Lake Champlain 8 mile swim

Has anyone done the Lake Champlain 8 mile OW in Burlington, VT? I entered the race this year (i'ts on 8/8/09) and was just curious of others' experiences! Jamie I did it in 1999 when it still went from NY to VT (8 miles). It was fun, although finding a boat was a challenge. Water was cool (I think about 65), but not cold. In the crossing, there were often times when there was NOTHING to see, so it got a bit disorienting. I bonked a bit and the last 45 minutes was the Swim From Hell. No lampreys, thank God, and no "Champ" (the Lake Champlain version of the Loch Ness monster). I did have a boat (flying the Canadian flag) that was playing "chicken" with me and my boat until the Coast Guard stepped in and told them it would be a long swim back to Canada if they didn't stop. I enjoyed the race (it was really more of a "tourist swim" than a race) and the only reason I haven't gone back is that it's was too long of a drive for my tastes. I think you will enjoy it. -LBJ

Has anyone done the Lake Champlain 8 mile OW in Burlington, VT? I entered the race this year (i'ts on 8/8/09) and was just curious of others' experiences! Jamie I did it in 1999 when it still went from NY to VT (8 miles). It was fun, although finding a boat was a challenge. Water was cool (I think about 65), but not cold. In the crossing, there were often times when there was NOTHING to see, so it got a bit disorienting. I bonked a bit and the last 45 minutes was the Swim From Hell. No lampreys, thank God, and no "Champ" (the Lake Champlain version of the Loch Ness monster). I did have a boat (flying the Canadian flag) that was playing "chicken" with me and my boat until the Coast Guard stepped in and told them it would be a long swim back to Canada if they didn't stop. I enjoyed the race (it was really more of a "tourist swim" than a race) and the only reason I haven't gone back is that it's was too long of a drive for my tastes. I think you will enjoy it. -LBJ