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Early each summer, 40 or so moderately crazy swimmers make a 7.5 mile crossing of the mouth of the Potomac River, from the Northern Neck of Virginia to Point Lookout State Park in Maryland. The swimmers are escorted by kayaks, and the kayaks in turn are escorted by Whalers (and sometimes some non-Whaler friends as well). We also have the support of the US Coast Guard, USCG Auxiliary, and the Maryland Natural Resources Police.

This year's swim will be on Saturday, June 1st. Activities commence on Friday evening at 6pm with a spaghetti dinner at Trinity Parish Church in Saint Marys, Maryland, followed by some beers and fish stories sitting around by the boats. Overnight hotel accommodations are provided at no charge for the boaters (details to be determined). We launch at Point Lookout at about 6:30am, with the swimmers and kayakers typically transported across the Potomac on some commercial fishing boats; the smaller Whalers then ferry the swimmers from the boats to the beach for an 8am start. In the event of bad weather, which seems to happen as often as not, we'll generally avoid the river crossing and hold a shorter out-and-back swim from the park.

During the swim, the Whalers patrol the swim area, coordinating with the USCG and the DNR to keep passing boats away from the swimmers and kayakers, and occasionally picking up a swimmer who is unable to complete the crossing. The swim organizers typically terminate the event by about 3pm, since afternoon thunderstorms are typical in the area this time of year. While there is an after-swim picnic at the park, the boaters are usually the last ones off the water, so we generally join up for an early dinner at a nearby seafood restaurant before heading home.

Swim event information can be found at http://www.potomacriverswim.com/rswim.com/, and boater-specific info is at http://www.potomacriverswim.com/pr201...r2019b.htm. In the past we've had people come from as far away as Ohio (more than once!), so from near or far we'll do our best to make you feel welcome!

Sound like fun? If you'd like to participate, email me at (Removed email per guideline #4 at the top of this page)

Thanks,
Bob

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Bob,

I've wanted to help in past years but have always had conflicts. Don't know whether that will be the case again this year, but I am curious about some of the details.

Suppose I were to make the run down the Potomac by boat rather than trailering. Would there be slips available somewhere in the vicinity?

I am trying to think where the hotel(s) would be in proximity to Pt. Lookout? Back up in Lexington Park, or is there something closer?

Anyway, you can add me to your list of "maybes" (I have a 19 Outrage II, in case it matters.) But if I have no conflict, I will definitely be prioritizing this event. Thanks for your help with organizing. - John

EDIT: P.S. I will send you a note to gmail.

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Answered by email, but if others are interested, Point Lookout State Park allows us to use their finger piers overnight.

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I'm in and looking forward to it.

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Wow that does sound like so much fun. How did they get to having just whalers for support boats? Love to bring my 1966 Nauset custom. Can't come though in early June. Have fun out on the river.

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Stovebolt, email me at (REMOVED EMAIL per guidleine #4 at the top of this page)
so I can get your name, email, and phone for further updates as things develop. Thanks! Great looking boat!

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Oh, we take non-Whaler volunteers too, though we gently berate them on their poor choice of boats. :-)

I think this started 10+ years ago and was originally organized Scott Leidig who worked at Chesapeake Whalertowne.

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Oooh, Berating other boaters sounds like fun --
This thing keeps getting better!