Liver LIFE Challenge Open Bay Swim

San Francisco: June 6. The Liver LIFE Challenge Open Bay Swim is a pledged open water endurance 1.5 mile swim from the historic Alcatraz Island through the San Francisco Bay. This is the same swim that the Anglin Brothers and Frank Lee Morris successfully attemped in their escape from Alcatraz on the night of June, 12 1962.

June 6th, 2010

Contact: Jason Burdge
Phone: 800.292.9099 (415.248.1060 x 14, Fax: 415.248.1066)
Web: Email


Leading up to the Open Bay Swim there will be two group training swims that will take place at Lake Del Valle in Livermore and at Aquatic Park in San Francisco. This gives you an opportunity to meet other swimmers and learn first hand tips and training from those who have accomplished the Alcatraz swim. Post training swims, the team will meet beach side for refreshments and to compare notes.

As a reminder the Open Bay Swim is not a swim for novices. By swim day you must be prepared to spend up to 1 hour and 15 minutes in 60 degree water. That means that your time for a mile in the pool (72 lengths or 36 laps in a 25 yard pool) should be less than 40 minutes. More than 20,000 swimmers have swam the Alcatraz course under the direction of race coordinator Dave Horning of Envirosports (swam the course 76 times). The date is specifically planned around tidal dates to aid in your swim.

Swimmers mount an easy on-line fundraising campaign to support the ALF through family, frends, co-workers and vendors to meet a minimum goal of $1,000 in pledges in order to participate on Swim Day.

An idea of Race Day Morning:

All swimmers will check-in at the Senior Center in Aquatic Park at the Maritime Museum. Pick up your swim cap, race t-shirt and your Velcro strap timing chip when you check in. Photo ID required, and your hands will be marked with the your race number at this check-in. Port-a-potties will be set up at the end of the promenade near the Dolphin Rowing Club (if you're walking with the grandstands on your right, continue down the path and you'll find them). There are no private changing facilities available.

Please simplify by wearing your wetsuit, carrying your swim cap and goggles and walking in flip-flops to Pier 39 to catch the ferry. If you must wear shoes or a sweatshirt, please grab a plastic bag at the check-in, mark it with your race number and bring it with you on the ferry. You may put your extra items in this bag during the ferry ride. The crew will make sure these bags get back to the finish area for you to pick-up.

PARKING: The best place for participants and spectators to park is Ft. Mason Center located on Marina Blvd. across the street from Safeway. Parking here is $8 (all day). Follow one of the footpaths through Ft. Mason and over the hill to Aquatic Park.

FRIENDS & FAMILY: Friends and family are unable to accompany event participants on the ferry and must remain beach side. The best seat in the house to see the start and the finish!

Page updated: November 6th, 2009