The Glen Lake Swim, Episode 4: The Beast from Loch Glennie. A celebration of the Goffstown Giant’s relationship to Scotland’s Nessie.

Winner of the two mile race, Eric Nilsson from Boston, MA swims alongside support kayaker Dave Delahunty (Ed Smith Photo)

GOFFSTOWN, NH: The Glen Lake Swim, Episode 4: The Beast from Loch Glennie was held in Goffstown, NH on August 14th. It was a beautiful sunny day with water temperatures at 77 degrees, making it perfect for swimming. The Glen Lake Swim comes with a subtitle each year. The first year was “The Search For Glennie,” episode 2 was called “Glennie Rises.” Last year was “Glennie Strikes Back,” which put a Star Wars spin on the Glennie story. Glennie is the friendly plesiosaur-like creature that has been trapped in Glen Lake since the Gregg’s Falls Dam was constructed in 1918. A full description and history of the mysterious creature, along with photos and several videos, is posted at the event website.

The 2022 “Beast From Loch Glennie” event was a tribute to Nessie, from Loch Ness in Scotland, the granddaddy of all lake monsters. As such, the swimmers were greeted by Jeff Rowan, a Sottish bagpiper in full kilt and regalia as they exited the water.

Master Swimmer turned announcer, Tracy Grilli, interviews One-Mile winners Sean Carter and Kysa Crusco. (Gary Girolimon Photo)

“At any race, running, cycling, or swimming, there are a group of competitors that are trying to win,” says race director Gary Girolimon. “The rest of the participants are there to challenge themselves and have to fun. By creating a theme we are enhancing the fun by making them part of an adventure.” And if the comments received after the race from many participants are any indication, this goal was achieved. Those who were there to race were not disappointed, either. The course was a mile-long narrow triangular circuit, lined with brightly-colored course marker buoys. Large orange buoys marked the turns and yellow buoys lined the straightaways.

Safety was, and always is, a priority at the Glen Lake Swim. Race support was provided by more than a dozen kayakers and paddle boarders that paralleled the swimmers as they navigated the lake. Another dozen kayakers were certified life guards that took up assigned positions on the course. New Hampshire Marine Patrol was on the lake to keep recreational boat traffic away from the course, and the Goffstown Fire Department was on the water to provide assistance if any was needed. The event also had two volunteer boats on the course, one of which transported Dr. David Lewis, a physician and the organizing committee’s safety representative. Goffstown CERT was shore-side ready to provide any assistance necessary. Luckily no assistance was necessary on the water or on dry land.

Jeff Rowan, Scottish Bag Piper greets the swimmers as they exit the water. (Dave Belliveau Photo)

Swimming to victory in the one mile race was Sean Carter, Deerfield, NH (skins), finishing in 26:18. Winning the women’s skins division was Kysa Crusco, Manchester, NH at 26:45. In the wetsuit division, Christian Avard, Lebanon, NH took top honors for males at 29:36, and the women's wetsuit competition was won by Jocelyn Nokes, Nashua, NH at 30:04.

In the two mile race Eric Nilsson, Boston , MA (skins) was first out of the water after swimming a blistering 42:09 – besting his record time from last year by over two minutes. First overall female was Katie Chevalier, Meredith, NH (skins) at 56:42. First male wetsuit swimmer was Stuart Cromarty, Foster, RI at 46:14 and the first female wetsuit swimmer was Meredith Wegener, Nashua, NH at 1:07:34. Full results are posted at https://www.glenlakeswim.com.

After the swim, the festivities continued at the “Mini Glennie Expo” with raffles, dancing, awards and exhibits. In keeping with the theme, the trophies were gold, silver, and bronze Glennies. At noon the festivities moved to the Mountain Base Brewery-sponsored after-party, where the theme of the 2023 Glen Lake Swim was revealed: Viva Las Glennie – proving that Glennie does indeed rock!

Goffstown Television covered the event with a multi-camera shoot that included two drones. The footage is being edited down into a program that they plan to premiere at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester, NH later in the year, followed by online availability. The premier will be free to all swim participants, volunteers and their families.

Swimmers traversing Glen Lake as viewed from above. (Mark Nigro Photo)

Top prizes for the event were furnished by SwimOutlet.com, DICK’S Sporting Goods, and Runner’s Alley/Marathon Sports. Many other local and regional sponsors contributed to the event’s success, including: Eversource, New Wave Swim Buoy, Executive Health & Sports Center, Northeast Delta Dental, Fidium Fiber, Sully's Superette, SweetWater Swim Studio, Chunky's Cinema Pub, Mountain Base Brewery, Pelmac Industries, St. Mary's Bank, Lewis Physical Medicine, Staples - Bedford, NH, Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc., Picky Bars, Panera Bread, Stonyfield Farms, Goldenrod Restaurant, Goffstown ACE Hardware, Goffstown Hannaford, Picky Bars, Trek Bicycles, and Domino's Pizza, Goffstown.

The Glen Lake Swim is organized by the Granite State Health & Fitness Foundation, an independent, volunteer operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization striving to promote and support health, fitness, and wellness opportunities in the community.

Contact: Gary Girolimon, Race Director, gary@gshff.org

Pointers for Early-Season Open Water Swimming

Contributed by Guy Davis, Jennifer Downing, Bob Fernald, & Elaine Howley

Happy spring, and we hope you and your families are safe and well. In these disrupted times, our greatest responsibility is to do what we must to minimize the consequences of this public health crisis for the community and especially for vulnerable individuals. But at the same time, we need to find ways of staying sane and healthy in the face of a very uncertain timeline.

As swimmers, most of us are facing pool and gym closures. This reality is hard on many swimmers who find not just physical, but mental health benefits from swimming regularly. We have already seen many creative adaptations to these restrictions with a great deal of information shared online to help redesign and redirect our fitness regimens.

With most (if not all) pools across our LMSC closed for the foreseeable future, it’s not just the open water die-hards who are eagerly waiting for the lakes and ocean to warm up before beginning their regular outdoor training. While swimming in open water is an appealing option in light of the current public health crisis, we want to raise a few points of consideration before you do. This advice is aimed primarily at first-timers who might be looking to try open water swimming as an early-season substitute while our pools remain closed, but open water veterans should also take heed of these important precautions we raise below.

It’s important to remember that social distancing remains a public health imperative. In the southern states, where waters are already warm enough for swimming, throngs of spring breakers led to the closure of many beaches and other open water swimming venues. Currently, this isn’t a big issue in the Northeast because it’s still too cold for most would-be beachgoers and open water swimmers. But closures may well become a reality here as our own weather warms and the pandemic widens. The closure of the L Street Bathhouse in Boston is perhaps a foretaste of future restrictions.

Even with some venues still “open” for open water swimming, these are likely to be “less traveled” and therefore less regulated and potentially less safe. Safety has a more important public health dimension now than ever before—any private actions that lead to unnecessary demands on our overburdened emergency and health services are particularly problematic in these times when our first responders and hospitals are already facing unprecedented pressure. If you get into trouble in open water and need assistance or care, you’re diverting public health resources and emergency responders who are needed to cope with other emergencies. You’re also potentially putting those responders and caregivers at risk, too.

With all this in mind, we thought it might be helpful to share a few broad thoughts and perspectives with our less experienced open water swimming members, or those who might be thinking about trying it for the first time. Should you decide to venture into the open water over the next month or two, please carefully consider all aspects of the public health situation and check out the pointers and resources we’ve provided below.

Disclaimer: The following advice represents the views and expertise of several seasoned open water swimmers and should not be taken as an official recommendation from the NELMSC.

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General pointers for Open Water Swimming (OWS) newbies:

1. Get informed! Please read articles like the ones below and consult with experienced OW swimmers before taking your first plunge. Typically, first timers should only venture out with a group of experienced swimmers who can help guide you. Social distancing makes this a more difficult endeavor, but still, it’s important that you should never swim alone, particularly in very cold water.

2. Know yourself. Everyone has a different tolerance of cold, and if you are not used to it, you will likely need to acclimate to colder water. Wetsuits of course help a lot with thermal protection, as can gloves, booties, and neoprene hats, but they do not make you immune to the effects of colder water. The lakes and ponds in New England typically warm up faster than the ocean. Walden Pond, a suburban Boston OWS venue, typically reaches temperatures of over 60F (still very cold for most people) in late May. As of March 22, Walden was 44 degrees. Think about whether that’s a reasonable place for you to start your open water journey. For most, it’s not, and it’s best to wait and let the coming warmer temperatures have a chance to work their magic. (For reference, USMS rules allow race directors to permit the use of wetsuits at temperatures below 78F. In elite OWS competition, wetsuits are optional for swimmers at temperatures below 68F and are required at temperatures below 64F (18C). A few very hardy and very experienced open water swimmers train without wetsuits at lower temperatures, but they are well acclimated to cold water swimming.)

3. Focus on safety, safety, safety. If you choose to swim at this time, it's ultimately YOUR responsibility to ensure your own safety. Open water safety is never something to underestimate, and even more so during this time. You need to take safety very seriously. Learn about OWS best practices before you start.

4. Know your venue. Every venue is different, and water and air temperatures, currents, and other local conditions vary from venue to venue. Do your homework about the particular location you’ll be visiting, and never stop thinking about safety precautions. Swimming in cold water presents its own set of safety considerations, and you must be prepared to cope with the cold both while in the water and afterwards.

5. Stay distant. Though it’s never smart to swim alone, during this COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical that you continue practicing social distancing and avoid sharing gear. This means wetsuits, caps, booties, gloves and especially goggles. (It’s believed the virus can be transmitted via the mucus membranes in the eyes.) Research suggests that the virus can remain active on surfaces for up to three days.

6. Assume every surface is contaminated. Many health experts are urging us to just assume that every surface we encounter—especially in a public space—is contaminated with the coronavirus. This is not to be alarmist, but rather to get you thinking with a critical eye of all the ways the virus can be transmitted. Therefore, consider where you are leaving your belongings when you go for a swim. Can you reduce your contact with surfaces in public spaces? Avoid sharing communal thermoses, water bottles, or food. And when you go home, be sure to wash and disinfect all your clothing and gear to prevent bringing the virus into your home.

7. Start slowly and progressively. If you still want to swim in open water, do so cautiously. Stay within your limits and gradually extend your time in the water as your knowledge and experience increases. As mentioned above, never swim alone, and especially when first starting out. Join a more experienced group that can help provide guidance and support from at least 6 feet away!

Please reach out within your swimming circle, or to the wider NELMSC community for advice and resources that could be useful to you. Look out for open water clinics to help you develop your skills and knowledge.

Stay safe and have fun!

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Suggested OWS Resources:

What Gear Do I Need

Wetsuit Pros & Cons

Where to Swim

Cold Water Acclimation Training

Cold Water Swimming Guide

New England hosts USMS Open Water National Championships at Lake Willoughby

Contributed by Alana Aubin, NELMSC Communications Chair, and Laurie Hug

Results

More photos

Wave 2 of the Sprint-Distance Open Water National Championship begins. (Photo by Rick Osterberg)

WESTMORE, VT – More than 100 USMS swimmers gathered at Lake Willoughby, Vermont August 16-17 for the 2019 USMS Open Water National Championships. The event was hosted by the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association (NEKOWSA), as part of its Swim the Kingdom Week, with support from the New England LMSC (NELMSC). 

On Friday, 93 swimmers took to the water for the Sprint-Distance National Championship, a 1-mile buoy course off the lake’s North Beach. The water was around 70F and a southerly wind caused 1-2 foot waves. The race was run in three waves of 30-32 swimmers each. The top six in each age group took home a custom “woodal” and National Champions also garnered a jug of Vermont maple syrup.

Ildiko Szekely, Jessica Stokes, Jennifer Downing, & Alana Aubin before the 1-mile race. (Photo by Rick Osterberg)

In wave one, Kim Elsbach posted the fastest time (23:24) to earn the national title in the women’s 55-59 age group with nearly a minute lead over the 60-64 champion, Karen Einsidler. New Englanders Tracy Grilli, Ann Swift, and Margaret Haskins filled out the next three 60-64 spots, while Martha Wood was the 55-59 runner up. Joel Feldmann (65-69) and Cynthia Needham (70-74) both took third in their age groups.

In the all-male second wave, Stuart Cromarty emerged from the lake first in 21:08 to take home the national title in the men’s 55-59 age category with Rob Allen not far behind to earn the 50-54 title. Guy Davis took first in 60-64 while Douglas Sayles (50-54) and Tom Phillips (45-49) grabbed second in their age groups.

In wave three, Ildiko Szekely produced the overall fastest time of the day in 21:05 after a tight race with Mackenzie Leake, who became the 25-29 champion. Szekely won the women’s 40-44 age group, followed by Jessica Stokes and Jennifer Downing. Alana Aubin (25-59), Kimberly Fry (35-39), and Karyn Scherer (45-49) each picked up second place in their age groups.

The start of Saturday’s Lake Willoughby crossing. (Photo by Rick Osterberg)

On Saturday, 82 athletes completed a 5-mile Lake Willoughby crossing, swimming South to North for this year’s Long-Distance Open Water National Championship. Conditions were similar to Friday, with water 68-70 degrees and a tailwind from the south pushing swimmers along and creating waves up to a foot. Upon finishing on the sandy North Beach, swimmers and their escort kayakers were treated to a pig roast. Winners took home beef jerky and more custom woodals.

Eric Nilsson took the overall win and men’s 30-34 title in an astounding 1:36:21 while Mackenzie Leake picked up her second national title of the weekend by winning the women’s event (and the 25-29 age group) in 1:45:57.

Swimmers and kayakers make their way across Lake Willoughby. (Photo by Rick Osterberg)

New England athletes dominated the women’s 40-44 division with Jessica Stokes, Jennifer Downing, and Laurie Craigen sweeping the podium. Jennifer Olsen and Merin Troutman were the top two finishers in the women’s 45-49 group. Jessica Moore and Janelle Guyot were second and third in the 35-39 group while Tracy Grilli led Nancy Johnston, Margaret Haskins, and Joanna Florio-Jeffereys in positions 2-5 of the 60-64 division. Cynthia Needham (70-74) and Alana Aubin (25-29) each finished second while Martha Wood (55-59) was third.

On the men’s side, Mike Broglio and Christopher Graefe went 1-2 in the 45-49 age group while Douglas Sayles (50-54), Phil Schoepke (55-59), and Guy Davis (60-64) each won their age groups. 

Both days, several lucky participants won an extra prize—a custom-embroidered TYR Alliance backpack, FINIS duo underwater MP3 player, or USMS apparel—provided by the NELMSC via bib number lottery. Athletes in both races admired the beauty of Lake Willoughby and competed in the spirit of the Northeast Kingdom: No lanes, no lines, no limits.

NEKOWSA will host next year’s USMS Ultramarathon-Distance Open Water National Championship at Lake Memphremagog on July 25, 2020.

Swimmers just before starting their Lake Willoughby crossing. (Photo by Phil White)

Musings from my Summer of Open Water Swimming

Contributed by Jennifer Downing, NEM-CRM

SAA Boston Harbor Swim

My favorite day of the year happens each July—the Swim Across America (SAA) Boston Harbor Swim. This year’s event was particularly special in that we honored long-time Event Director extraordinaire and my dear friend, Kitty Tetrault, after 30 years of incredible service. When Kitty asks you to help the only answer is “of course!,” so I promised I’d be back from my family vacation in time. Each swimmer is asked to raise at least $2,000 to help fund quality-of-life clinical research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and pediatric oncology research at Mass General Hospital for Children Cancer Center. Collectively we raised over $260,000 this year for these terrific institutions.

The Harbor Swim takes the form of a “relay” with two boats dropping their 8-12 swimmers in alternating, 15-minute heats over the course of the day. While most swimmers complete 4-5 heats on average, a select number of participants are designated as “angel swimmers,” meaning that they volunteer to do extra heats and keep any swimmers company who may be less comfortable in the ocean. I was lucky enough to complete 15 heats as an angel swimmer this year, totaling just over three hours in the water. Mother Nature gave us a bit of everything: the morning started with fog and misty drizzle, but by the return leg we had blue skies and sunshine. We also had the benefit of a strong tide on the way out, so we arrived at the Boston Light very quickly and were able to enjoy a more leisurely trip past Georges, Lovells, Gallops, Long, and Spectacle Island as the weather improved. Major kudos and thanks to Kitty for a stellar career, and please consider coming out to one of the Boston-area SAA events in the future!

Kitty Tetrault

SAA swimmers making their way back to Boston

Misery Challenge

results

Two days after SAA Boston Harbor, I headed north to the 5th Annual Misery Challenge, a multi-sport event offering a 3-mile or 1.5-mile swim (new this year), SUP, row, or kayak. Each year Race Director Josh Crosby makes this event bigger and better, bringing in local sponsors and raising awareness for Humans for Oceans. The event is named for Misery Island in Manchester, MA and the swim consists of a lollipop-shaped course heading out through the Manchester Channel to the island and back. The tide was high and the water temperature was great, but the sun glare on the return leg made sighting a real challenge. Plus, the buoys seemed nicely closer together at the start but were spread further apart as you got into the course; I guess that’s half the fun of being a “Challenge Finisher!” This was my 4th time doing the 3-mile and I was pleased to finish 8th non-wetsuit overall, as the 4th female and 1st in my age group.

Swimmers coming into the finish at Misery Challenge

Nubble Light Challenge

Results

Continuing up the coast a bit further, I found myself three weeks later in York, ME for the Nubble Light Challenge, a 2.4-mile swim to benefit the Maine Chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Although the ocean was unseasonably warm by early August, a mid-week storm and strong off-shore breezes sucked all the warm water out to sea just days before the event. That meant on race day that we were faced with 56 degrees in the “Gut” (the narrow passage between the peninsula and the Nubble Light island), and sub-60 for the entire swim. In addition to the cold temps, we faced a cross-wind that caused “washing machine” action for much of the second half. I love days when the ocean has “personality,” but this race was not for the faint of heart. Race directors Bob Reed, Bob Fernald, and Jennifer Zorn and their safety crew did a great job monitoring the course and had stressed early on that wetsuits were encouraged. One hundred thirty swimmers finished the race, and of the 18 “skins,” most were fellow members of the Nahant Knuckleheads or L Street gang, so we were a small but mighty bunch. This was only my second time doing the swim, but I will definitely be back for more! Eric Nilsson (overall winner, and “skin” swimmer, no less!) shared drone footage taken by his dad. It truly is a beautiful spot, even if the aerials don’t do the waves justice.

Hearty cold-water swimmers after the Nubble Light Challenge

Kingdom Swim Draws a Crowd to Lake Memphremagog

Contributed by Charlotte Brynn, NELMSC Open Water Chair

Photos

Results

NEWPORT, VT — The 11th Annual Kingdom Swim was held on Saturday, July 27th under sunny skies at Lake Memphremagog in Newport, Vermont. In 73-75F waters, swimmers raced the 1 mile, 5 km, 10 km, 10 mile, or 25 km Border Buster event to Canada and back. U.S. Masters Swimming clubs from around the nation were well-represented, with 120 swimmers coming from California, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, New Mexico, and more. Many New England LMSC athletes posted top finishes.

Shipp, Davis, and McMahon after the men’s Border Buster

Onos, Brynn, and Andrews after the women’s Border Buster

NELMSC Vice-Chair Guy Davis (GBM), 60, won the men’s 25 km Border Buster race in 7:28:16, taking home a beautifully hand-carved Vermont walking stick. Bill Shipp (UMAC), 66, was runner up and third place went to Martin McMahon (CONN), 56. Twenty-two-year-old Melissa Andrews of Franconia, NH won her own Vermont walking stick by finishing first in the women’s Border Buster in 7:33:44. Runner up was 53-year-old Charlotte Brynn (NEM-STOW) and third place went to Abigail Onos, 24, of Arlington, VA.

Men’s 10-mile podium finishers Borgatti, Breital, and Spiegal

In the 10-mile race, 52-year-old Robert Breital of Philadelphia, PA finished first overall in 4:43:27, followed by Christopher Borgatti, 42, of Byfield, MA. Steven Spiegel, 58, of Amherst, MA took third place in the men’s division. On the women’s side, 40-year-old Puranjot Khalsa (MESC) placed first, besting Britt Hulbert, 50, of Bar Harbor, ME and Ruth Gilgenbach, 35, of Lawrence Township, NJ.

In the 10 km race, Mark Loftis (PSM-MIR), 59, stormed away from the field to emerge first in a time of 2:48:36. The women’s 10k came down to the finish with Jocelyn Stephen, 43, of Toronto, ON besting 39-year-old Hilary Sullivan (NEM-SIMM) by only 21 seconds to take first in a time of 3:17:35.

Sheldon Katz, 60, of South Burlington, VT finished first in the 5 km event, with second place going to Dane Krampitz, 62, of Groton, MA. In the women’s field Teresa Holland (NEM-YNS), 50, finished first in 1:31:58 and Cara Hancy (NEM-JSC), 40, was second. Katz also won the men’s 1-mile event in 23:35 while 58-year-old Karen Harrison (PCAT) won the women’s event in 25:14.

Next year’s Kingdom Swim will be held on July 25th, 2020. The 10-mile Kingdom Swim race will be the 2020 USMS Ultramarathon-Distance Open Water Championship. Other Kingdom Swim courses include the 25km Border Buster, the 10km Kingdom Swim, the 5km Kingdom Swim, and the 1-mile Kingdom Swim. Mark your calendar & set a goal to compete and enjoy the beauty and friendliness of open-water competition in the scenic Northeast Kingdom of Vermont!

Glennie Rises at Second Annual Glen Lake Swim

Contributed by Gary Girolimon, Race Director

Results

GOFFSTOWN, NH — The Glen Lake Swim, Episode 2: Glennie Rises, held on August 11th, attracted swimmers from throughout New England and beyond. The U.S. Masters Swimming-sanctioned competition featured a one-mile and a two-mile race. The weather could not have been more perfect, with 80 degree air temperatures and 74 degree waters.

The first of three swim waves heads out from the start.

Glennie, the friendly lake monster, is the mascot of the event. Glennie and similar lake monsters such as Champ of Lake Champlain, Memphre of Lake Memphremagog and Winni of Lake Winnipesaukee, are part of Native American folklore, so it was fitting that Chief Paul W. Pouliot of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook Abenaki People made an offering to the aquatic life before the race start.

All swimmers took home a "Piece of the Beast," a Glennie tooth finisher medal. Many swimmers reported seeing Glennie on the waters, but the creature kept its distance and did not interfere with the race. There were abundant awards and raffles, separate scoring divisions for wetsuited and “skins” athletes, and a very unique Jurassic Park Glennie t-shirt for all participants.

After the swim a mini-expo was held at the site featuring local artists, salsa dancing and Glennie-themed kids' activities such as coloring and face painting. After the awards ceremony, the celebration moved to the Harpoon Brewery-sponsored party at Village Trestle in Goffstown.

The event is organized under the umbrella of the Granite State Health and Fitness Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and all profits from the event will be used to to promote aquatic safety, to enhance health and wellness, and to promote area recreational opportunities.

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AWARDS

One Mile - Skins

TOP 3 FEMALE

1. Aileen O'Connell 30:11

2. Rachel Modlinsky 30:16

3. Alexis Dwyer 31:58

TOP 3 MALE

1. Parker Wheat 26:06

2. Michael Giraldi 26:59

3. Abhinav Sridhar 27:41

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One Mile - Wetsuit

TOP 3 FEMALE

1. Kelley O'hara 39:10

2. Andrea Bonito 39:12

3. Kristine Decourcey 39:13

TOP 3 MALE

1. Patrick McDeed 27:12

2. Matthew Stundtner 31:13

3. Timothy Collard 32:36

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Two Mile - Skins

TOP 3 FEMALE

1. Katharine Radville 55:57

2. Madison Guay 58:10

3. Abby Brethauer 58:54

TOP 3 MALE

1. Frans Lawaetz 58:00

2. Sean Carter 58:38

3. Gil Rosenberg 1:04:30

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Two Mile - Wetsuit

TOP 3 FEMALE

1. Jocelyn Nokes 55:14

2. Molly Zahr 58:40

3. Linda Watts 59:20

TOP 3 MALE

1. Stuart Cromarty 49:04

2. Nic Ohman 50:29

3. Adam Langmaid 55:44

Swim Spots We Love: Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly, RI

Is there an open water swim spot you love? Tell us about it!

Contributed by Bridget M.M. Simpson, Adirondack Masters

WESTERLY, RI — The first time I saw the ocean was at Misquamicut State Beach when I was a little girl. About ten years ago, I started making the trek back from northern New York state each summer with my kids. The bathhouse is new and features a daughter-approved play area, there is plenty of sandy beach, and the dune has been left to grow sea grasses.

Bridget Simpson surveys her domain at Misquamicut State Beach (photo by Quinn Simpson)

The beach: The beach features lifeguards, coin-operated hot showers, composting toilets, and a concession stand. A Rhode Island seasonal beach parking pass is well worth it to access all of the state’s beaches and their well-maintained facilities. The Misquamicut lot will fill on a weekend morning—I once went to Mass on a Sunday morning and had to wait until about mid-afternoon to park. After hours, the parking lot is open at no charge and the on-beach cold showers may still be working.

Where to swim: I swim between Paddy’s Beach Bar and the Westerly Town Beach, just past the breakers. The swim area is marked by widely spaced buoys far from shore. I have seen a few boats come close to the buoy limits, but I swim about midway between beach and buoy line. I feel safe, but do pay attention. Past Misquamicut, the beaches are guarded, and I may swim past a few more along Atlantic Avenue this summer.

Water conditions: The guards like my bright tow buoy. I swim in deep water, but I can see the ripples in the sand below me. It is brisk—usually in the mid-to-high 60s—but last summer had days in the low-to-mid 70s. There are occasionally rip currents; I once swam for about a half hour with no progress. It was a good workout, and the guards could tell I was not in distress.

Wildlife: Occasionally, seaweed floats on the water in patches or clouds, and last summer there were a few days in August with periodic moon-jellies. Like small, clear jellybeans, they made the water feel like tapioca. While weird, they only caused a problem when some got stuck in my suit and made me itch. Newer, snugger suits had kept them out. In a race or event, I’d have kept going, but since this was a vacation swim, I swapped my goggles for the sunglasses in my tow float and enjoyed a walk on the beach instead.

The Simpson children enjoy the sandy beach

Refueling: My tow float can hold a sundress (in a Ziplock bag), a small snack, and water. I can take a break along the way, and maybe go for clam cakes or a bowl of chowder from Two Little Fish, a great place for lunch just across Atlantic Avenue from the east end of Misquamicut. The dry bag closure can clip around the belt, so I don't have to carry it. Ever so stylish!

Where to stay: Sometimes I make three trips to Misquamicut during the summer. I tent at nearby Burlingame Campgrounds in Charlestown. Sites will book solid on a weekend or holiday, but I risk a walk-in space on weeknights for spur-of-the-moment trips. I check email and fill my cooler on my way to the beach. There are lovely motels and hotels in the area, but I like my cot and tent.

How to join me: I am a solo swimmer, but would be happy to meet up with swimmers when I am in the area. Some trips last a few days, but I have been known to drive down, sleep the night, swim all day, and get back in the car to drive home. Contact Bridget here.

Is there an open water swim spot you love? Tell us about it!

MBCC's Against The Tide Event is a Hidden Gem

HOPKINTON, MA — On June 15, I participated once again in the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition’s Against the Tide 1-mile open water swim at Hopkinton State Park.

I have to admit that as I write this article, I am bewildered by how few of my fellow masters swimmers opt to participate in this race. I always thought MBCC ran a good event. After helping them with some suggestions over the years, I now think they run a GREAT event. Here are just a few things that make this race worthwhile:

Al Prescott is recognized by MBCC for his efforts in helping the race director.

• They offer a competitive 1-mile race, one loop around an island, that is the SAME distance every year.

• They offer a completely separate non-competitive race for beginners and folks who just want to take it easy or try it out.

• You get free access to the Hopkinton State Park and can stay all day.

• They have free HOT breakfast for EVERYONE.

• They offer events for the whole family including running races, a paddle board race, a kayak race, and more.

• I got a free 15-minute massage after the race.

• Your entry fee helps support research and prevention of a deadly disease.

“If you are looking for a good early—but not too early—season event, come to Hopkinton next year and try to knock me out of the Top 10. Win or lose, I’ll meet you for a hot egg and cheese sandwich after the race.”

— “Big” Al Prescott, NEM-MAMA, NELMSC Treasurer

Al Prescott, Jocelyn Noakes, and Frank Reinhold celebrate their efforts in the 1-mile swim

Despite this, the race director has confided in me confusion. Years ago, it was normal to get 60 to 100 people in the swim race. Now the numbers are in the 30s. While I plan to do this race into the foreseeable future, that future looks murky. I'm not sure what more the race director can do to promote this race, and I have promised to help them brainstorm.

In the meantime, let me try this: I have won my age group and finished in the top 10 each time I have done this race. This year, I challenged one of my teammates to compete with me. She beat me and won her age group. So to the rest of New England: if you are looking for a good early—but not too early—season event, come to Hopkinton next year and try to knock me out of the Top 10. Win or lose, I'll meet you for a hot egg and cheese sandwich after the race.

- “Big” Al Prescott, NEM-MAMA, NELMSC Treasurer

MBCC will host their second event of the summer, Against the Tide - Brewster, on August 17 at Nickerson State Park.

Swim spots we love: Jenness State Beach in Rye, NH

Is there an open water swim spot you love? Tell us about it!

Contributed by Guy Davis, GBM & NELMSC Vice-Chair

RYE, NH — I'm very lucky to live within an easy drive to Rye, NH, and have been swimming at Jenness State Beach—also known as Rye Beach—for the last decade. The north section is also known as Cable Beach (confusing, huh?) because it is the place where one of the the first trans-Atlantic communications cables came ashore in 1874. It's a wonderful venue for open water swimming, but of course as an ocean venue, we need to respect and understand the weather, surf and other conditions and take the appropriate safety precautions. 

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Getting there: The beach is about a mile long, with the State Beach parking lot at around the midpoint. This area becomes busy during the summer so my pod usually swims from the north end of the beach, where there is access to the beach and plenty of street parking even during busy weekends, though a short walk might be required on those days. Take care to respect the Rye parking notices and rules; your car wheels must be outside the white lines (completely off the road) to avoid a ticket.

The beach: The beach is protected by rocky headlands at either end but, other than a few rocks close to the state parking lot which are well-submerged except at low tide, generally hazard-free. It is lifeguarded during the summer. The water is usually very clean but sometimes seaweed piles up at one end of the beach so we occasionally need to wade or swim through some of it to the clean water.

Water temperature: The water is cool or cold throughout the summer and can vary widely from day to day depending on wind conditions. When there are consistently strong offshore winds the water can drop into the 50s even at the height of summer and the temperature rarely exceeds the mid 60s. A good proxy for the temperature you can expect is the reading at NOAA's Wells buoy.

Most of our pod swims in a wetsuit throughout the season, but we have a few hardy “channel” type swimmers who swim skins for most or all of the year.

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Surf: Rye Beach is a popular surf spot. The beach conditions can be checked on the surf cam of the local surf shop. Surf conditions vary a great deal from dead calm to over head-high, so checking ahead is a good idea. When surf is up, we make sure to swim outside the surf line and away from the surfers for calmer water and to avoid any risk of collision. On these days, particular care needs to be taken when swimming out through the surf or back into the beach. Getting through the surf can be challenging, so be sure to swim within your experience and capabilities. Although uncommon at Rye, riptides are always a consideration in ocean beach swimming, so take care to understand these and other hazards of ocean swimming. Consulting with the lifeguards and letting them know of your swim plans is always a good idea when swimming in a less familiar venue.

Boats: Boat presence is very unusual, but on calm days a couple of fishing boats may approach the shore, usually at the ends of the beach.

Wildlife: There has never been a recorded “big fish” incident on NH beaches and I have never heard of any jellyfish problems from local swimmers.

When we swim: We swim fairly regularly on Saturday and Sunday mornings at about 7am throughout the summer. Come join us! (If you need more information, check out the Great Bay Masters group on Facebook.)

Please note: These swims are informal, unsanctioned, and at your own risk.

Is there an open water swim spot you love? Tell us about it!