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NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. – Over 1,700 athletes hit the coast for the Second Annual Beach to Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon Saturday. After a great turn out last year, event organizers increased the cap to 750 athletes for both the half and the full triathlons.

Each group started in the water at Wrightsville Beach. Event organizers said the athletes represent 42 different states and 15 foreign countries. They said with the cap increase, they saw a 50 percent increase in participants, which equals a big economic boost.

"After the event, we are going to be doing an economic impact survey, but we anticipate it to be a $2.5 million to $3 million economic impact," said Jeremey Davis, the race director.

"Last night I went out to eat, and, boy, it really boosted it last night. I couldn't believe it, but it's great down here. We've been down here before, and we love the area," said Rob Arthur, a spectator from Virginia.

In hopes of reducing traffic problems, event organizers changed the route this year. Some drivers said it worked; others said they weren't so lucky.

"I come out of the Porters Neck Road area, it was backed up probably a mile into that neighborhood trying to get across the highway to get into town," said driver Jim Durant.

"I think it's a great improvement this year since they moved everything farther to the north and they made everybody a lot more aware about what was going to go on this morning," said Cark Korb, another driver.

On the beach side, the Wilmington Police Department said traffic moved smoothly. But on the Battleship side, traffic was stop-and-go.

"With it being on U.S. 421, it's a very difficult area to avoid when commuting between Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties," said Deputy Charles Smith, with the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office.

Still, athletes said they felt safe on the roadways, and that's something they value in a race.

All proceeds from the event go directly to benefit the Wilmington Family YMCA's We Build People campaign.