2026 Swim Across the Bay

Swim Across the Bay 2026

Event Date & Time

Sunday, September 13, 2026 – 7:30 AM

Location

100 Jody Compretta Dr, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520

Start Location

Henderson Point Boat Launch
99 W Bayview St,
Pass Christian, MS 39571

Shuttle Service: A continuous shuttle will run from 5:30 AM to 8:30 AM from near The Blind Tiger on the Bay St. Louis side. Signs will mark the pickup spot on Beach Blvd. Use the shuttle to return to the start if you parked there.

Finish Location

Beach north of the Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor
100 Jody Compretta Dr,
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520

Race Overview

Swim Across the Bay is a 2-mile, point-to-point open water swim, founded in 2017. Swimmers begin at the Henderson Point Boat Launch and follow a straight route across the bay to the Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor pier.

Race Shirt: All participants and volunteers will receive a Swim Across the Bay race shirt.

Awards & Rules

• Awards: Top 3 Overall Male & Female
• Age Groups: 1st, 2nd, 3rd (Male & Female) in each age group, Under 15, then every 5 years (15–19, 20–24, …), and 75+
• Cutoff: 2 hours (swimmers who do not finish within the cutoff will be picked up by water support)
• Junior Requirement: Participants 17 and younger must have a dedicated volunteer paddler. Kayak escorts are welcome and encouraged.

Gear Guidelines

• Allowed: snorkel, personal buoy, other safety equipment
• Not Allowed: fins, hand paddles, or any propulsion devices
• Wetsuits: Allowed, but water temperatures are typically 80°F+, which is considered unsafe for wetsuits.
• Required Gear: A swim cap is required; any cap is fine. A latex cap will be provided if needed. Goggles are strongly recommended.

Parking & Transportation

Participants may park at the finish area. A shuttle will transport swimmers to the start, or swimmers may be dropped off by friends or family.

Event Details

• Breakfast items and drinks will be available after the race for all swimmers and volunteers.
• Volunteers are needed for kayak/paddleboard support. A limited number of boats are available; volunteers with their own equipment are encouraged.
• All volunteers receive a race shirt.

Registration Fees

• Early-early Bird (until 4/30): $50
• Early Bird (5/1- 7/15): $60
• Regular (7/16–8/28): $65
• Late (8/29–9/13): $75

Packet Pickup

• New Orleans Area Early Pickup:
  Thursday, September 10
  Fleet Feet Metairie
  3020 Severn Avenue
  4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Northshore Area Early Pickup:
  Friday, September 11
  Fleet Feet Covington
  206 Lake Drive
  4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Bay St. Louis Pickup:
  Saturday, September 12
  The Mockingbird Café
  110 S 2nd St
  Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
  11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Race Day Pickup:
  Henderson Point Boat Launch
  99 W Bayview St
  Pass Christian, MS 39571
  5:30 AM – 7:15 AM

Event Insurance (Highly Recommended)

Life happens — weather changes, injuries occur, schedules shift, and unexpected events pop up. Protect your registration with optional event insurance during checkout.

Coverage Includes:
• Illness or injury
• Family emergencies
• Work schedule conflicts
• Travel delays
• And other qualifying unforeseen circumstances

This small one-time cost can save you from losing your entire race fee if something unexpected comes up. We strongly encourage all participants to consider adding event insurance when registering so you can sign up with confidence.

More Information

For further details and registration, please visit the official race website: Swim Across the Bay.