After months of preparation and coordination, the 41st annual Save the Bay Swim was canceled Saturday due to unsafe weather conditions. While keeping an eye on a weather system in Nantucket, the Coast Guard and Save the Bay officials agreed to call off the event around 5 p.m. on Friday, only the second time in its 40-year history. 

Unfortunately, more than 500 swimmers and 200 kayakers from 18 states and two countries will not be given a second chance to make the trek across the bay this year. Save the Bay Executive Director Jonathan Stone told the Beacon on Friday security issues with the Navy and complicated coordination were key to the decision to not reschedule. The 1.7-mile journey was planned to start at the Navy base in Newport ending at Potter Cove in Jamestown. 

“Last year we had swimmers from 29 states, we have over 50 vendors, and working with security issues with the Navy, we can’t reschedule,” Stone said.

He added that the one time it had been rescheduled since its conception in 1977, the rain date was pushed back to late September and participants felt the conditions were cold and attendance was low. 

Even this year, Stone said fewer swimmers and kayakers signed up than previously, guessing it was due to the early start time of 6:15 a.m., with participants needing to arrive as early at 4 a.m. to check in.

“Swimmers are like the rest of us, they don’t want to be up early,” he added. 

John Long of Warwick completed the STB Swim with friends from the McDermott Pool since 2002 when his mentor, the late Win Wilson – a champion swimmer at Brown University and member of the Brown Hall of Fame – encouraged him to try the swim. He owes his success to a “very steady pace” and long strokes. Despite his disappointment in the cancellation, Long believes coordinators made the right decision to call off the race.

 “Sorry it didn't work out, but the weather situation was simply too risky, so the Coast Guard made the correct decision. Wish that STB had planned a rain day, but I think the logistics are extremely difficult – scheduling all of the volunteers, getting everything set up, and for the volunteer food vendors – to repeat.”

“STB is a first-class not-for-profit organization with lots of talented and dedicated people,” Long said, adding that the cancellation “must be especially disappointing for the swimmers who came to Rhode Island from [long distances] other states.”

Upon reaching the finish line, participants would be joined by an expected 1,500 spectators to an after party including food, music, massages and awards.

Save the Bay Communication Director Cindy Sabato said the swim is the largest fundraising event with a goal of $350,000. At the time of cancellation, STB swim had raised more than $200,000. She said donations will continue to come in for a few weeks, and she believes the goal will be reached.

 “I appreciate all the hard work swimmers and kayakers have done for the cause,” Sabato said. Each swimmer needed to raise a minimum of $400 to support STB to partake in the swim, but more come in after the event as swimmers continue to collect contributions.

“We have not reached our goal yet, but it is not unusual. We don’t reach totals until swimmers reach all their sponsorships.”

Matthew Tsimikas of Warwick, who has done the swim eight years consecutively, said the swim usually takes about an hour to complete. He prepared for the swim with dry land training, but he said the McDermott Pool serves him well. He encourages other bay enthusiast to donate to STB.

“More citizens should help with the Save the Bay organization and step up to enhance the beauty of the Ocean State. After all, it is our greatest resource for all to enjoy.”

He said he got involved with the swim because he felt obligated to help the state live up to its name. “I love the Narragansett Bay and all that it contributes to our daily lives.”