Overcast skies and the occasional shower did not deter the 225 swimmers who participated in this year’s Buzzards Bay Swim, held in New Bedford’s Outer Harbor on Saturday, June 24.
Athletes completed the scenic 1.2-mile point-to-point open water course, beginning in New Bedford’s South End, swimming past the iconic Butler Flats Lighthouse and New Bedford Hurricane Barrier and finishing at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven. At Fort Phoenix, swimmers were greeted by cheering crowds, live music, a hot breakfast and cold beer.
The 225 swimmers, supported by more than 100 volunteers, raised more than $172,000 to advance the mission of the Buzzards Bay Coalition. Now in its 30th year, the Buzzards Bay Swim provides vital resources for the Coalition’s work to ensure clean water in all Bay communities, restore and protect watershed lands and get people of all ages outside and engaged with their local environment.
Participants ranged from first-time swimmers to those who competed in the first-ever event 30 years ago.
Michelle Marder from Lynnfield was one of the event’s first-time swimmers, “I’ve never done this race before, but I was really excited to raise money for the Buzzards Bay Coalition to help keep the water clean.”
Originally from New Bedford and now a Berkley resident, Matt Tweedie was one of the original 17 swimmers who jumped in the Outer Harbor 30 years ago and was back again this year. “A lot has changed since that first Buzzards Bay Swim. Thankfully many places in our Bay have improved, but there is still much to do and new challenges to face . . . I decided to swim again this year because I figured it was a fun time to do it again and support the Bay.”
Heather Cyr of New Bedford participated in the Swim for her fourth time, “I swim because clean water and a healthy coast, it doesn’t get better than that. We have to take care of our home.”
The top fundraisers were Steve Johnson of Westport, who raised a new record of $13,200, followed by Nancy Smith of Dartmouth who raised $5,450, and Jessica Whittaker of Rochester, who raised $4,400. Whittaker is also a member of the top fundraising team, For Emma, which counted 34 members and raised more than $20,000.
The fastest swimmers were Jack Bauer of Cambridge, with a time of 24 minutes and 36 seconds, and Carlyn Soares of Beverly, with a time of 24 minutes and 48 seconds. The fastest adult team, winning the Wheeler Watershed Challenge Cup, were the Salty Sea Dogs. The fastest youth team, winning the Quicks Award, was For Emma.
The Buzzards Bay Swim is one of two signature outdoor fundraising events hosted by the Coalition. The other is the Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride, a 100, 75, or 35 mile bike ride that traverses the Buzzards Bay watershed from Little Compton to Woods Hole. The 2023 Watershed Ride is scheduled for Sunday, October 1. For more information, contact the Coalition at events@savebuzzardsbay.org or (508) 999-6363.