Orcas Island, USA

We do not have an officially scheduled awards ceremony, we give our awards out as the winners cross the finish line. 

top 3 awards – World Series & Sprint Teams:

• All Male Teams
• All Female Teams
• Mixed Teams

top 3 awards – World Series & Sprint Solos:

• Male Solos
• Female Solos

All distances have the same safety cut-offs:

• 11:00 Bottom of Mt. Constitution
• 12:30 Top of Mt. Constitution
• 14:00 South end of Mountain Lake
• 16:00 Finish Line Area – This is when the race officially ends.

We have cut-offs at our races to ensure a safer experience. These are in place so that everyone has the opportunity to finish before it gets dark and to avoid putting the safety of others at risk by overburdening the safety team. Please respect these cut-offs and the people in charge of enforcing them.

CAR FERRY

Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). From there you’ll need to rent a car as it’s about a 2-hour drive to the Washington State Ferry Terminal in Anacortes. There are several modes of transportation to Orcas Island and the beautiful San Juan Islands. Most often, people take one of the iconic Washington State Ferries from Anacortes to the islands. It’s highly recommended you make a reservation on the ferry for your car (walk-on passengers don’t require reservations.) It’s suggested to make reservations for your trip to Orcas, and your return to Anacortes. 1/3 of the tickets are released a time so just because it’s currently sold out or unavailable doesn’t mean more won’t open up. Drive up tickets are available but on a first-come first-served basis. We do not recommend just showing up without a ticket as there’s a chance you don’t get on and/or have to wait a long time.

• Visit TakeAFerry.com to see schedules and make reservations.
• For the current schedule CLICK HERE.

WANT TO SEE ALL THESE PLACES ON ONE MAP? CLICK HERE

Ferry from Anacortes (Mainland) to Orcas Island

Anacortes Ferry Terminal
2100 Ferry Terminal Rd
Anacortes, WA 98221

MAP/DIRECTIONS  – ANACORTES TERMINAL

Packet Pickup, Start/Finish Line, & Post Race

Rosario Resort Beach House
1630 Rosario Rd
Eastsound, WA 98245

MAP/DIRECTIONS  – ROSARIO BEACH HOUSE

Ferry from Orcas Island to Anacortes (Mainland)

Orcas Island Ferry Terminal
8368 Orcas Rd
Orcas, WA 98280

MAP/DIRECTIONS  – ORCAS TERMINAL

In the event of severe weather like lightning, flooding, or hurricane force winds, we will delay the event in 20-minute increments. If the weather does not improve, we will assess the situation every 20 minutes to ensure the event can still take place in some form. Our priority is the safety of our athletes, and any decisions made during severe weather will be in their best interest.

• If you’ve already registered and wish to add a cabin stay, simply log into your RunSignup account, go to your Manage Registration / Add-On section, and select the nights you’d like.
• Need help with this? CLICK HERE for a quick tutorial.
• Additional details will also be emailed to registered guests during event week.

• As mentioned Camp Moran is 1.6-miles from our start/finish at Rosario. Anyone staying at Camp Moran is responsible for their own transport to and from Rosario, we do not run shuttles.
• Each bed is twin-sized and accommodates one person only.
• Please reserve one bed per person, per night.
• You’ll need to bring your own bedding (sheets, pillow, and comforter).
• Amenities include: community bathrooms, stall showers, a shared kitchen, and free parking.
• Wi-Fi is very limited and may be unavailable.
• We’ll provide light breakfast items on Friday and Saturday mornings.
• The cabins create a friendly, community atmosphere perfect for relaxing and connecting with others.

This year there will be an in-person race briefing on Saturday, 14, after Packet Pickup from 4pm-5pm as the race course is different from the one mentioned in the video. However, all other information is still correct.

Mandatory YouTube Race Briefing (2023)

MANDATORY – RACE PROVIDED

• Swim Cap – Color coded to the event distance.
• Number Bib (OSFA) – Each team has matching bib numbers color coded to the event distance.
• Restube (Solo Racers Only) – Auto inflating personal flotation device (emergencies only)
       Please return at the finish line. Athletes may also use their own auto inflating or tow-behind buoy (instead), if they would like.
• Timing Chip & Ankle Strap (1 Per Team, 1 Per Solo Racer)
       It does not matter which teammate wears the timing chip. Please return at the finish line.

MANDATORY – ATHLETE PROVIDED

• Shoes – To be worn the entire race. Look for a light shoe with support, lots of grip, and good drainage.
• Wetsuit – We recommend a Swimrun style wetsuit but any wetsuit is allowed. Please do not email us asking if a wetsuit is truly mandatory. It’s on this list, it’s mandatory for everyone.
• Whistle – One per team. If you’re a solo athlete there’s a whistle built into your Restube ripcord.
• Compression Bandage One per team. One per solo racer. We race in remote areas. This is required so that if you get cut and no one is around you can attempt to stop the bleeding. CLICK HERE to see how to use it.
• Tether One per team. This is a precaution in the case of bad weather OR becomes mandatory if you find yourself separating from your teammate during the swim.

DAY-BEFORE PACKET PICKUP LOCATION

Rosario Resort Beach House
1630 Rosario Rd
Eastsound, WA 98245

DAY-BEFORE PACKET PICKUP DATE & TIMES

SATURDAY, SEPT 14, 2024

• 13:00 – 14:00 – Sprint & Experience Pickup
• 14:00 – 15:00 – World Series Course Pickup
• 15:00 – 16:00 – Any Distance Can Pickup

PACKET PICKUP RULES

• It is mandatory to pick up your race packet the day before at the Rosario Beach House. 
• We prefer that everyone picks up their own packet the day before the race and that teams come together during this time, we understand that this may not always be possible. Therefore, we allow one team member to pick up an entire team packet, as well as family members and friends to pick up packets for racers, as long as they have the registrant’s permission and a valid ID.
• To make the check-in process quick and easy, please show your QR code at the packet pickup. We will email this to each racer the week of the event. Each QR code is specific to your registration. If you do not have your QR code, you can check in with a photo ID. You do not need to show a USA Triathlon Membership card, even though this is a USAT sanctioned event.

Can’t Pickup Your Packet the Day Before?

If you are unable to pick up your packet the day before the race, you have one more option. You can choose to pick it up on race morning by selecting “Race Morning Packet Pickup” during registration or by adding it to your RunSignup account later. This option is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who choose and pay for this option will have a pre-stuffed bag with their name on it ready for them before the race. Depending on the event, this pickup may be available before boarding a ferry to the start, or it may be at the common start/finish area. The add-on is per person, so each person on a team must select this add-on during or after they registration.

ALREADY REGISTERED AND NEED TO ADD-ON RACE MORNING PICKUP? – CLICK HERE

PACKET PICKUP ITEMS

The following items are given to each racer at packet pickup:

• Apparel Item
• Swim Cap
• Collapsable Cup
• Number Bib
• Timing Chip & Ankle Strap
  • It doesn’t matter which teammate wears it. Please return at the end of the race.
• Rest Tube (Solo Only)
  • Please return at the end of the race.

AIRPORT OPTIONS

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, or SEA
• There are also flights available from a local smaller airport via Kenmore Air, that allow you to take a shuttle from SeaTac to Kenmore’s planes and then fly direct to the island. This option is a lot shorter but it costs more.

ACCOMMODATIONS

• We do not provide event lodging or offer discounts on any local accommodations. We suggest you stay at Rosario or one of the many Air B&Bs in the area.

DISTANCE TO RACE SITE

• The entire trip from the Seattle-Tacoma airport to Rosario takes about 3.5-hours.
• From the airport it’s about 100-miles and 90-120min drive to get to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal (Washington State Ferries).
• Once on the ferry to Orcas Island it takes 45-60min.
• Once off the ferry the drive to Rosario Resort from the Orcas Ferry Terminal is 14-miles and takes about 30min.

RACE AREA

• CLICK HERE to access our live site map. This map will display pins for all the important addresses listed above, but it will not include the course maps. The course maps are only available on each event’s page.

RESTROOMS

• There are a handful permanent restroom facilities located on the course. Portable restrooms are not provided for the event, but there are indoor restrooms available at the start/finish line area.

Bag drop

• You may place your change of clothes bag in the Rosario Beach House. We advise against putting any high-value or important items such as keys, wallet, electronics, etc., in these bags. While we have never had any issues with anyone tampering with the bags, we do not oversee their handling. Athletes are responsible for checking in and claiming their own bags based on an honor system, and we cannot be held liable for any damage, loss, or theft of property.

POST RACE FOOD & DRINK

• All finishers will have access to post race food and drink near the finish line area.

WE DO NOT ALLOW:

• Refunds on your race entry.
• Transfers of solo or full team entries to completely different athletes. As a team you’re allowed to swap out your teammate as long as one original member stays on the team.

WE DO ALLOW:

• Transferring to another ÖTILLÖ USA race within the same calendar year.
• Deferring to next year’s race.
• Changing teammates.
• Changing from team to solo.
• Changing distances.
• Splitting a team entry into two solo entries.
• Combining two solo entries into one team entry.
• Refunds on add-ons like wetsuits, race morning packet pickup, and spectator boat tickets as long as they are requested more than a week prior to the race.

How-To Make Changes to Your Registration

Racers have the ability to change events, transfer to a different race, or defer their entry if they would like. It’s as simple as logging into your RunSignup account and making the change(s) yourself. If you don’t know how to do it, checkout the short RunSignup tutorials below:

• How-To CHANGE EVENTS – CLICK HERE
• How-To DEFER TO NEXT YEAR – CLICK HERE
• How-To TRANSFER RACES – CLICK HERE
• How-To CHANGE BASIC INFO – CLICK HERE

• Please be courteous on the roads and trails. Remember, all roads and trails are open, and Orcas Island attracts many tourists at different times of the day. When crossing, be sure to look both ways, and when running, stay to the right to allow others to pass and share the roads and trails.
• Please respect the residents. Orcas Island is home to 6,000 permanent residents. It is a special privilege to be allowed to race in their backyards. Please help us have a race that lasts for decades by being joyful, respectful, kind, and courteous while visiting their island.
• Minors who are under the age of 18 must obtain permission from the race director before signing up. They also need their parents to sign them up.
• Mandatory gear is required and may be checked at any time during the race. Participants without the mandatory gear will be disqualified.
• Teams must have a tether with them at all times, but are only required to be tethered together under certain conditions:
  • if they want to
  • if they continuously separate during swims
  • if the race organizers announce that all teams must be tethered due to weather conditions.
• Teams must stick together at all times, and leaving a teammate behind is not allowed.
• Participants must stay on the marked course at all times. Going off course and returning to it is not allowed.
• Littering is prohibited, and participants should dispose of their trash in designated areas or with event volunteers.
• It is the responsibility of each individual participant to come to the start line fully prepared.This includes familiarizing themselves with all event information provided on the website, in emails, and in videos.

Volunteers are the backbone of the race. We could not do what we do for the athletes, without volunteers. We are always in need of volunteers that are ready and willing to help with various positions during race weekend. All registered volunteers receive a t-shirt, and meal after their shift concludes. All volunteers must register via our system and check in and out for their shift. Some volunteer positions even have stipends associated with them and groups that volunteer and identify themselves as such will be eligible for a donation.

READY TO VOLUNTEER? – CLICK HERE

Every water stop will be equipped with a minimum of two coolers.

• One cooler will contain regular water.
• The other cooler will be filled with Precision Hydration electrolyte-infused water. You can identify this cooler by the “PH” marking on its top.
• Additionally, most, if not all, water stops will have a bucket or container holding PH gels.

Please ensure that any trash you have is disposed of in the designated trash bag, typically tied to the handle of one of the water coolers. Leaving trash on the course or failing to use the trash bags will result in immediate disqualification and a ban from all future races.

All racers are required to wear a wetsuit during the swim. We suggest using a Swimrun wetsuit rather than a full-body triathlon style wetsuit because Swimrun wetsuits are lighter, more flexible, and easier to run in without overheating. However, any type of wetsuit is acceptable.

For those who do not own a wetsuit and prefer not to purchase one, we have a limited number of Ark Sports rental wetsuits available. These suits can be rented as an add-on during registration, or you can add them later by logging into your RunSignup account and editing your registration to include the rental suit.

ALREADY REGISTERED AND NEED TO ADD-ON A RENTAL WETSUIT? – CLICK HERE

If you have rented a wetsuit, you can pick it up during packet pickup. We may not have extra suits available for rent if you have not reserved one in advance, so please plan accordingly. If you rented a wetsuit and have opted for race morning packet pickup, your wetsuit will be available at that time.

After the race, please remember to remove any items from the wetsuit pockets and return it to the wetsuit tub at the finish line.