Open Water Swimming Program
at Niles Beach in Gloucester

2008 Program Full

Summer 2009 schedule will be available in early winter.

The Breakwater Sports Open Water Program teaches open water swimming for triathletes or others who are new to open water swimming. All sessions are in cold, deep water. You will need a wetsuit most days. You may want two caps or a neoprene cap early in the season. Arrive early to warm up, suit up and get in the water at the starting time.

This program is not for beginning swimmers. You must be able to swim 400 yards comfortably.

Topics covered include: open water safety, starts and exits, sighting, drafting, turns, and strategy; how to drill and practice for open water swimming; transitions for triathlon and aquathon...

Some sessions will include video evaluation of open water skills. (Conditions permitting – cameras are waterproof, playback equipment is not!)

Important: If you do not have a Gloucester Resident Beach Parking Sticker, park on Farrington Avenue (see map below), at the South end of the beach.

Directions to Niles Beach

Take Rte 128 North to Gloucester.

After the big bridge, go half-way around two rotary circles (Grant Circle and Blackburn Circle).

Continue straight on Route 128 thru 2 traffic lights.

Go straight thru the second traffic light onto East Main Street, which eventually becomes Eastern Point Boulevard.

Niles Beach is two miles from the last traffic light, on the right. Go past the beach, bear left onto Farrington Avenue and park on that street. Note: Parking in front of beach is reserved for residents with beach parking stickers. Others park on Farrington Ave.