OCBP John Carey Masters Swim

T. John Carey Masters Swim
2026 Date TBA
 1-Mile Open Water Swim

The Masters Swim has been one of the premier open-water swimming events on the Jersey Shore since 1979. The one-mile ocean race follows a point-to-point course that runs parallel to the beach. Race directors determine the direction of the swim on the day of the race to take advantage of the most favorable conditions. Competitors enjoy memorable views as they swim along the Ocean City Boardwalk during a race with an evening start time of 4:30 p.m. 

The following is information from the 2025 race. Look for detail on the 46th annual race early in 2026.

RACE AND COURSE INFORMATION

• Start Time: 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 13, 2025 
• Parking: Free parking will be available at the Ocean City Community Center (1735 Simpson Ave.) with jitneys running to the start of the race and back to the Community Center after the race.
• Check In: 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on the beach at 12th Street
• Course Direction: The 2025 race will be north to south. 
• Course (North to South): Starting line will be in the vicinity of 12th Street Beach. Swimmers will swim straight out past a turn buoy (right turn on the ocean side of the buoy). Swimmers will then head south on the seaward side of all marker buoys until they reach the finish-turn double-buoy, where they will turn to the beach (right turn to land), and proceed through the finish shoot at 20th Street.

REGISTRATION

• Online registration: https://www.raceforum.com/johncarey
• Race-day registration: Must register online.
• Registration Fees: $35 (plus processing fee) through July 4, 2025; $40 (plus processing fee) after July 4, 2025.

AWARDS

Wetsuits will be permitted for all award categories if the ocean temperature is under 65 degrees. Award categories include the following:

• Top three overall finishers: male and female
• Oldest competitor
• Youngest competitor
• First-place age-group winners: 15-and-under, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-64, 65-and-over
• First-place wetsuit (if ocean temperature is above 65 degrees) or first-place no-wetsuit (if ocean temperature is below 65 degrees)

RESULTS

• 2025
• 2024
• 2023
• 2022

HISTORY

T. John Carey was an Ocean City Beach patrol lifeguard as well as a member of the Ocean City High School swim team. The 1930 Ocean City High School swim team won the South Jersey championship by a wide margin. In 1934, he won the Individual National Lifeguard Championship. Carey was an honors graduate of the University of Delaware and a lieutenant commander in the Navy during World War II, teaching survival tactics to pilots and air crews. He taught physical education and coached football, basketball, and track at Ocean City High School before leaving to take over the family's real estate business in 1947. In 1966, he received the city's Community Service Award for his efforts in establishing surfing as an organized sport.

2025 AGE-GROUP RESULTS