Boston Light Swim

Thank you! I am getting interested in the history of long-distance OW swimming and will contact the race director to learn more. VB

That would be your English Channel-swimming daughter? Congratulations, by the way! On both swims! There were 19 swimmers this year. Three swam a relay, two did not finish. I am getting interested in the history and personal accounts of this strange pursuit of long-distance OW swimming. Many thanks for your response (and to those who responded earlier). Lake Michigan was pretty wavy this morning! I have joined a new group for 6 a.m. OW swims. Pretty zesty! Best, VB

"The oldest continuously contested open water swim in the country." Looks interesting. Only 19 registrants this year, its hundredth anniversary. Has anyone done it? I'd be interested in hearing impressions of swimmers and learning some of the history. www.bostonlightswim.org Thanks. I did it in 2004. It's a great swim, but... it can be cold (sub-60 not uncommon), no wetsuits allowed. Also, it can be rough - at one point I was watching the bow of my boat looking like it was going to go under and stay there. It can be very difficult to get a boat as well, and not cheap if you can. That said, it was a lot of fun. In general you have the current with you most of the way, except for about a 2 mile stretch after you go under the only bridge and in that stretch you get pushed sideways like crazy. The course is also quite picturesque, believe it or not. Highly recommended as long as you are willing to deal with the more challenging aspects. If you want to know more about the race, contact the race director. He's very nice and has a number of newspaper clippings from years past that give race accounts. -LBJ

My daughter swam it last year. I never forget her phone call after the race. "Dad!, you wouldnt believe it!! They almost called the race, but the Coast Guard allowed them to anyway." Some of the boats could not go, as it was the worse conditions in the history of the race." The swells were incrediable, in one place I swam a long time did not get anywhere!" "Winds were very high, along with the waves." It was so much FUN!" lol I believe they limit entries, but was well run and something very different.