The annual Flowers One Mile Sea Swim is being staged for the 19th time on 18 June and it promises to be the best one yet. Already world-renowned, it is officially one of the world’s top 100 open water swims – and certainly gives the most prizes.
Last year’s race boasted over 700 competitors. Participants from age eight to 80 ranged in skill from novices to gold medal Olympians and world championship open- water specialists from around the globe.
The unique draw of the Flowers Sea Swim is not only its flawless course conditions along Cayman’s beautiful Seven Mile Beach, but also the numerous random prizes. The race is the world’s richest open-water event with over $100,000 in cash and random prizes and guaranteed one-in-five random prize odds for finishers. This year, giveaways include round-trip tickets on Cayman Airways, Digicel phones, Red Sail Sports activities restaurant vouchers and much more.
It will start at the beach side of the Ritz-Carlton and finish at Royal Palms or Tiki Beach Bar, depending on the flow of the current. The finish will be decided during race week, taking expected water and weather conditions into account so as to offer swimmers the most favourable conditions.
Registration has opened and there will be a chance to register at the Brasserie on 14 June from noon to 2.30pm. Registration closes on Wednesday, 15 June.
The race starts at 2.30pm and there is a 75-minute cut-off time to finish. Entry fee is CI$15 or US$20 and all proceeds go to Meals on Wheels.
Walk & Watch
The Walk & Watch option at the Flowers Sea Swim allows non-swimmers to participate in the excitement of this charity event. Walk & Watch is ideal for family members or anyone who wants to be part of a beautiful and exciting day on the beach. The first 150 Walkers to check in on race day receive a T-shirt and a US$20 voucher for Cayman Airways.
All registered walkers are also eligible for random prizes – and unlike the swimmers, they need not be present to win. One in 10 wins. Refreshments and music at the finish for all.
Promoter Frank Flowers said: “We are hoping to double the dollars for our chosen charity this year. Encourage your friends and work colleagues to enter the Walk & Watch for a beautiful view of one of the world’s top open-water swims. Our awesome goodie bags include a Flowers Sea Swim T-shirt and other great surprises.”
Random prizes
The many and generous sponsors make the awards ceremony a much-anticipated event. Prizes include airline tickets, jewellery, cell phones and water sports activities, health and fitness and dining vouchers, among many others. The airline tickets are for travel to Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Dublin, London and Australia.
Trophies are awarded to the top four women and top four men finishers. Each swimmer who finishes the race in the allotted time receives a medal. Winning man and woman receive return tickets to defend their title.
Prize money
US$10,000 will be awarded to the swimmer who breaks the record for the world’s fastest recorded ocean mile. US$5,000 is awarded for setting a new event record. The times to beat are: men’s world record: 16 minutes; women’s world record: 17:21; men’s event record: 17:18; women’s event record: 17:47.
Main sponsors
Cayman Airways is the national airline of the Cayman Islands and has been a proud sponsor of the Flowers Sea Swim from the beginning.
For information, visit www.flowersseaswim.com, email [email protected] or phone 949-5299.
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