, individuals must accrue a minimum of 9 points in 2012, with at least 4 points coming from swimming in events.

Those individuals who are volunteering as a means of accruing frequent participant points for 2012 must enroll online as a volunteer in advance of the event, must be accepted for an available position, and must check in with the volunteer coordinator on the day of the event in order to receive volunteer credit.

Swimmers enrolling as frequent participants would be allowed to enroll a week before regular registration opens and would be charged the same rate as the Great Hudson River Swim rather than the higher rate for the Statue of Liberty Swim

Swimmers wishing to claim early entry preference must contact us at info@nycswim.org between November 15 and December 1, 2012, to confirm eligibility and arrange for enrollment.

Substitution and Withdrawal Policy

Swim Series Withdrawal Policy (with the exception of the Manhattan Swim, the Manhattan Relays, and the Ederle Swim)
NYC Swim will not reimburse registered swimmers who voluntarily withdraw, do not show, or fail to submit sufficient qualifications to meet the event’s requirements to participate. (This is because NYC Swim incurs nearly all race expenses before race day. If you are not sure you will be able to meet a specific event’s requirements to participate, please delay your enrollment until you are able to do so.)

Process for Submitting Medical Withdrawal Documentation
If your inability to participate is due to a medical reason, please e-mail info@nycswim.org or fax (+1 212-784-6850) verification from a medical professional for review by NYC Swim no less than two weeks prior to race date. Swimmers who withdraw in this manner will receive 50% off the entry fee for any NYC Swim race in the current or next season, with the exception of the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, the Manhattan Island Relays, and the Ederle Swim. The credit must be used within 365 days of the date of issue.

No Sale or Transfer Permitted
No entrant may sell, trade, or otherwise allow another person to use an entry. Anyone found to be participating under another person’s entry will be disqualified from the event, and both the participant and the original registrant will be barred from all future NYC Swim events. NYC Swim will not grant any other refunds, credits, or exchanges, except in instances where we are forced to cancel an event (see Race Cancellation Policy, above).