Other Info:
Contact 910-452-1770(h) or 910-367-1758(c) for more information.
General:
The 3rd annual PPD Beach 2 Battleship Triathlon, Wilmington, NC Saturday, Nov. 13th. The only iron distance (140.6 miles) triathlon in the Carolinas. Event runs 17 hours for athletes from 7 AM to 12 Midnight. Need 40 volunteer operators to help with Bike and Run courses over 4 counties.
- Swim - 2.4 miles (Wrightsville Beach) 6 AM - 9 AM
- Bike - 112.0 miles (New Hanover, Pender, Bladen, Sampson counties) 8 AM - 5 PM
- Run - 26.2 miles (New Hanover County/Wilmington) 11 AM - 11 PM
We also need SAG volunteers as ride-alongs in vehicles driven by bike support vendors.
The third annual PPD Beach 2 Battleship Triathlon is now less than two months away, and I hope the majority of you can return to help again with this event on Saturday, November 13th.. The triathlon has been renamed because it now has a major sponsor: PPD (Pharmaceutical Products Development Corp., headquartered in Wilmington). Don’t let the new name fool you – the triathlon is still a non-profit event with the proceeds raised providing scholarships for underprivileged children and families to participate in programs and events at the Wilmington Family YMCA, just as it has in the past. The B2B is still the only iron distance (140.6 miles) triathlon in the lower Mid-Atlantic states and one of less than 20 in the entire United States. The event time for athletes is 17 hours from 7:00 AM to 12 Midnight, although the majority of athletes will finish well before that. The sequence of events is Swim-Bike-Run.
Because this is an iron distance triathlon, we need lots of Amateur Radio volunteers. Communications for the Swim Event at the start of the race will be handled in full by the Town of Wrightsville Beach and by Coast Guard Auxiliary. Amateur Radio operators are encouraged to monitor WB and CGA frequencies, but will not supply support for this part of the race. Amateur Radio communications jurisdiction will begin when the athletes hit the ladders at SeaPath Marina to transition from the Swim Event to the Bike Course at T1 (Transition #1). Amateur Radio shines especially on the 112.0 mile Bike Course because it is held in rural areas with little or no cellular phone coverage, and mass communications can fulfill needs for athlete medical attention, transport, or bicycle repair. Finally. Hams are needed at Aid Stations located along the 26 mile marathon “Run” route in the City of Wilmington. Since all communications will be via VHF and UHF, all licensed operators – Technician, General and Extra – will have privileges, making this the perfect training exercise for all, but especially for newly licensed or inactive Hams.
Please jot the date of November 13 on your calendar, and this year, tell your Ham buddies about this special day where we can all sharpen our skills and make a meaningful contribution to the community as a formal Public Service event. The rewards, of course, will mostly be pride and the satisfaction of helping, but there will be T-Shirts, free food and beverages, plus a volunteer dinner before the race to honor your contribution.
I look forward to working again with our returning veterans, and welcoming newcomers. On behalf of the Wilmington Family YMCA, thank you for your volunteer spirit.
