Swimmers jumping from the Silver Fox for the Thanksgiving Alcatraz (turned Pier 39) 2017.
Swim calendar
The Swim Calendar below has our scheduled Club Swims and links to signup. The Sunriser Calendar is updated separately in Google Sheets.
Club swims
Club Swims are for members only. They are organized with pilot support for safety, are scheduled mostly on weekend mornings and usually have a nominal fee to cover gasoline, a post-swim meal and any third party boat rentals.
Swims are of varying time and distance and will finish at the club. Our club swims are possible with the members who volunteer to pilot the RIBs (rigid-hulled boats), wooden boats, and kayaks to keep our swimmers safe!
Club swims will require registration prior, and an active USMS membership, and a designated number assigned and written on your body.
Club swim FAQs and details
Requirements
- Club swims are open to SERC members only.
- All swimmers are required to show proof of USMS membership.
Equipment
- Yellow caps are required for all swims.
- You may wear a wetsuit, fins, snorkel, etc. if you want during a club swim.
- All club swims are supported by zodiacs and kayaks.
Scheduling
- Swimmers must attend the swim briefing in order to jump.
- Swimmers should plan to be at the club for registration and to help set up the boats at least 1 hour before the designated jump time.
- Dates and times are subject to change. Look for notices on the Swimming Google Group.
Procedures
- While they all have a race director who organizes the swims, they are not competitive races. Some may have timekeepers who will record people’s finishing times.
- Swimmers must ensure they check back in with an official at the end of a swim to ensure an accurate count.
- Swimmers should help return boats to the clubhouse, pilots are tired too!
Routes
- All swims end at the Club unless otherwise noted.
- Most are done in the same direction as the current (also known as “current-assist”). Nutcrackers are longer swims and may be entirely or partially against the current. Swims between Angel Island or Alcatraz and the club are cross-current swims.
- Nutcracker swims are long, treacherous events designed to chisel the swimmer to face even tougher swims.
- The most challenging or popular club swims such as the New Year’s Day Alcatraz and Bay 2 Breakers have qualifying swims to ensure safety and/or fairness.
Sunriser swims
The Sunriser program is a series free-to-join, first-come, first-served for SERC members.
Schedule
The Sunriser Calendar is updated frequently in Google Sheets. Swims only happen when pilots sign up.
Procedures
Requirements
- Club swims are open to SERC members only.
- Yellow caps are required for all swims.
Registration
- Sunrisers are completely free.
- Registration for a Sunriser swim is on the day of written into a Sunriser registration notebook at the desk outside the Cook Shack.
- You may only sign up for yourself, cannot reserve a spot for another person.
- Spots are limited to a set number of individuals based on pilot coverage.
Cleanup
- After finishing a swim, it is important to write a checkmark next to your name (meaning you returned safely) in the notebook.
- All Sunriser swimmers are expected to assist in boat setup, launch and return.
Some popular Sunriser swim routes include Anita Rock, Coghlan Beach, Crissy Field, Exploratorium, Pier 7, Pier 39, Yacht Harbor and even occasionally a swim from Alcatraz.
Learn more about the history of Sunriser Swims
The legendary Bob Roper piloting.
Swim Routes
Here are the approximate distances for common swim routes.
| Starting Point | Distance (mi) |
| Alcatraz | 1.25 |
| Angel Island | 3.32 |
| Anita Rock | 1.8 |
| AT&T Park | 4.2 |
| Bay Bridge | 2.94 |
| Bay 2 Breakers (Bay Bridge to Ocean Beach) | 10 |
| Candlestick Point | 10.5 |
| Coghlan Beach | 1.23 |
| Gashouse | 0.8 |
| Golden Gate Bridge (Length, South to North) | 1.2 |
| Kirby Cove | 4.5 |
| Pier 7 | 2.25 |
| Pier 39 | 1.25 |
| Point Bonita | 6.0 |
| Yacht Harbor | 1.69 |