Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enroll as a crew member?

Enrolling as a crew member is a quick process that can be started before the swimmer enrolls but must be completed after the swimmer has enrolled.

Prior to the Enrollment Day:

Create or update your user profile

Please refer to the User Profile (Enter in Advance) section of the application procedures for fields to complete

Advise your swimmer of the following information in your profile: username, email address(es), your name as shown in the user profile

On Enrollment Day:

Do not create a new User Profile

Wait for the email from the NYC Swim website and/or for the Swimmer to advise you that their enrollment is complete so you can enroll as his/her crew member. To ensure accuracy, the swimmer should designate each crew member by e-mail address.

Login to your user profile

Click on the "My Events" tab

Scroll down to "Crew Enrollments"

Click on "Enroll"

How do I add a photo headshot to my profile?

Adding a headshot to your profile is relatively simple. If you do not have any photos uploaded into your profile:

1. Login to your account
2. Click the "Add Photo" link under the box showing "no photo available"
3. Click "Browse" button to select a file from your computer (JPG format, maximum size 500Kb/800x800; if your file is larger than this, you can reduce it using an online editor such as Pixlr or contact info@nycswim.org for assistance)
4. Click "Save" button

1. Login to your account
2. Click the "Photos" tab
3. Choose one of the pictures and click the "Make this my headshot" link for that photo
4. Confirm that you want to make this your headshot by clicking the "OK" button when prompted

A good friend of mine is swimming in the Manhattan/Ederle Swim. Can I be his/her boat observer?

Sorry — we generally assign boat observers to the boats of people they don't know, so they can act as neutral, impartial race officials. You're still welcome to volunteer for the event, but you would be assigned to a swimmer that you don't have a relationship with.

Are wetsuits allowed?

We take a very simple approach by instituting some very basic swimsuit eligibility rules. Like baseball with the wooden bat, we favor very basic bathing suit designs in lieu of new fabrics and technologies. This has many benefits, including ensuring that proper swim attire is affordable to all economic strata and available at nearly every sporting goods store, and upholding designs and styles used back in the 1920s when open water swimming was in its heyday.

For the Manhattan Swim and the Ederle Swim: All swimming costumes for solo swimmers, 2-person relays, 3-person Team Pursuit teamsn, and NYC Traditional relays must be made of a porous material and conform to the "traditional" swimming suit style. These events do not allow attire that increases buoyancy or heat retention, including wetsuits, neoprene caps, or neoprene socks. Caps shall be defined as headgear conforming to traditional swim cap design and not extending to protect the neck or shoulders. Please consult the Race Rules on the MIMS Policies and Ederle Policies pages for additional details on permitted swimwear.

For the Manhattan Swim NYC Catch'em Relay Teams: Teams may compete in either a wetsuit or a non-wetsuit division. Non-traditional suits, including wetsuits and jammers, are allowed for swimmers on NYC Catch'em Relay Teams competing in the wetsuit division. Teams will be classified as participating in the wetsuit division if one or more swimmers wear non-traditional swim attire during the race.

For the Swim Series: When the water temperature is 68°F (20°C) or higher, only swimmers wearing traditional-style swim suits will be eligible for awards. A traditional-style swim suit is one that is made of a porous material, is sleeveless, and is legless. Women may wear suits that come up to their necks, with the zipper up the back. Men may not wear jammers (since they are not legless) or suits that cover their torsos. Any suit that extends to the thighs or shoulders, reduces drag in the water, increases buoyancy, or improves heat-retention is considered non-traditional. Suits in the non-traditional category (which means they affect award eligibility) include jammers of any type; Speedo LZR Racer, Speedo Aquablade, Speedo FS II, Speedo Fastskin, TYR Aqua Shift, TYR Aquapel, TYR Fusion2, Nike Liftsuit, blue seventy zeropoint3, and suits with similar materials. When the water temperature is below 68°F, all swimmers will be eligible for awards, regardless of whether they wear a traditional swim suit or wetsuit.

For the Aquathlon: Non-traditional suits, including skinsuits, speedsuits and jammers, are allowed for the Aquathlon provided they conform to USAT standards for approved swimwear. When the water temperature is 78°F (25.56°C) or higher, swimmers wearing wetsuits will not be eligible for awards.

For each swim, an official announcement regarding temperature and award eligibility will be made on the website and in a final email to participants no later than two days before the event.

Both my registered crew members won't be able to make it for my swim. Is it possible to change them?

As per our policy at http://www.nycswim.org/Event/Event.aspx?event_id=2212&from=policies#482, you may not change or add crew members after enrollment has been completed. Should a primary crew member become unable to participate in the Ederle Swim, you should contact NYC Swim to request a substitution with the designated alternate. All such requests must be submitted no later than 14 days before race day. You may not make substitutions outside of the alternate listed during enrollment. If all crew members attached to a swimmer or a relay withdraw prior to the event, NYC Swim will assign a boat observer to act as crew.

Crew enrollment is part of the application process because the crew is essential to the swimmer’s planning and success, particularly for new marathon swimmers. We want to be sure swimmers have thought through this aspect of the event and that their crews are on board, so to speak. Applications are not considered complete until the crews have signed on, so this can make the difference between a successful applicant and someone who is not accepted. Changing crew prior to acceptance resets the application completion date and puts the application at the bottom of the pile, so allowing someone to change after they have been accepted would be unfair.

Do I need any shots to participate in the Manhattan or Ederle swims?

Although, we do not require shots for our swims, we do recommend that all swimmers have up-to-date tetanus shots, and some swimmers get a gamma globulin or Hepatitis A shot.

Solo, 2-person relay, and 3-person Team Pursuit swimmers for the Manhattan Island Marathon and solo swimmers for the Ederle Swim are required to submit a medical form completed by their doctor.

Ederle Race Personnel - Terminology

Understanding the following terminology will help with race preparations.

"Crew" members are chosen by the swimmer to accompany the swim on board an escort boat [Crew Members and Alternates policy]. Crew members are the only people swimmers may designate to be on the boat; all other personnel are assigned by NYC Swim. NYC Swim limits how many crew people are allowed on a boat and all crew members must be designated at time of enrollment.

"Paddlers," aka "kayakers," are volunteers in kayaks, paddle boards, or surf skis who paddle their way around the island while escorting a swimmer. Paddlers work with the swimmer's crew for feedings and follow the lead of the head boat to make sure the swimmer stays on course. NYC Swim assigns the escort paddler(s) unless a swimmer or relay recruits their own in accordance with NYC Swim's requirements. [Race Rules]

"Boat captain" or "boater": This person pilots his or her own boat and serves as a dedicated escort for a swimmer or relay. NYC Swim recruits and assigns all boat captains for the swim. Swimmers may not request a particular boat or captain. Boat captains may bring their own crew to assist with the operation of the boat.

"Boat observers" aka "race officials": NYC Swim assigns a volunteer boat observer to serve as a neutral race official on board each escort boat. Swimmers may not request a particular boat observer. NYC Swim may place more than one boat observer on an escort boat.

How can we enroll as a relay team for MIMS, the Manhattan Island Relays, or the Ederle Swim?

Relay enrollment requires the involvement of all participants in the relay — captain, swimmers, and alternate(s), if any. To start the relay team's enrollment, the team's captain must first log in and select the relay size/type, enter a relay name, complete selected required fields, designate the relay's participants and tentative swim order, designate the relay's alternate(s) if appropriate, and enter a credit card number. We recommend that the captain use each swimmer's e-mail address when adding them to the enrollment; that way, there is no chance of selecting someone else with the same name or the wrong user account.

Once the team has been created, all members — swimmers (including the captain if he/she is swimming) and alternate(s) — will need to complete their individual swim enrollments by clicking on the "Enroll as a Swimmer" link on the swim event page, selecting the appropriate type of relay team, reviewing/completing the information in their user profiles, answering any additional questions, and agreeing to the waiver. The team’s enrollment will be evaluated once the individual enrollments of all relay members are complete.

I am hoping to enter one of your marathon swim events. Who can I recruit to be my crew?

Please refer to the race specifications for how many crew members you may have aboard the escort boat – either one or two people. Beyond that, the choice of crew is completely up to you. Keep in mind, however, that your well-being will be the primary concern of your crew. If you have concerns about their ability to remain focused on you and perform their duties under potentially adverse conditions (i.e., bad weather, small boat, no on-board bathroom), you may wish to reconsider your choice of crew. Good candidates include coaches, past event participants, officials, and crew members, swim teammates, lifelong friends, distant relatives, and athletes experienced in ultra-distance events. Close relatives (including spouses/partners, parents, and children), business colleagues, individuals with weak bladders, and individuals who get seasick may not be able to keep the proper balance of support and objectivity in order to best fulfill the crew role.

What does it take to be a crew member for the Manhattan Island Marathon and Ederle swims?

Crew members are the eyes and the ears of their swimmer. The Manhattan Island Marathon and Ederle swims are fun races, but long ones. Most likely, crew are busy the entire race, meaning a good straight 6 hours of attentiveness — just like the swimmer they support. Crew members are also among the first in line to assist the swimmer in the event that an emergency situation arises and should be selected with those criteria in mind; minors and close family members are generally unsuitable for this role.

Before the race begins, crew need to figure out with their swimmers how they are going to interact during the race so that everyone stays happy and safe. Crew also need to be familiar with the equipment so when their swimmer requests something (like another pair of goggles), the crew member can provide it immediately. It is best to decide before you get on the boat what responsibilities each crew member will have, with the understanding that flexibility may be necessary.

We've tried to think of the key elements involved in being a crew member and listed them below. In practice, crew members may need to improvise as situations occur.

1. Greaseboard/Chalkboard/Megaphone
2. Verbal: Try to keep to a minimum, especially for the swimmer
3. Hand Signals: Determine these, and any others with your swimmer before the race begins
1. OK
2. Closer/Farther away (fast & slow)
3. Stop
4. Danger
5. Thumbs up
6. Boat Traffic
4. When your swimmers completes a request, give your swimmer an OK.
5. SMile a lot

1. Mechanism (ie: Pole/Bucket, Cups over the side (with string). Remember, No polluting!)
2. Preparation
3. Intervals
4. Quick communication during feedings:
   1. Assess the mental and physical state of your swimmer
   2. How are the feedings (taste, quantity) agreeing with your swimmer?
   3. Stretch?

1. Watch out for debris, boats and other swimmers

1. Stroke Rate ............Bring a stop watch or watch with a second hand
2. Course Position ......Bring a detailed map of Map of the Upper and Lower Bay New York Bay
   (We recommend Waterproof chart #62 from www.waterproofcharts.com)


3. Keep a log ..............On notebook paper using a ball point pen

1. Who’s going to take the pictures/video? Pace yourself!

1. Food & Water..........If you eat/drink, do so out of sight
2. Seasickness ..........ditto
3. Bring Sunscreen, hat, rain slicker, sunglasses, change of clothes, and appropriate footwear.
4. Food for your boat captain is also a nice idea