Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

The FINA Masters World Championships in Montreal, Canada culminated in the open water swimming races in Montreal’s 1976 Olympic rowing basin.

The venue was in the rowing basin, a sheltered inlet from the St Lawrence River. It was about 74 degrees in the out-and-back 3 km course. “It was a simple course and well-marked,” said Bill Ireland. “With 1,500 competitors, the starts were off the dock in waves of no more than 60 swimmers each.”

Swimmers came from 6 continents for the opportunity to compete. So many swimmers required a full flotilla of race officials observing the field as they stood on pontoons and in kayaks. With so many channel swimmers, ocean swimmers and marathon swimmers among the field, the abundance of officials standing by made the venue feel safe and comf which were unusual for many racers who are more accustomed to beach and lake races. The officials advised the swimmers of yellow cards and red cards but I do not know if any were issued or if any swimmers were disqualified.

1
560
25-29
Charlotte
Robin
FRA
29
F
39:50.4
13:17
60
6
2
531
25-29
Carly
Cermak
CAN
29
F
40:18.8
13:26
67
8
3
567
25-29
Carolina
Silva
POR
28
F
41:42.1
13:54
104
16
4
575
25-29
Kerstin
Wieschalla
GER
26
F
42:55.7
14:19
155
28
5
536
25-29
Anne – Kristin
Dobschin
GER
25
F
42:55.8
14:19
156
29

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