Lowcountry Splash

The Lowcountry Splash is an open-water swim held annually near Charleston, South Carolina, in May or June, timed with the tides. Participants select a 2.4-mile course along the Mount Pleasant shoreline or a 6-mile course beginning at Daniel Island and merging into the shorter route. Both are wet-start, wet-finish events. The 2.4-mile swimmers begin at Hobcaw Yacht Club, while the 6-mile swimmers start under the Wando Bridge. The longer course crosses the Wando River towards Charleston Harbor Marina, where both distances conclude before the USS Yorktown. The race is timed with an outgoing tide, and water temperatures typically range from 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Past participants have included swimmers from age 10 to their eighties. The event originated as an effort to establish a Charleston-area harbor swim from Patriots Point to the peninsula. This plan was initially rerouted to Trophy Lakes on Johns Island due to logistical challenges, and subsequently relocated to Charleston Harbor following several successful lake editions.