Due to the extreme nature of this event (and because no other news was received) the Cabbage Island swim gets solo billing this week. Thanks to Pam Gardiner for her report and congratulations to all!

Speed was the name of the game for the 11th annual Cabbage Island swim on Sunday morning, Aug. 13. 

We knew we were in for a good workout when a newbie showed up with his seven-person (plus dog) entourage/paparazzi.  And we got really nervous when the very youngest member of his team said in an adorable and well-practiced voice, “here’s your swim buoy, Dad!”  The crowd’s competitive juices started flowing!

Now normally, I report names of participants in no particular order of completion. Not this year! First to the island was George Messner of East Boothbay/W Hartford, Connecticut, followed by speedy Jared Baker of Bayville/JOB, Lib Butler of Brunswick, and Marcus Deck of Brunswick. The non-wetsuit participants Pam Gardiner (yours truly) of Woolwich and Jeff Bauer of Tallwood were not “too” far behind.

While we lounged on the seaweed-covered rocks, we waved to Captain Craig Collins of Linekin Bay Sailing heading out with his lucky passengers on lovely S.V. Radiant (check out linekinbaysailing.com to learn more!)

I imagine the order of arrival back on the Bayville dock was roughly the same (how would I know- I was way in the back!)

Many thanks to our kayakers Jule Farmer of New Jersey; Smokey Stover, Rebecca and Ellie Stover of Bayville/JOB, and Emma Collins of Woolwich (you are definitely swimming next year, Emma!).

This year the “Shoe-In, Pacesetter” award went (of course!) to George. (Thanks to Emma for picking up a new trophy vessel at the thrift shop as the prior trophy got sucked into the black hole of the Stover cottage never to be seen again).  Now George has to come back next year!  

I look forward to welcoming more swimmers of all abilities in 2024…

As another reminder, it’s still not too late to get your news to thejeffallison@gmail.com. Make it a great Labor Day weekend!