The long-established A Long Swim Team is arriving on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard as they make final preparations for the Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard Open Water Marathon Swim with English Channel Swimmer Doug McConnell.
The first ever open water marathon swim from Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard is scheduled for August 26, 2019. Doug McConnell and the A Long Swim Team 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.
Edgartown Harbor Master Charlie Blair has been an important resource for planning the navigation of this open water swim.
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. McConnell will be wearing the latest in shark deterrent technology by E-Shark Force.
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 where McConnell is expected to land. The Harbor View Hotel is located at 131 North Water Street, Edgartown, Massachusetts 02539. Overnight accommodations may be made at www.HarborViewHotel.com. The public is welcome to register for the Landing Party here. All are welcome.
The Harbor View Hotel of Edgartown, Massachusetts on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard is hosting the Landing Party and Press Conference.
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 length of the swim. The reporter’s name is Will Sennott.
The Vineyard Gazette’s award-winning team is supporting the event.
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.”
Investment Banker/OpenWater Swimmer 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 as well as photographs and videos during the swim. A tracking device will be viewable for followers at this address. The device will be turned on at the beginning of the swim at 8:00am, Eastern time, on August 26th.
Investment Banker/Open Water Swimmer Doug McConnell is available for speaking engagements.
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, Island Spirit Kayak, and Vissant Capital. Tax deductible donations may be made on the A Long Swim website.
