By Jeff Schou

                                  Photos by Dana Deruvo-Hanner

began precisely at 8:00AM on July 14th, just east of the Fire Island Lighthouse dock.  The swim is dedicated to the memory of Maggie Fischer. Maggie was a seventeen year old senior at St. Anthony's High School, born and raised in Brightwaters. She was one of the top students in her class, an accomplished member of the crew and swim teams, an incredible flutist, and a dedicated lifeguard to the Saltaire community.  Maggie loved just having fun, and the swim is dedicated to that memory of her, the memory of the life she lived and of all the amazing things she accomplished in her seventeen years.

 

The Swimmers and Kayakers get ready for the start.

This year’s swim featured 104 swimmers testing their endurance to raise funds to benefit the Hospice Care Network Children's and Family Bereavement Program, and a scholarship fund in Maggie's name. Each swimmer is required to raise at least $500 for these worthy causes.  The course measures 5.25 miles.  That’s the equivalent of swimming:

The length of 92.4 Football Fields
Swimming the bases for 77 Home Runs
Swimming around 132 Tennis Courts
Swimming around 48.63 Hockey Rinks
Swimming 105 blocks in NYC
Swimming 2.1 Laps at Daytona
Escaping from Alcatraz four times
27,720 Feet
332,640 Inches
4.562123 Nautical Miles

During this year’s race the swimmers faced a stiff breeze from the northeast, which hindered their progress as well as made breathing difficult for swimmers who prefer to breath on their right side.

 

The flotilla of swimmers, each with a personal kayaker, and safety boats left at 8:00am under a cloudy sky and the previously mentioned breeze (it reached 15kts at one point).  Due to the conditions not all swimmers were able to complete the race this year as regulations only allow the race to continue for four hours.  The safety boats included multiple boats from the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Suffolk County Police, multiple local Fire Departments, Islip Town and over 25 private vessels used as lead boats, gate boats, perimeter boats and interceptor boats.

 

First time competitor Tyler Crawson (3^rd from left) with the rest of his proud family before the race.

 

Swimmers completing the race were greeted to the cheers of hundreds waiting for them at Brightwaters Gilbert Park.  The conditions meant even the first place swimmer was well off the record pace and finished in 2:01:34.87.  First place was won by Christopher Arena of Amityville.

Congratulations to all the swimmers and thanks to all the kayakers and support staff that made it happen.  Special thanks again go out to the coordinator, Kismet’s own Morgan Mooney.  Special thanks also to the many businesses that donated money, material and time.  Please remember them when you need their services.  Some of them include:  The Bay Shore YMCA, Fire Island Ferries, STS, South Shore Paddleboards, PC Richard & Son, Captain Bills Restaurant, Bunger Surf Shop, Meg Smith Realty, Bay Shore High School Crew Team, Gemaginations, Bright Bay Physical Therapy, The Kismet Inn, South Shore Marine Outfitters, The Auteri Ferguson Family, DM Properties, ARI, Ramsay Realtors, Northwell Health, Sandstorm Construction, LazyBones Chiropractic, The Southside Hotel, The Hidden Oak Café, Pupfish Realty, Beach & Vine, Andrew Stevens Hair, Strong’s Marine at Grovers, and TowBOATUS.  Apologies to those I've missed.

If you’d like to make a donation to this worthy cause, please see details at the Swim’s website:  http://www.greatsouthbayswim.com/.