Beach to Battleship Triathlon
The Beach2Battleship Triathlon, held this year on October 22nd, is an internationally recognized iron distance and half iron distance triathlon. Competitors from around the country and the world have traveled to the Wilmington, N.C. area to enjoy everything this world famous waterfront destination has to offer and to experience a competition Triathlete Magazine named as one of the top 5 iron distance triathlons in the world.
The swim starts at the southern tip of beautiful Wrightsville Beach and takes place in a channel connected to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Always on an incoming tide, the current makes for consistently fast swim times. The bike course then takes competitors from Wrightsville Beach through the outskirts of Wilmington and three surrounding counties before returning to Historic Downtown Wilmington to the second transition area. The two-loop run is an out-and-back, flat and fast run course starting in historic Wilmington and leads athletes around picturesque Greenfield Lake. The race finishes in downtown Wilmington on the Cape Fear River just across from the historic USS North Carolina Battleship.
Swim:
The PPD IM NC Full swim course will be staged at Wrightsville Beach and will be a unique point-to-point layout with a rolling start. The swim takes place in a channel that is connected to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; so it’s a salt water swim but not in the ocean. An incoming tide with participants swimming with the current will make for some very fast times for the 2.4 mile course. The water temperature will be in the upper 60’s to low 70’s – perfect for wetsuit use.
Bike:
The 112 mile bike course takes competitors from Wrightsville Beach, through the northern section of Wilmington and then up towards White Lake. The bike course is totally flat with the only elevation change taking place when participants finish the bike course by crossing a bridge on the way into the second transition area located in downtown Wilmington. Vehicular traffic on the bike course will be extremely light throughout the course. Fully stocked aid stations will be located approximately every 10-15 miles along the entire course.
Run:
The two loop out and back run course will start and finish in downtown Wilmington. Competitors will wind their way through downtown and take a trip around picturesque Greenfield Lake. One of the featured aspects of PPD IRONMAN NC will be the run course aid stations. Located every mile along the 26.2 mile route, each aid station will serve a variety of food, drinks, and energy products to assist each athlete. Event organizers will be conducting a contest among the aid stations (so each group or company assigned to a particular aid station will be trying their best to “out do” the other aid stations. Aid station volunteers will be in costume and will be playing live or recorded music. On a more serious note, all aid stations will also be fully staffed with EMS personnel, HAM radio operators, and port-a-lets.
For more information about the event, registration, or course maps visit https://beach2battleship.com/
Wilmington Seafood Festival
Enjoy 2 days of fresh NC Seafood, live music, cooking demonstrations and MANY maritime vendors on the historic Cape Fear River at the Wilmington Seafood Festival. The 2nd annual Wilmington Seafood Festival takes place at Events at Watermark on Saturday & Sunday, October 22 & 23, 2016 from 10am to 6pm.
The 1st ever Wilmington Seafood Festival in 2015 was a great success. We are excited for this year because it is expected to set a high bar for great entertainment, massive attendance and serving delicious local seafood. Providing NC caught seafood, the Wilmington Seafood Festival vendors will give you the opportunity to taste the difference that local seafood makes.
So make plans to attend this year’s festival and enjoy the best seafood, vendors, boats, beer, live music, kid zone, fishing seminars and live cooking demonstrations by top chefs this area has to offer!
The Festival will be held at Events at Watermark, 4114 River Rd, Wilmington, NC.
$5 admission, children under 12 are FREE!
For more information visit www.wilmingtonseafoodfestival.com
Airlie Oyster Roast
The annual Oyster Roast at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC on October 21st at 6pm, features seasonal bivalves, cash bar, plus live music with Band of Oz.
Admission fee includes two drink tickets, appetizers, BBQ, fried chicken, and fixings from Middle of the Island Catering, and steamed oysters from Elijah’s Restaurant.
Advance tickets only. Proceeds benefit Airlie’s Environmental Education Programs
Airlie Gardens is located at 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington, NC. To purchase tickets for the event visit AirlieGardens.org
Swamp Park: 25% Off
All residents of NC and SC Save 25% Off at the Shallotte River Swamp Park through the month of October 2016!
Come enjoy beautiful Fall weather and all of the activities at Shallotte River Swamp Park for 25%!
When booking over the phone (910-786-6100) mention this article a to receive the discount.
Make sure to bring your VALID ID for proof of residence.
When booking ONLINE make sure to use the code:
LOCALOCT16
https://www.shallotteriverswamppark.com
THIS DISCOUNT CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS AND IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.
RESERVATION IN ADVANCE REQUIRED, OPEN FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY.
APPLIES TO ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES ONLY.
Hurricane Matthew
While at this time no one can say with certainty in what manner Hurricane Matthew will affect southeastern coast of NC, it appears more likely than not that the hurricane will have an impact on the area in some manner.
The speed at which a frontal boundary travels, which is headed our way, will be the determining factor as to how Matthew comes to visit our region. The latest plot from the WPC brings a cold front through Saturday into Sunday. That would be GREAT news because that front would push Matthew out into the ocean.
In a probable track in its Sunday afternoon update, the National Weather Service had the outer reaches of the storm hitting the east coast, at South Carolina, Friday afternoon.
The National Weather Service office in Wilmington noted in its briefing on the storm, that, no matter the final storm track, eastern North Carolina area is going to be affected by heavy rainfall, some dangerous surf with large waves, rip currents and some possible beach erosion. In addition, here is also a likelihood of coastal flooding.
Hurricane Matthew – Possible Good News:
On an encouraging note, in his 9:00am Monday morning update, Jim Cantore, with The Weather Channel, noted “F.Y.I.none of the consensus models bring it into the US.”
Some of the models show the storm hundreds of miles offshore which would be the best outcome but at this time it is all speculation.
The Outer Banks could see some problems even if Matthew stays out to sea. Rip currents will be a big problem Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Forecasters will have a much better idea on the path northward by Wednesday. By that time, the storm will have passed over Cuba which could impact the northward path significantly.
