Swim The Loop

Swim The Loop is a 3.5 mile open water swim race that takes place around an interior island, called off the marsh/docks and you won’t hit bottom. Salisbury St.

Swim The Loop starts and finishes at the Dockside Restaurant, which is located on Airlie Road (Wilmington side of the Intercoastal Waterway). The race will start at a high tide to ensure an even tide pattern throughout the 3.5 mile swim. Don’t be fooled though; there will be times of slight incoming tide, slight falling tide and a mostly slack tide. Swimmers will paddle their way around the island

clockwise going under the drawbridge and turning right into Lee’s Cut. There are some shallower waters through this cut, so keep about 10-15 ft. Lee’s Cut can be a tougher section to complete, so be conservative and confident through the first mile of the swim. Once through Lee’s Cut the swimmer will turn right into Banks Channel and go under the W. Bridge completing about 1.5 miles of the course. Once you reach the second bridge you’ve completed 2 miles and will soon turn right into Motts Channel. Make sure you site through Mott’s Channel and stay about 10-15 ft. off the marsh because as the tide begins to change and fall this part could be a challenging portion of the swim depending on the time you begin this portion of the swim. Mile 3 is just past the Seapath Towers/Marina and will leave you with half a mile from the finish.

05/18/2026

Open‑water season is officially here and the Loop is calling. Time to shake off the winter rust and dive into adventure. Who’s jumping in first?
Endurance Tip: Keep your stroke smooth and breathe rhythmically to stay relaxed.
Register or learn more: https://www.swimtheloop.com/

05/08/2026

Nothing beats that first long swim of the season. The water, the challenge, the freedom — it’s why we do this. Keep showing up and the Loop will feel closer every day.
Endurance Tip: Increase mileage slowly and build distance gradually to boost stamina safely.
See race details: https://www.swimtheloop.com/

01/01/2026

Happy New Year Swimmers!

Registration is open for 2026 Swim the Loop Event :) Catch the early bird special between now and 1/31 then normal prices kick in! We look forward to seeing you on October 11th (my birthday). Stay tuned for at least 2 upcoming practice swims between July and September!

09/17/2025

Happy Race Week Swimmers!

We are just 4 days away and we are so excited for this weekend :)

Both the Athlete Guide and Pre Race Video can be found on the website now -

https://runsignup.com/Race/SwimtheLoop/Page/AthleteGuidePreRacePodcast

Please reach out with any questions you might have, but until then just keep swimming / tapering :)

The Swim the Loop is on Sunday September 21, 2025. It includes the following events: Swim the Loop and Motts Channel Sprint.

09/01/2025

Words can't even come close to describing Henry Singletary in this post. 14 years ago Henry came to me and said I have a super cool swim to show you... and that my friends is how Swim The Loop was created. Henry and I swam this course 100s of times, plotting the best ways to navigate and we just had the best time ever, doing what we love most... swimming open water. If you see him on race day, hook this man up with a high five.

Thanks, Henry, for all you've done, all you've shown, and the endless miles we've swam together.

08/25/2025

Safety isn't optional in open water—it's a necessary part of preparation and participation. Whether you're a beginner or experienced swimmer, proper planning, awareness, and support are key to ensuring every swim ends safely.

Giving back isn't just about charity—it's about community. It creates a shared sense of purpose and helps shape a better, more caring world for everyone.

Sign up here - https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/NC/Wilmington/SwimtheLoop

08/13/2025

Get signed up today for a guaranteed event shirt! Guaranteed shirts close 8/15/25. We always order extra but we also always sell out of these bad boys. We are almost one month out, happy final training phase swimmers :)
https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/NC/Wilmington/SwimtheLoop

08/11/2025

NEW for 2025... custom Swim Suits AND Ponchos :)

Core Values California thanks for taking care of Swim The Loop this year... here's a little insight...

A while back, we caught a wild idea to launch a competition swimwear line with one simple goal: DO BETTER. We committed ourselves to providing athletes everywhere with high quality gear that is made domestically under fair working conditions, offering unique prints that celebrate individuality and durability lasting multiple seasons.

Welcome to the Swim The Loop x Core Values California collection! All items will be made to order and shipped directly to you. Lead time is about 3 weeks. SEE YOU IN THE WATER!

08/08/2025

Happy Friday Swimmers! Over the last several weeks we've posted on how to swim each mile of Swim The Loop. Here's a blast from the past (13 years ago, the OG of videos) but still right on point and so amazing :)

This is "Swim The Loop Revision 2" by Lemonstripe on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

08/05/2025

Navigating the third mile in Swim The Loop.
Once you pass mile 2 near the Causeway Bridge, you'll be making a right hand turn into Mott's Channel. At this point in the race the tide will be falling so definitely stay out of the middle channel unless crossing. You will be either hugging the docks or marsh as you swim against the current. This can be a little challenging but sprint when you are crossing the currents and make sure to sight often as you navigate this channel.

Address

1308 Airlie Road
Wilmington, NC
28403

Website

http://www.swimtheloop.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Swim The Loop posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Event/venue in Wilmington?