A Long Swim has announced a premier open water marathon swim from Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard scheduled for August 26, 2019. English Channel Swimmer Doug McConnell will be the first swimmer ever to attempt this swim, and will have the critical support of Martha’s Vineyard boat pilots, navigation experts, and his highly seasoned open water crew that includes two experienced ocean kayakers.
The Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard swim is 18 miles, with some challenges that are specific to that route. Sharks and jellyfish top the list and navigating through tides, currents and shoals will keep the crew on alert the whole expected time of 10 hours.
There is a Landing Party Reception and Press Conference following the swim, scheduled for August 26, beginning at 5:00pm, at the beautiful Harbor View Hotel just up the beach from the Edgartown Lighthouse. The Harbor View Hotel is located at 131 North Water Street, Edgartown, Massachusetts 02539. Overnight accommodations may be made at www.HarborViewHotel.com.
A Long Swim is happy to have the support of the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette and there will be a reporter on the support boat for the entire length of the swim. The reporter’s name is Will Sennott.
In addition to the English Channel, McConnell has swum the the Ka’iwi Channel, the Catalina Channel, around the Island of Manhattan, and the length of Tampa Bay. His marathon swims raise funds for ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, through the foundation A Long Swim, an IRS-recognized 501(c)3. To date, A Long Swim has raised more than $500,000 for collaborative ALS research at Northwestern University, and ALS patients throughout the world have benefitted from their findings. In part because of A Long Swim’s efforts, the world-class research team at Northwestern is on the brink of important discoveries with announcements coming this summer.
“I am proud to be the first to attempt crossing the Nantucket Sound to land at the Edgartown Light. Marathon swimming is a team sport, and we’ve traveled the world doing what we do best – swimming in the name of finding a cure to ALS.” There is a Landing Party Reception scheduled at the Harbor View Hotel which overlooks the Edgartown Light. Landing is expected to be at 6:00pm. The Landing Party Reception is open to the public.
Doug McConnell is available for speaking engagements leading up to and following the swim and may be contacted here. Information is also available on the A Long Swim website. A Long Swim and their Facebook page will have announcements leading up to the swim.
Sponsorships are also available and corporations and foundations will join The Harbor View Hotel, The Martha’s Vineyard Gazette, Medtronic, Vineyard Vines, Phillips Men’s Wear, Truly Scrumptious Catering, and Vissant Capital. Tax deductible donations may be made on the A Long Swim website.
