_ The 2018 SwimRun Casco Bay Islands:

Inspired by the international swimrun race series ÖTILLÖ (island to island), originating in Sweden in 2006, SwimRun USA is pleased to bring you the only "ÖTILLÖ-style" swimrun event in North America! 

Consisting of multiple, alternating swim and overland running legs (island roads, trails, and shoreline scrambles) between a variety of islands in Portland, Maine’s spectacular Casco Bay. 

For 2018, our 3rd edition, the Long Course event will consist of approximately 4.25 miles of open water swimming and 20.25 miles of overland running across 11 islands, 20% more course than 2017! The simultaneous Short Course event will consist of approximately 2.5 miles of swimming and 11.75 miles of overland racing across 6 islands, 50% more racing than 2017!

Remaining true to the originators of the ÖTILLÖ, SwimRun Casco Bay Islands is a two-person team event. Not a relay, teammates must race the entire course together. Rules permit swim aids such as hand paddles, pull buoys, wetsuits and even swim fins to name a few. Certain safety gear is mandated by race rules and hydration and race fuel can be carried too, but what one starts with, so too must they finish with. Changing from trail shoes to swim fins, or tending to awkward gear can chew up valuable time. Having the right teammate and equipment can make all the difference.

A WORD OF ADVICE - Being honest about your open water swimming skills will be the key to your joy or disappointment on race day. Please carefully consider if this event is for you. THIS IS AN ARDUOUS COURSE AND IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. It will entail dealing with tidal currents, possible wind, surface chop and ocean swells and require you to be competent with sighting skills in locating landing zones that may not be immediately apparent on an opposite shore. "Hard stop" check points must be reached within an established time frame in order to continue. Failing to do so will disqualify your team from continuing onward. Race management may identify teams that will not be permitted to complete the race at that point and return DQ'd teams to the finish venue as resources become available. You NEED TO BE A COMPETENT AND CONFIDENT OPEN WATER SWIMMER. Neoprene wetsuits (swimskin suits are not allowed) covering the full torso and upper thighs at a minimum are MANDATORY, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Veteran teams from the first two years of the race will be given an exclusive offer for guaranteed slots in the 2018 event beginning on September 15 and ending on September 30 that includes a Loyalty Reward. Short Course veterans may opt to move up to the Long Course at this time. After September 30, past participants will have until November 1 to secure their team slot but at the full entry fee level. 

On October 1, applications will be accepted from new teams seeking a slot for 2018. This application period will close on October 31. Following the application deadline, race organizers will select a limited number of Long Course teams that have chosen "Merit" status consideration. Their endurance/adventure racing resume will be evaluated as a basis for their team to be awarded a slot. All remaining Merit applicants and general entry Long Course applications will then be pooled for a random lottery selection.  All applications for Short Course selection, as well as unchosen Long Course lottery applicants, will be pooled for a lottery chance at the remaining Short Course team slots. TO QUALIFY FOR THE SELECTION PROCESS, TEAMS MUST SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION FOR 2 DISTINCT MEMBERS. ANY "TEAM" ENTRY WITH ONLY ONE MEMBER WILL BE DROPPED AND NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORDERING. Teams will be awarded slots by November 15th. Selected teams will be required to submit their team entry fee to confirm their team slot. Failing to do so by November 30th will forfeit the team slot, and it will roll down to the next ordered team. All applicants must meet the qualifying standards described in the main page menu bar to the left.

A limited number of Travis Mills Foundation Team slots will be immediately available on September 15. The application and lottery process for these team positions will be waived. These are GUARANTEED team slots as long as the swim experience qualifying standards are met. Only ten (10) Foundation Team slots will be available for each of the Long and Short Course at $1,000 and $750 respectively. 

SwimRun Casco Bay Islands is produced by SwimRun USA LLC.