This year’s Love City Triathlon on Sept. 1, the 14th such event, may well be the last.

Organizer Jude Woodcock said that in previous years, Maho Bay Camps provided free accommodations the night before the event to participants.

But Maho closed in May so anyone who can’t be on St. John in time for the 7 a.m. start will have to stay with friends or pay for a hotel room. The first ferry leaves St. Thomas at 6:30 a.m. so participants coming from that island won’t make the start.

The number of participants is capped at 100 but Woodcock said Monday space remains available.

Woodcock said she expects Theresa Harper, a St. Croix resident who frequently wins the woman’s division, to participate.

“But the men’s race should be fun,” Woodcock said.

She said last year’s winner Brent Lynn will face off against Matt Crafts, another St. John resident known for his speed.

The entire event runs from Maho Bay Beach. The triathlon begins with a half-mile swim followed by a 14-mile bicycle ride to Cruz Bay along the North Shore Road. The return route follows Centerline Road to King Hill Road with the finish at Maho Bay.

Participants then run a four-mile course out to both Francis Bay and up the stairs to Annaberg Plantation. Runners then head back to Maho Bay.

The aquathoners will swim the same half-mile course and run the same four-mile course as the triathletes, but don’t participate in the bicycle race. Woodcock said that’s one more mile to run than last year.

Participants in the triathlon can do all three legs competing as an individual or as a relay team with one or two other athletes and each compete in one or two legs. Participants cannot compete in both as an individual and as a member of a relay team. Participants cannot be a member of more than one relay team.

The inter-island competition is open to all residents of the Caribbean. A team must have three members doing the triathlon as individuals, and the team must be mixed gender with at least one female or one male.

The island with the top three combined times is declared the winner and will have their island’s name mounted on a trophy displayed in the establishment of a sponsor.

The trophy has been traded back and forth between St. John, St. Croix, and St. Maarten, with St. Croix so far having the most wins.

Registration for individual triathletes and aquathon participants runs $40. It’s $35 for each of the relay team triathletes.

There is no registration the morning of the race.

The registration form is available at http://stjohnlandsharks.com/. For those registering online, fees may be paid the night before at the pre-race meeting at The Tap Room, Mongoose Junction.

Alternatively, registration forms can be picked up at The Tap Room on St. John, Caribbean Surf Co.’s Havensight and Red Hook locations on St. Thomas and Stamina Sports on St. Croix. Completed forms can be left at the business and the fee paid the night before at the race check-in.

All participants are required to check-in at the race briefing to receive their race numbers, T-shirts, and to receive course instructions. Race check-in will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 31. at The Tap Room. The briefing begins at 5:30 p.m.

A party at Maho Bay Beach pavilion will begin after the race is over.

For more information, contact Louise Wearmouth at [email protected] or Jude Woodcock at [email protected] or 779-1416.