The 15th Annual Barnegat Light Ocean Mile Swim

The Friends of Barnegat Light Beach Patrol is excited to announce the 15th Annual Barnegat Light Ocean Swim! Participation will be limited to ensure a safe and fun race. Entry fees are $50. We are pleased to offer LBI lifeguards a reduced entry fee of $25. Barnegat Light lifeguards can participate for no charge. 
 
ONLINE REGISTRATION
**Registration opens April 1, 2026 at 9:00 am** 

COURSE
One-mile course, swimmers enter at 30th Street beach, swim north, and exit at 16th Street beach. The course is marked with highly visible buoys. Please note the course will be contingent on ocean currents. Starting and finishing points will be finalized on race day.

HEATS
There will be three (3) heats. 

HEAT 1 — anticipated finish time less than 29 minutes 

HEAT 2 — anticipated finish time between 29 and 37 minutes 

HEAT 3 — anticipated finish time more than 37 minutes

Heat 2 starts three minutes after Heat 1. Heat 3 starts three minutes after Heat 2. All swimmers in Heat 2 will have three minutes deducted from their times. Swimmers in Heat 3 will have 6 minutes deducted from their times. The adjusted times will be filtered into the overall results. Heats may be adjusted to ensure an even number of participants. Swimmers will be given a colored wristband for their designated heat at check-in. Note there is a maximum registration of 440 swimmers.  
 

MANDATORY RACE DAY CHECK-IN
Swimmers must check in at 16th Street beach in Barnegat Light, NJ, on race day between 12:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. At check-in, swimmers will receive their participant backpack with cap, t-shirt, and timing chip, and will be marked with their participant number. Swimmers only will be transported to the starting line by beach truck. Check-in will close promptly at 5:30 p.m. to ensure an on-time start.

 We kindly ask that you check in as early in the day as possible. 

AWARDS
Plaques for the first three overall men and women finishers. Medals for the top three men and women finishers in each age group: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & over.

Combined place results of the top four swimmers for a team organization will determine the overall team champion. Teams can include beach patrols, swim clubs, masters swim clubs, and high school or college teams. 

POST-RACE BEACH PARTY 
Refreshments will be available after the race. Please bring your refillable water bottle. We use a water filling station to reduce plastic waste. 

OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF TO KNOW
Reduced entry fees are available for LBI and Barnegat Light lifeguards ONLY. If you are not a lifeguard, do not register as a lifeguard. We will check participant names against beach patrol rosters. Any participant who registers as a LBI lifeguard but is not an LBI lifeguard will be banned from all future Barnegat Light Ocean Swims. Wearing a wetsuit will make a swimmer ineligible for awards. Fins, pull buoys and paddles are not allowed.

Please plan for heavy traffic. Most vacation rentals change over on Saturday afternoons, and traffic can get backed up on the causeway and main boulevard. Check-in will end promptly at 5:30 pm to ensure an on-time start. 

The race organizers reserve the right to postpone or cancel the race for any reason. This is a rain-or-shine event, but hazardous weather or ocean conditions could force cancellation or postponement. The only postponement date/time is Sunday, July 27, 2026, at 6:30 pm. Additionally, race organizers and safety coordinators reserve the right to remove swimmers from the course due to unsafe conditions, excess duration of the race, or if the participants are believed to be at risk. 

The Barnegat Light Ocean Mile Swim is a Barnegat Light Beach Patrol fundraiser. There will be no refunds. However, registration fees will be credited for next year's race if canceled.

Friends of BLBP support "The Kolman Family Scholarship for Swimming Lessons" at St Francis Community Center providing free swimming lessons to local elementary age children. The fund was established in loving memory of Mark Kolman, father, husband, educator and swimmer. Donations of any amount can be made to: https://www.stfranciscenterlbi.org/kolmanfund#kolmandonate