More than 300 swimmers will plunge into Narragansett Bay next Saturday morning for Save The Bay’s 49th annual Swim, the organization’s biggest fundraising event of the year.
The challenging two-mile open water swim will take participants from the shore of the Naval War College in Newport across the East Passage of Narragansett Bay to Potter Cove in Jamestown. Swimmers will face cold water temperatures and strong currents as they make the crossing in support of the nonprofit’s mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed.
Olympic swimmer Elizabeth Beisel will serve as this year’s Swim Ambassador, joining Save The Bay Executive Director Topher Hamblett for opening remarks and the awards ceremony.
“The Swim invites participants to swim in an area of the Bay that was once fouled with oil and garbage, demonstrating the progress that has been made toward Save The Bay’s vision of a fully swimmable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay, accessible to all,” according to the organization.
The event kicks off early next Saturday morning with swimmer and kayaker check-in beginning at 5 a.m. at the Naval War College. After opening remarks and a safety briefing at 7:25 a.m., the first wave of swimmers will depart at 8:05 a.m., followed by the second wave at 8:10 a.m.
The fastest swimmers are expected to reach the finish line at Potter Cove around 8:45 a.m., with the final participants completing the crossing by 10:05 a.m. A post-swim celebration will take place on the Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority lawn in Jamestown, where awards will be presented to teams and long-time participants.
Over 150 Save The Bay staff and volunteers will support the event, helping ensure swimmer safety throughout the crossing.
Beyond the main event, dozens of additional supporters are taking on personal athletic challenges through the end of August as part of the Save The Bay Open.
Founded in 1970, Save The Bay works to achieve its vision of a fully swimmable, fishable Narragansett Bay through advocacy, education, and habitat restoration efforts across the bay’s 1,705-square-mile watershed.
The 49th annual Swim takes place next Saturday, July 19, with the starting line at the Naval War College in Newport and finish line at Potter Cove in Jamestown.
Save The Bay’s annual fundraising swim to temporarily close East Passage of Narragansett Bay
