Swim the Loop
- Date
- October 11, 2026
- Location
- 1308 Airlie Road, Wilmington, NC
- Distance
- Swim the Loop · Motts Channel Sprint
From the Organizer
Swim The Loop starts and finishes at the Dockside Restaurant, which is located on Airlie Road (Wilmington side of the Intracoastal Waterway). The race will start at a high tide to ensure an even, but challenging tide pattern throughout the 3.5-mile swim. Don’t be fooled though; there will be times of incoming tide, falling tide and some slack tide.
Mott’s Channel Sprint starts at the Trailborn Surf & Sound, located on Wrightsville Beach, and finishes across the intracoastal at the Dockside Restaurant on Airlie Road. The course is approximately 1.3 miles long and is a point-to-point swim. The race will start at a high tide to try and ensure a slight incoming to slack tide throughout the 1.3-mile swim.
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
77°
Typical Low
58°
Chance of Rain
27%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Wilmington 7 Se, 4 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Wilmington, NC
Population
118,578
as of 2023
Elevation
38 ft
Nearest Airport
ILM
Wilmington International Airport · 5 mi
Major Hub
MYR
Myrtle Beach International Airport · 70 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Swim the Loop, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
Coming Up
More Swimming races near Wilmington, NC
RTC Open Water Swim - Wednesday, 6/10/26 - Members Only!
227 miles away
RTC Open Water Swim - Wednesday, 6/17/26 - Members Only!
227 miles away
Swim4Ella
157 miles away
VBLA 2026 Swim Series Race 1: Mile Swim
208 miles away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
Swimming events drop you into something that demands navigation, feel, and focus all at once. It's a sport that rewards the quietly competitive — the ones who do the work in the water before anyone's watching.
Open Water Swimming
Open water races from 1 mile to marathon distance. Just you, the water, and whatever you've got left.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Swim the Loop?
- Swim the Loop is a swimming race held in Wilmington, North Carolina on October 11, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more swimming races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Swim the Loop?
- Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Wilmington, North Carolina at 1308 Airlie Road, Wilmington, NC. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Swim the Loop?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Swim the Loop
Oct 11, 2026